Ruzicka had little time to wrap his head around his selection. He was off to Minnesota for development camp the very next day and went right into a new environment full of NHL prospects. One of those prospects, Carter Klippenstein, was not only his former teammate with the Wheat Kings but also his former billet brother, which eased the transition.

“I enjoyed the first camp because I had Carter here,” he said. “It was all pretty fast because the morning after the draft I was on a plane, so that was pretty fast. It’s a good city and I enjoyed camp.”

The Wild must’ve enjoyed Ruzicka’s camp too. He signed his entry level contract on July 14, barely two weeks after camp ended, becoming the first member of the Wild’s last two draft classes to sign his ELC.

“I met with my agent and after I was in bed he called me saying the Wild had given me a contract,” said Ruzicka. “I was so happy.”

Ruzicka’s first season in North America started a little later than he’d have liked as he wasn’t able to join the Wheat Kings until October. But the towering goaltender loved his time in Brandon last year once he arrived, and every indication is he’ll be returning to the team for 2026-27, something he’s greatly looking forward to.

“My first year as a Wheat King was so good,” he said. “I enjoyed the group, the team, that was a pretty good season. I’m excited to be a Wheat King again and I’m excited to see all the boys and the staff again for sure.”

Ruzicka added the Wild have him doing some off-ice coordination work and a lot of skating drills to keep improving over the offseason.