2024 NHL Draft player profile: Charlie Elick, Brandon Wheat Kings

If you asked an AI to generate a Western Hockey League defenceman, it would probably spit out an image of Charlie Elick.

The 6-foot-3, 202-pound right-shot defenceman has emerged as a foreboding presence on the Brandon blueline who has left more than a few bruises on those who dare try to force their way by him.

“Those right-handed defencemen are coveted,” Wheat Kings General Manager and Head Coach Marty Murray said. “There’s not a lot of them out there and when one comes along, it’s obviously appealing to not only us at the junior level but at the NHL level as well. He’s that type of player where he can provide an impact in a lot of different areas of the game. I think he really established himself as a player that’s hard to play against. Opposing teams are aware when he’s on the ice and he can lay some punishing body checks.”

The shutdown defender set new career highs in his second WHL season, netting four goals- including two game-winners- and 23 assists for 27 points in 65 regular season games.

And NHL clubs are taking notice.

Twenty-six teams interviewed Elick at the 2024 NHL Combine in Buffalo, N.Y. last week.

For his part, Elick isn’t trying to read too deep into those conversations, instead focusing on his own game and development.

“I feel like my defensive side of my game has really been improved from last year,” Elick said. “I feel like coming into this year, I’m taking big steps forward.

“Strength is a big thing, for sure. But along with that, I think some of the puck handling is a big part for me. Obviously, there’s a lot that I can still improve to make it to the next level.”

Elick doesn’t have to look far to learn more about what it takes to make the jump to the pro ranks.

His dad, Mickey, was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1992 before moving on to pro hockey in the AHL and Europe, even representing Team Canada at the 1998 IIHF World Hockey Championship.

Charlie also got his first taste of hockey overseas.

“I was actually born in Austria and lived there for six years,” Elick explained. “I was six and I was playing with nine-year-olds at the time. Pretty big hockey spirit living over in Europe.”

The 18-year-old got to experience the European game again with gold-medal-winning performances with Team Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Czechia and the 2024 IIHF Under-18 World Championship in Finland.

Elick netted five assists in 12 games between the two tournaments.

“He’s not known for being a really offensive player but I think that people might be pleasantly surprised that he does have some offensive upside in his game,” Murray added. “He always has his strengths and his bread and butter of what he is, but I think we’ll see some progress in his stats offensively as well.”

Elick is ranked 31st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the agency’s final rankings ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

That puts him among the top seven blueliners in that group- an impressive class that also includes Elick’s bantam teammate, Calgary Hitmen star Carter Yakemchuk.

While Wheat Kings fans love Elick in black and gold, they’re eagerly waiting to see him pull on a different team’s colours at the end of the month in Las Vegas, Nevada.