LOCALS EXCITED FOR CAMP
(Courtesy of Perry Bergson, Brandon Sun) — When Ty Lewis and Connor Gutenberg were young hockey fans, they idolized Brandon Wheat Kings Matt Calvert and Brayden Schenn.
This week, the two Brandonites begin their own journey to finding full-time jobs with the Western Hockey League team.
“Growing up we always watched the Wheat Kings and wanted to play for them,” Lewis said. “It’s kind of who we idolized growing up in Brandon, so getting the chance to play for the Wheat Kings one day hopefully would be a great experience. (Training camp) is just one step forward.”
Both take to the ice on Wednesday as part of the team’s rookie camp.
Lewis, 17, was selected in the third round of the WHL bantam draft in 2013, and responded with 57 points in 35 games in his first year of midget.
The five-foot-10, 176-pound forward played two regular-season games with the Wheat Kings last season after suffering an arm injury in camp. He was reassigned to the Midget AAA Wheat Kings in early January, putting up 10 goals and 11 assists in 13 regular-season games, and six goals and five assists in eight playoff contests.
He played three playoff games with the WHL team as well.
“It was kind of a different year for me,” Lewis said. “I didn’t get to play for a while there so I got to spend a lot of time with the guys and learn their routines and systems. It’s a different lifestyle than what most hockey players are used to. I kind of have an idea of what happens and what goes on so my mindset is a little different than when I went last year.”
Gutenberg, who was taken in the fifth round of the bantam draft in 2014, had 19 goals and 28 assists in 42 games last season in his first year of midget, taking time out from the schedule to represent Manitoba at the Canada Games. He added seven goals and seven assists in 14 playoff games.
It’s the 16-year-old forward’s first chance to make the team.
“My goal is to play there but ultimately it is to make a good impression,” Gutenberg said. “If it’s not this year it’s not too big of a deal because I have a spot on the midget team. I still want to make a good impression. That’s pretty much all I can do.”
Gutenberg, who stands five-foot-nine and now weighs 158 pounds, said his focus has been to put on bulk as he trained at OutPerforme Athletics and got on the ice every chance he had in the summer.
He said his family had Wheat Kings season tickets for years, although one player drew his attention more than others.
“Matt Calvert, because he’s a smaller guy like me,” Gutenberg said. “I watched him extra closely and took stuff away from his game.”
Gutenberg said the best parts of his game lie in his speed and ability to spread the puck around.
“For me, skating has always been my strength,” Gutenberg said. “I’ve always been a good skater. The other thing is reading the ice. I’m more of a playmaker than a goal scorer so I try to find that open guy.”
Lewis, who has trained with Jim Frederickson at Frederickson Performance Centre this summer, said his game comes from a simple place.
“I base most of my game off hard work; a lot of success comes from hard work,” Lewis said. “Moving the puck and using your teammates. I like to go out there and play my game, work hard, move the puck and try to create chances.”
Lewis said his arm is fully healed, adding that it’s a nice feeling to be healthy again. While he considers the injury an unfortunate part of the game, he’s eager to get back on the ice.
And he’s taking nothing for granted.
“Everybody’s going in there on an even playing ground,” Lewis said. “I have to go in there and play well because there are a lot of good hockey players going to camp so there’s nothing given.”
Lewis and his midget teammate Gutenberg know exactly what’s at stake as they attempt to join Brandonites Duncan Campbell, Tyler Coulter and Tanner Kaspick on the roster.
“It gives you that extra little motivation being a hometown team,” Gutenberg said. “You grow up watching them and that’s kind of really the only team you know. It would be special to play for your hometown team.”
Rookie camp begins Wednesday, with the first scrimmage game scheduled for 6:30pm.
