Manitoban Wheddon relishes second chance

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This article was published 11/09/2023 (228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hayden Wheddon is hoping his second chance in the Western Hockey League can make him a valuable contributor a lot closer to home.

Originally drafted by the Edmonton Oil Kings, the five-foot-nine, 179-pound Stonewall product brings nine games of Western Hockey League experience to the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he is looking for a roster spot as a free agent.

“I was really excited,” Wheddon said of the chance to audition for the Wheat Kings. “Growing up in Manitoba, the Winnipeg Ice never used to be there so coming to Brandon games was really special. Getting the camp invite and being here is really special for me.”

He’s taken an interesting path from Manitoba to Alberta and back.

Wheddon was drafted twice in 2020, with the Oil Kings taking him in the ninth round, 196th overall, and the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Selkirk Steelers grabbing him with the third overall pick.

“I can be a skill guy down low,” Wheddon said of his game. “I’ve been trying to work on my defensive end going forward, and moving back from winger and centre. I think I can play fast and play hard.”

The left-shooting Wheddon had an outstanding 16-year-old season in 2021-22 in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League, piling up 27 goals and 27 assists in 42 games with the Interlake Lightning. He also had four points in 10 games with the Steelers, played two Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League with the Stonewall Rams and was called up for three games with the Oil Kings, who signed him on Jan. 12, 2022.

His WHL career couldn’t have started better. He scored the winning goal in his debut, a 7-3 victory over the host Medicine Hat Tigers on March 22, 2022.

But he failed to crack the Edmonton roster at camp a year ago, and was reassigned to Selkirk on Sept. 21, 2022.

After playing one game with the Steelers, he was dealt to the Niverville Nighthawks on Oct. 5 for future considerations. It was his third team in just over two weeks.

“Obviously being in school still it was tough and challenging,” Wheddon said. “I was in three different schools in that time. The whole season was challenging going up and down from Edmonton and Niverville and missing school. It was tough but I did the best I could.”

He was called up by Edmonton for a five-game stretch in November — starting with a game against the Wheat Kings on Nov. 18 — and one more in February. In 42 games with Niverville, Wheddon contributed 10 goals and eight assists with 10 penalty minutes.

He said it was a neat to be part of an expansion club with the Nighthawks, who finished fourth in the MJHL’s East Division with a record of 26-28-1-3. They were subsequently eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Centennial Cup host Portage Terriers.

“That was a good experience,” Wheddon said. “There was a great group of guys there and we made playoffs our first year. It was a good year overall I think as a first-year team coming into the league.”

But the news wasn’t as good with Edmonton.

They released him in June, and a couple of weeks later, Brandon contacted him.

“When I first got the call, I was a little upset obviously,” Wheddon said. “When I got the call from Brandon I was super excited to get that second chance. I worked extra hard this summer to achieve this second chance.”

It doesn’t happen a lot.

The last free agent with WHL experience who became a meaningful contributor in Brandon was Gunnar Wegleitner, who had 19 points in 57 games with the Wheat Kings during the 2017-18 season.

Interestingly, Wheddon is one of two free agents who are still in camp, with 19-year-old defenceman Tre Fouquette also looking for a spot.

“I think camp went well,” Wheddon said. “I felt good out there and it felt good gelling with the guys as camp went on and now the pre-season is feeling good as well.”

Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray has noticed the same thing. Even with a short-staffed forward group due to injuries and players away at pro camps, Wheddon has been solid in their two pre-season victories.

“I see a guy who has been really responsible all over the ice,” Murray said. “He’s done a real good job in camp and in the exhibition games. I thought he did a lot of really good things in Regina the other night. Our whole forward group was pretty tired on Saturday because they played so much on Friday.

“I like what he brought to the table. He created, and he gives a coach confidence that he’s going to do a good job in any situation.”

Now it’s just a matter of locking down a spot. Brandon is currently carrying 14 forwards, which is close to normal, but Wheddon isn’t letting up.

“I have to keep working hard and playing my game but adjusting to their style as well,” Wheddon said. “And gelling with everyone and the linemates in the forward group and how the team wants me to play.”

ICINGS: The Wheat Kings return to action on Friday when they host the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday at 7 o’clock in their third pre-season game. They finish up a night later in Moose Jaw, and host the Regina Pats in their season opener on Sept 22 in the first of the WHL’s 748 games this season … There are 125 WHL players attending National Hockey League camps this fall. The Seattle Thunderbirds lead with 14 training camp attendees, with 10 each from the Kamloops Blazers, Portland Winterhawks and Wenatchee Wild. All 22 WHL teams are sending at least two players, with the Calgary Flames leading the way with nine WHL invitees, including free agent defenceman Quinn Mantei of the Wheat Kings. Brandon’s other three are draftees, Nate Danielson, Carson Bjarnason and Brett Hyland … On Monday, Edmonton sent 16-year-old goalie Jake Pilon of Calgary to the Kelowna Rockets for a seventh-round pick in 2027.

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