Prospect Profile: Dawson Leedahl
Just the Facts
Name: Dawson Leedahl
Position: Right Wing
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Birthdate: March 19, 1996
Height: 5’11” Weight: 180 lbs.
Shoots: Right
One of the young players expected to vie for a spot on Everett’s roster this season is 16-year-old forward Dawson Leedahl. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native is coming off a midget season in which he fought through injury to record 32 points in 42 regular season games for the Saskatoon Contacts. He then led the Contacts in playoff scoring as they won the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League Championship and the West Regional title on their way to a third-place finish in the TELUS Cup Tournament, which is Canada’s midget hockey equivalent to the Memorial Cup. Leedahl was Everett’s second-round selection (#40 overall) in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.
Silvertips radio voice Travis Huntington talked to Leedahl a few weeks before training camp to catch up with the talented ‘Tips hopeful.
Travis Huntington: How has your summer been and what do you do in the offseason?
Dawson Leedahl: It’s been a good summer. I’ve mostly been working at the chicken farm and training during the week and then going up to the lake for fun on the weekends. In the offseason I try to work out pretty much every day; usually with my trainer, but sometimes by myself or with my dad.
TH: With training camp fast approaching, how excited are you about the prospect of making the Silvertips as a 16-year-old? I’m sure it’s something you’ve been thinking about for awhile now.
DL: It’s definitely pretty exciting. It will be a good opportunity for me to try and make the team this year. Not many guys get to play in the WHL at 16 years old, so hopefully I’ll get the chance to do that this fall. The past year has been a lot of hard work, but I think it’s worth it to reach to your goals and make it to the next level. I’m just going to come in, work as hard as I can, hit some guys and try to make some plays.
TH: Talk about the midget season you had last year with Saskatoon.
DL: We had a really good team and were pretty solid all the way through the season. There were 11 first-year guys on the team, so we just tried to outwork every team, every game. We came out on top a lot and ended up finishing third in nationals, so that was a lot of fun. For me personally, things really came together in December after I got back to full speed from injuring my wrist in October. I felt like I kept getting better from the beginning of the season to the end.
TH: What was it like playing in the TELUS Cup tournament? Did you notice a higher level of play?
DL: It was great experience for sure. Everyone in Leduc (Alberta) treated us great, and I think it gave us an idea of what it might be like to play at the next level. The competition was really good, and the level of play was definitely higher. All six teams in the tournament were quality teams that were coached really well.
TH: To a Silvertips fan who hasn’t seen you in action yet, what kind of player is Dawson Leedahl?
DL: I consider myself to be a playmaker, but I can also be an energy guy. I like to keep things moving with my speed; skate around and hit people. I like to play with a little bit of an edge to keep people off balance and create some space for myself and my teammates.
TH: Last year’s Silvertips Rookie of the Year Kohl Bauml and fellow ‘Tips prospect Carson Stadnyk are both Saskatoon natives and former Contacts teammates of yours as well. As you look to transition into the WHL, will it help that you’re already familiar with those guys?
DL: Yeah it’s pretty cool to know those guys and have played with them before. Being new to Everett, it will be nice to have people I know there to help me get a little more comfortable. Both Kohl and Carson are great players and great guys to be around, so it will be a lot of fun if we can all be teammates again.
TH: How did coming to Silvertips training camp last year help you learn or improve as a player?
DL: Being at camp last year helped me a lot. I learned right away that you’ve got to be in great shape to compete at that level. Guys pass and shoot harder and you’ve got to be on the ball and ready at all times. There are lots of bigger guys out there on the ice as well, so you better have your head on a swivel.
TH: What is most exciting to you about the idea of playing WHL hockey in Everett, and what are some of your specific goals?
DL: Probably the fans; I know lots of people come out to watch the games. It’s a bigger deal than most hockey for kids my age. I also know the players are treated really well. Making the Silvertips this year is my main goal, and I’m also hoping to make Team West for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge coming up in December.
Check back here at everettsilvertips.com for more profiles of the next generation of Everett Silvertips stars!
