The Brandon Wheat Kings have opened their main camp at Westoba Place and four Parkland stars are there.
Noah Smigelsky:
The Dauphin star put together an impressive season last year with the Parkland U15 Rangers, notching 29 goals in 32 games and 47 points in the regular season.
A forward that possesses silky mitts and a knack for finding the back of the net, Smigelsky notched eight more playoff goals in five games and 12 points. Noah also had a chance to play four games with the U18 club and did not look out of place whatsoever.
This weekend provides Noah with a great opportunity to polish his skills and get ready for what should be another exciting season for the young star from Dauphin.
Brady Turko:
From McCreary, Brady is coming off a season that no one will forget as it was a historic campaign for the McCreary star and the Brandon U18 Wheat Kings.
The U18 club went 43-0-1 in the regular season and did not lose a game until the Telus Cup West Regionals in a contest that was meaningless when it came to the standings at that event. Turko then scored the game-winner against Saskatoon as the goal sent Brandon to the Telus Cup.
Turko was a key cog in the team's success all year, finishing second in the league scoring with 41 goals and 49 assists for 90 points. Brady kept plugging away in the playoffs averaging more than two points per game with nine goals and 11 assists in nine games. He finished second in playoff scoring. Brady then went on to post eight goals in seven games and 11 points at the Telus Cup, Canada's U18 national championship.
The McCreary forward also had a taste of what the Western Hockey League (WHL) lifestyle is like as he played seven games with the big club, scoring once while adding two assists. He was a plus-3.
Easten Turko:
Brady's younger brother is also set to put his talents over the weekend.
He was a member of the U15 Wheat Kings last year and helped the team win their third straight provincial title. An extremely steady defender, Turko also possesses a very nice offensive touch as he recorded 11 goals and 45 points in 32 regular season games last year. Then he posted seven more assists in 11 playoff games as Brandon went on to win it all.
He was named to the league's First All-Star Team and was drafted in the third round, 59th overall in the WHL Bantam Draft. Turko won't challenge for a spot on the team this year as he is still only 15 years old, but the Wheat Kings will get a great look at what the young star has to offer. This is the team's main camp meaning he will go up against players that are several years older than him.
Easton Odut:
Like Brady, Easton was a key cog in the U18 Wheat Kings historic season last year.
A gritty player who will do whatever it takes to help his team win, Easton posted 23 goals and 63 points in the regular season last year before putting up 12 more points in nine playoff games. As Brandon competed in the Telus Cup, Easton stepped up his game with five goals and six points in seven games.
Also like Brady, Easton played seven games with the WHL's Wheat Kings last year and had one assist. He now has nine career games played in the WHL and will challenge for a spot on the team this year.
Three Other Notables:
Carson Bjarnason:
Carson will without a doubt be the team's number one goalie this season after being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023 and since signing with the NHL club. The 19-year-old from Carberry grew up watching the Wheat Kings and is now heading into his third season with them.
A former member of the U15 Southwest Cougars, Carson won 24 regular season games last year as Brandon booked a ticket into the WHL Playoffs, where they lost to Aiden Ziprick and the Moose Jaw Warriors in round one. As you know, the Warriors then went on to win the WHL title.
While Carson will be the number one, he is expected to be away from the team for a period when the Flyers open their camp next month, which will likely pave the way for Ethan Eskit to get in some starts as he returns to the team after winning nine games with the team last year.
Prabh Bhathal:
Many eyes will be on the 15-year-old phenom from Winnipeg.
Eligible for the 2027 NHL draft, Prabh is coming off one of the best seasons in U15 AAA history. In just 32 regular season games, Bhathal had 83 goals and 36 assists for 119 points. As captain of the Winnipeg U15 Thrashers last year, his 119 points were the fourth-most all-time in a single season. Only Jonathon Toews (193) Roblin's Brayden Dube (130), and Tyder Lafournaise (126) recorded more in a single season.
Bhathal is known for his outstanding speed and ability to blow past defenders.
Rylen Roersma:
Big things are expected from the now 20-year-old all-star forward who is entering his fourth full season and fifth overall with the Wheat Kings.
Across 64 games last year in the regular season, Roersma posted 20 goals and 58 points and in a tough first-round playoff series, he impressed with four points in as many games.
The Wheat Kings are expecting to take a step this season and should they, it will be Roersma that is front and centre doing so. Rylen is known as a deceptive player who has a knack for sliding a pass through a defender to a teammate waiting in the slot. He also has great puck-handling skills. He was drafted 16th overall by the Wheat Kings in 2019.
Wheat King Notes:
- The team will open their preseason schedule next Friday at Westoba Place against Saskatoon at 7:00 p.m.;
- New seats were installed at the arena to make it a more enjoyable visit for fans;
- Brandon will play three of their first four games on the road, their first visit to play Brayden Dube and the Prince Albert Raiders will come on September 27;
- They will play 11 of 12 games on home ice between October 16 and November 23; and
- The team's longest road trip will be seven games when they head to Calgary, Victoria, Everett, Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops, and Prince George from January 12-24.
