It’s a big jump from playing in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League to being on the ice in the Western Hockey League.
That’s especially true when you’re playing for a team that many are expecting to be in the league final, at worst, this spring.
However, making the move up to the world of major junior hockey hasn’t been an issue at all for Battleford’s Braydon Buziak.
“So far it’s been a really good experience,” Buziak said. “I’ve been able to make the adjustments I need to play at this level and I’ve been having a blast.”
“There are big guys that play in the SJHL, so there’s not really much of a difference there, but the overall speed of the game and the skill that everyone has to make that extra move was something that I had to get used to right away.”
The 18-year-old forward, who had 19 points in 55 games for the SJHL’s Battlefords North Stars last year, has suited up in 17 games for the Pats so far this season.
Buziak had a wild start to his rookie campaign in the WHL as he scored five goals in his first six games of the year.
“I wasn’t even focused on trying to score that many goals,” Buziak said.
“I was just trying to go out there early on and do the little things right. However, to be able to get that many goals right off the bat to start my WHL career was pretty cool.”
He hasn’t found the back of the net since then, but he got back on the scoresheet on Nov. 20 with an assist against the Vancouver Giants.
Although he hasn’t scored a goal in awhile, Buziak is more focused on playing a physical brand of hockey that he’s known for.
“We have guys like Adam Brooks and Sam Steel that can seemingly score a goal at any time for us,” Buziak said.
“My main role is to go out on the forecheck, win battles in the corners and create energy whenever we need it.”
Heading into a road game Tuesday night against the Kootenay Ice, the Pats have a 19-2-4-0 record and are in first place in the WHL’s East Division.
The Pats are currently two points behind the Everett Silvertips in the race for the top spot in the league standings and they are also the number one ranked team in the entire Canadian Hockey League according to a panel of National Hockey League scouts.
“I think what sets us apart from other teams is the speed that we have in our entire lineup,” Buziak said.
“Austin Wagner is one of the fastest guys in the WHL, but every single guy on the roster can win a race to a loose puck at any given time.”
With the Pats set to lose four players (Steel, Wagner, Sergey Zborovskiy and Filip Ahl) to training camps for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships, Buziak has a chance to earn more ice time during the coming weeks.
“There’s always room from improvement,” Buziak said. “Right now I’m working on the little things. I would like to become a little bit stronger and become more confident when I have the puck.
“Regina is my home now, and as I continue to make adjustments with my game, I want the move here to pay off for me.”
