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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Top Rookies Hoping to Earn Full-Time Spot with Wheat Kings

September 2, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


If you're a Brandon Wheat Kings prospect who is old enough to play for the team this season, consider the next few days your official audition.

Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray said the youngsters, who won't have a rookie camp to ease themselves in this year, will be given every chance to land a spot.

"The door is wide open," Murray said. "We as a staff have the responsibility to field the best hockey team that we can with what's in front of us and that's going to be the message heading into training camp.

'>The Brandon Wheat Kings took forward Joby Baumuller with their first selection in the 2022 draft, and he'll almost certainly stick with the team this season. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)

"Everybody is looking for a spot and nobody has a guaranteed spot and roles, and that opportunity is going to be there for everybody. We need guys to come into training camp without the rookie part, and training camp is going to be pretty fast and furious.

"You have to come out of the gates and separate yourself from the pack."

Camp opens today at Westoba Place, with the annual Black and Gold game set for Monday afternoon at J&G Homes Arena.

In past years, the team had two days of rookie camp and two days of main camp, but with the Western Hockey League setting the Sept. 1 start date for teams, they shortened it to three days this year.

A year ago, undrafted list player Matt Henry came in at 18 and essentially forced the Wheat Kings to sign him because of his physical play.

Murray said he likes the underdogs who haven't been labelled blue-chip prospects and will go through a wall for the logo on the front of the jersey.

"They appreciate being on the team every day and wearing the jersey, and that goes a long, long way," Murray said. "Those guys are probably fighting for their lives every day and you appreciate that. I've seen a lot of those players throughout my career at the junior and pro level, who will do anything to stay on the team, whether it's blocking shots or taking a hit to make a play.

"They'll go out of their way to be the best they can be and help their team any way they can to have success on the ice."

Two prospects, 16-year-old Joby Baumuller and 17-year-old Carter Klippenstein, are expected to make the jump to the WHL. In fact, based on prospects camp in May and past precedent, it would be shocking if Klippenstein and Baumuller don't stick.

"Both of those guys can come in and play a significant role as rookies," Murray said. "Klipper has the ability to be a real nice power forward and a pro someday. He can kind of do it all. He has a skill set, he plays hard, he's heavy, he has a little energy to his game and isn't afraid to get his nose in there. I think he could have a nice year as a rookie.

"From what we saw at prospects camp, I thought he was kind of a man amongst boys a lot of times and that was awesome. Now we want to see that when he comes here and is with the vets and beyond that with the pre-season and regular season but we feel like there is a lot there."

There are no shortage of candidates for the other vacancies on the team, which potentially returns 11 forwards, seven defencemen and two goalies.

The signed prospects who could also crack the lineup include 16-year-old Easton Odut of Dauphin, who was called up for two games and had 34 points in 38 games with the U18 Wheat Kings as a rookie.

A pair of signed 16-year-old defencemen, Gradey Hope and Emerson Clark, will also get a long look.

Murray, who played in the WHL at 16 in 1991-92, said it's a hard league to play in at that age.

As a result, the team has to decide what's in the best interest of both the team and the player.

"You're used to having all kinds of success and being able to pretty much do what you wanted on the ice," Murray said. "You get to this level and it's a whole different story. You don't play the role you're used to playing, you're playing against 18, 19, and 20-year-old men who are possibly NHL picks.

"It's a whole different animal. It's a process for sure. For our young guys, we just want them to come in and be themselves. We drafted them for a reason, and we think we have some good prospects in the hopper.

"We have some guys who are knocking on the door. At the end of the day, we'll have to make that decision whether it's the right thing to keep them around and develop best here or maybe go play a larger role elsewhere."

Significantly, the Wheat Kings had a number of prospects make their WHL debuts last season, including Baumuller, Klippenstein, Odut and goaltender Ethan Eskit. Defenceman Gradey Hope also joined the team for an extended period.

"They're still first-year players but you get rid of those rookie jitters and know what to expect," Murray said. "When they came in, especially Joby, it's down to crunch time so you're playing teams that are trying to get into the playoffs and trying to play against Winnipeg, who are trying to stay sharp and get home ice throughout the whole playoffs.

"It's not like they're shinny games they come into, they were very heated, in-season Western Hockey League games and I thought he performed quite well.

"Klipper got a couple of games, Odut got a couple of games and those are valuable experiences."

The other 2007-born players, who were drafted in May 2022 are entering their 16-year-old seasons and remain unsigned, are forwards Quinn Parker (5-100), Brady Turko (5-97), Dominic Grieco (7-144), Ethan Stewart (list), Ben Binder-Nord (list) and Owen Corkish (list) and defencemen Tao Flory (8-166), plus goalie Ryder Green (8-158).

The 2006-born players, who were drafted in December 2021 and are entering their 17-year-old seasons next fall, include defenceman Evan Lambert (5-108) and goalie Ethan Eskit (6-114). Murray's message is a little different to the 2008-born players, who aren't eligible for more than a handful of games as callups.

Brandon has signed four members of the 2023 draft class, forwards Jaxon Jacobson and Isaac Davies and defencemen Giorgos Pantelas and Nigel Boehm.

"It's an opportunity to prove that they are high-end prospects," Murray said. "We feel like we had a really good draft and have a lot to work with there. We've signed some of them but it's another opportunity for others to showcase themselves. Even though they're not eligible to play, there are opportunities through the year as far as affiliate games and ultimately it's a little bit of a test drive for a year from now.

"We don't want to put too much pressure on them, they're still young kids and we have to remember that. But at the same time, they're here for a reason."

The last draft class, which was selected in May and will be skating in their 15-year-old seasons next fall, are forwards Jaxon Jacobson (first round, fifth overall), Isaac Davies (4-72), Ryan Boyce (5-94), Knox Bendera (5-95), Maddox Gandha (7-142) and Julian Fedora (9-182); defencemen Giorgos Pantelas (1-19), Nigel Boehm (2-28), Jack Swaenepoel (7-138) and Cameron Allard (8-160); plus goalies Dylan McFadyen (6-121) and Greyson Moroz (list).

American Reed Brown, who was Brandon's first pick in May's U.S. Priority draft, will also make his first trip to the Wheat City.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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