Player Profile: Julien Maze
“It’s a lifelong dream. I’ve thought about being drafted to the NHL since I was a little kid. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to hear my name called next year.”
Regina, Sask. – With the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on the horizon, it’s a defining season for Julien Maze – and his first full one in Regina.
The 17-year-old forward made an immediate impact after being acquired by the Pats via trade in late November 2024, finishing the season as the team leader in both assists (32) and points (44). In just 43 appearances for the club, Maze tallied six goals and 19 assists, building on the 19 points (6G, 13A) he had accumulated through 21 games with the Everett Silvertips earlier in the 2024-25 campaign.
The second-half momentum offered a glimpse of his offensive upside, production, and impact, which the 2007-born winger is confident will continue to flourish in a Pats uniform during the 2025-26 campaign.
“This summer, I’ve been working hard on developing my shot, and that’s one of my biggest goals for the year: to put the puck in the net more,” Maze explained. “I want to pick up where I left off last season.”
Credit: Keith Hershmiller Photography
Always more of a playmaker than a pure finisher, Maze thrives with the puck on his stick – an aspect of his game he’s been developing from an early age in his hometown of Edmonton, Alta. Encouraged by a family with hockey roots, the sport has always been his calling and what he describes as his “main goal in life” to pursue.
“I was always good at other sports, but nothing ever felt like hockey,” he said.
Helping progress his young career was his time at OHA Edmonton in the CSSHL (Canadian Sport School Hockey League). It was here that the crafty forward honed his playmaking and quick instincts against elite young talent in Western Canada.
Maze posted strong offensive numbers at the U15 level, scoring 22 goals, 24 assists, and 46 points in just 24 games, before making the leap to U18 as a 14-year-old the following season, further preparing him for the Western Hockey League (WHL). In that campaign, Maze posted an impressive 45-point total (20G, 25A) in 27 games – despite the age gap.
“I always wanted to go to an Academy. I could be on the ice every day and get that advantage that other players didn’t have. I just thought it was the best development path for me,” said Maze.
“I was 14 years old when I made that jump [to U18]. I thought I had a really good season in my U15 year, and I just decided to give it a try. It proved to be the right decision and a good challenge. It all worked out,” he added.
Credit: Kamloops Blazers
In Alberta, Maze was named an All-Star at the 2022 Alberta Cup after netting six goals, three assists, and nine points in five games. The following season, the winger suited up at the Canada Winter Games for an “unforgettable experience,” netting two points (1G, 1A) and representing his home province before Team Alberta was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
His production, partnered with a high hockey IQ and sharp vision on the ice, prompted the Silvertips to select the 5-foot-8, 165-pound, left-handed shot in the first round (20th overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
After amassing two goals, 10 assists, and 12 points in 40 games with Everett during his freshman campaign (2023-24), the now-junior forward had been producing at a near point per game pace to start the 2024-25 season before making the transition to Regina. Maze viewed the move as an opportunity to take on a bigger role with a young, up-and-coming group, seeing the “most growth” within himself through his confidence entering year three.
“I was shocked,” said Maze of the trade from the Silvertips to the Pats. “It was an adjustment coming to Regina, but the staff and my teammates here were awesome through it all. I’m looking forward to taking that big step and helping us get back to that winning culture.”
Credit: Kamloops Blazers
Looking ahead to 2025-26, draft-eligible Maze is expected to be a key piece of the Pats’ forward group, being relied on for both his production and leadership. Over the summer, he’s trained daily to elevate his game, focusing on “getting a longer stride and gaining muscle.” The forward, who models his game after a pair of notable Detroit Red Wings, Patrick Kane and Pavel Datsyuk, has also worked to refine his stickhandling, puck control, and takeaway abilities to prepare for a pivotal year.
Although this upcoming season holds great value in individual growth, he’s working towards helping build something bigger in Regina.
“Pats fans should be excited to come watch. They’ll see a good fight from us every night,” said Maze. “It won’t be like last year, that’s for sure. Don’t count us out against any team. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, I think we’ll always be in it to win it.”
With a young core at the helm, Maze believes that the team is set to surprise. And while building a contender takes time, the foundation is being laid – and there is plenty to be excited about in Regina.
