PROSPECTS REPORT: Hadland Set to Make the Jump to the WHL
*This article was written prior to Hadland signing with the Wheat Kings on January 5th*
Sylvan Lake, AB – Caleb Hadland has some hockey between now and the next prospects camp hosted by the Brandon Wheat Kings, but he still can’t wait.
The Wheat Kings grabbed the highly touted 15-year-old forward from Sylvan Lake, Alta., with the last pick of the first round on Dec. 9, and he’s ready to get going.
“I’m super stoked just to get to know the guys in the organization and see how Brandon runs themselves,” Hadland said. “It’s super awesome and it should be a great experience. I’m super pumped for it.”
The five-foot-10, 165-pound forward started skating around age three or four, and began playing hockey soon after.
As a youngster, Hadland spent time on the blue-line and also played goal, which he was actually quite good at.
“I think I was just a way better skater and let other kids have a chance at goalie,” Hadland said of his decision to leave the crease.
Hadland doesn’t play any other sports competitively, although he was active in school sports when he was younger.
He’s the first player in the family, which also includes mother Theresa, who has reached this level, although his father Tim and brother also played.
He began to realize after his first year of bantam that junior might be a possibility.
“I saw myself playing hockey at a higher level and thinking I could make a career out of this, and that’s what I wanted to do,” Hadland said.
Of all the years to be eligible, Hadland ended up in the most unusual WHL draft in history. After most of the 2020-21 season was cancelled due to the pandemic — Hadland had nine points in four games in his second under-15 AAA season with the Red Deer Rebels — the draft was moved from May to December to give scouts a better chance to look at prospects early in the 2021-22 season.
“At the start it was a little frustrating,” said Hadland, who is skating this season with the Yale Hockey Academy U18 prep program in Abbotsford, B.C. “A lot of guys just wanted to get drafted and have that experience, but at the end of the day, it worked out. I think a lot of guys really grew into their bodies and got a better chance and just really developed a lot more.”
Hadland was certainly one of those players. The top prospects from each western province met at the WHL Cup in Red Deer in October, and while Alberta lost 5-2 to British Columbia in the final, he enjoyed every minute of it.
“That was the best experience I’ve probably ever had as a hockey player,” Hadland said. “Just the environment, and the team was great. The boys really got along well and the staff was unreal to all of us. It was just an unreal week.”
To top it off, Hadland produced a goal and two assists in five games after being named captain of the Alberta team.
“I think that was a little bit of a confidence booster knowing that people look up to you and see you as a leader,” Hadland said. “That doesn’t change your game. You just stay who you are and keep pushing the boys to be harder.”
By that point, he admitted the WHL draft was on his mind a lot, in part because everyone knew scouts from around the league would be in attendance.
The waiting ended for him on draft when Brandon grabbed him with the 22nd pick. His phone was quickly inundated with messages.
“It was pretty bad,” Hadland said with a chuckle. “A lot of family members and friends were pretty pumped up. It was awesome.”
It was also a bit of a relief. It gave Hadland a sense of knowing what potentially lay ahead for the first time.
“That’s just something off your back,” Hadland said. “For the past seven months, some people have been stressing about it or really worried about it but now it’s over. Whether you got drafted or not, it’s just a sense of relief and now you keep on pushing and carry on down your path.”
Hadland is joined on the Yale U18 team by Brandon goaltending prospect Carter Capton, and the Wheat Kings also grabbed a member of Yale’s U17 team, goaltender Ethan Eskit.
In addition, Jarrett Craig, the younger brother of former Wheat Kings star Ryan, is a part-time coach with the team and a billet.
Hadland also recently met injured Wheat Kings forward Jake Chiasson, who is home in Abbotsford recovering from shoulder surgery.
“I had heard of him being a Yale Hockey Academy alumni, and how great of a person he was,” Hadland said. “I met him that day and we had a good conversation.”
The young forward has 11 goals and five assists in 17 games in U18 prep, which is a big jump from the U15 level.
In his first season of U18 playing against guys who can be two years older, Hadland said he’s focusing on carrying the puck more as he skates against older players and driving to the net more.
“There was a couple of games slump but personally I think I’m having a good year,” Hadland said. “I’m really adjusting to the age gap and seeing that I can play against older guys and help contribute to the team.”
He said the strengths of his game are simple. He finishes what he starts, and tries to make those around better too.
“You would notice my work ethic,” Hadland said. “I’m just a guy who makes sure that the jobs get done and everyone on the ice is working their hardest and staying positive too. I think that’s a big thing for me, is making sure everyone has their heads high and are working their hardest and not getting down on each other.”
That’s exactly what the Wheat Kings like about him.
Brandon’s director of player personnel Chris Moulton said he isn’t easy to play against.
“Caleb plays the game hard all the time,” Moulton said. “He is an on-ice and off-ice leader in every group that he is involved with. He has really good hockey instincts, he has a nice touch around the net, he plays a very strong 200-foot game that creates offence.”
His next stop could be in Brandon as early as next season. He has no doubt that’s what he wants during a time when players have to make the final decision between the WHL and college.
“A lot of guys have really had to think about it over the past little while but I believe my path is major junior,” Hadland said. “That’s what I want to do.”
» Twitter: @PerryBergson
