Wild Hockey Academy Alum Pankey Signs With Wild
Photo Credit: Denise Irion
WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are pleased to announce that 2006-born defenseman Brayden Pankey has signed a Scholarship and Development Agreement with the organization, becoming the first player from the Wenatchee Wild Hockey Academy program to join the Wild roster in the Western Hockey League. The Colbert, Washington native made his first WHL appearance Saturday in an 8-6 Wenatchee win at the Spokane Chiefs.
“Brayden is a player we are very familiar with after spending two seasons with Troy Mick in our development programs,” said Wenatchee Wild director of scouting Leigh Mendelson. “’Micker’ does a great job developing young players, especially with their habits and focus. We always keep tabs on former development team players & when we learned of his interest to return to Wenatchee it was an easy decision for us. We’re very excited to have him working with our coaching staff & have the opportunity to compete in the WHL.”
Pankey spent two years in Wenatchee’s Academy program, tallying 21 points during the 2021-22 season for the Wild 16-and-under team, and picked up eight more last season as part of the Wenatchee 18-and-under team. During the 2022-23 campaign, he also earned a one-game call-up to the former Wenatchee Wild roster in the British Columbia Hockey League, and practiced with the team throughout the season.
“I couldn’t be happier for the young man,” said Wenatchee Wild Hockey Academy hockey director Troy Mick. “He’s such a good kid – he puts a lot of time and effort into it. To say that there is only one pathway to advance is not true – you go to a place where coaches are going to develop you and teach you. The Wild are going to look in their own backyard first before they go outside it, and they remembered him last year as an AP with the Wild. They kept an eye on him, and saw that he kept developing. Looking at [Wenatchee’s] list, he fits in their future very well.”
Pankey says he is especially proud of his ability to use his stick to defend, and close gaps and lock down opponents, but adds that the Wenatchee coaching staff will be especially valuable in improving his puck handling abilities and developing extra speed in his game.
The Wenatchee Wild congratulate Brayden Pankey on signing his Scholarship & Development Agreement with the club, and proudly welcome him back to the Wild family.
