Brandon Caputo
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Forward Braidy Wassilyn was selected fourth overall in this past Ontario Hockey League (OHL) priority selection by the Niagara IceDogs but the Campbellville, Ontario native says that the biggest excitement for him, other than draft day, has been relocating down to Niagara and getting engraved with his IceDogs teammates on and off the ice.
“It’s been a rollercoaster, we have a great group of guys here,” Wassilyn said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been with a group of guys who’ve gelled like we have in a short period of time. My billet family has been amazing, couldn’t have had a better one; they’re very supportive and the love goes both ways already.”
After eclipsing 31 goals and 62 points in only 31 games with GTHL Markham in his OHL draft year, Wassilyn says that his fellow rookie class being full-timers with him in this process has been very helpful for his comfort level being such a natural transition to a new setting.
“Having some rookie friends and going to school with them every day, being in every class with them,” Wassilyn said. “Guys like Crete and Frasca going to class with them every day, we’ve gotten so close in a short period of time.”
The 16-year-old forward also praised some current players on the team have helped stepping into the IceDogs locker room an easy process as well.
“Knowing some guys and not knowing guys coming in like (Mathieu) Paris and (Alex) Assadourian; they’ve made it so easy to get adjusted coming into this organization,” Wassilyn said. “I’m starting to get real comfortable and having a lot of fun.”
Wassilyn believes that despite being a younger group up front, the group has high hopes for themselves within that room despite the lack of results for the franchise over recent years and looks forward to adjusting to the style of play it will take for him to be successful at this level.
“I’m really excited for what this group of guys is going to do,” Wassilyn said. “I think we have so much potential and we’ve got to get our systems down and get everything running correctly and we’re going to be a great team.”
“Playing against older guys is always a challenge but the speed out here and IQ everyone has is a step above,” Wassilyn said. “It took a little bit to get used to, I’m starting to feel more confident with everything.”
Good first impression on a new head coach
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Niagara’s head coach Ben Boudreau is excited to add the talented Wassilyn to his lineup card but says that everyone inside and out will need to level their expectations for the 16-year-old so that he can develop the right way at the next level of his career, in the OHL.
“We definitely want him to have an impact and support him with good players around him,” Boudreau said.
“We’d like to surround him with some of our older guys who have been through it but not try to place too much expectation on a kid who hasn’t played a regular season OHL game yet.”
Wassilyn has had quick success so far in his first OHL preseason, recording two goals and two assists in four games including a plus four rating and 10 shots on net. Niagara has a 2-1 record so far over that span.
Niagara’s bench boss, going into his first full-time season at the helm is impressed with Wassilyn’s ability to retain and receive information that will hopefully translate into him becoming an impact player at this level sooner rather than later.
“You can see it in practice, video, and all of his abilities,” Boudreau said. “He has a great release and the opportunity to make plays and make guys around him better. We saw that at training camp but to gain more confidence it’s going to take more reps and continual repetition.”
Hitting the ground running
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Boudreau added that Wassilyn doesn’t often need to be motivated as he’s come in with the right attitude and openness to the coaching at all times, which is an admirable humble approach.
“A guy like Braidy is a motivated hockey player so we find ourselves texting late conversations on how how to do you score shootouts and he just loves hockey and wants to be a hockey player,” Boudreau said. “If he continues to go down the path he’s on, he’s going to be a great impact player for now and into the future.”
Niagara’s head coach added that the team will be there to support him through the rollercoasters of a rookie season, like any would and have in his position. However, Braidy has an infectious attitude that he’s already brought inside the room despite his young age and inexperience at this level.
“He shows up, he takes care of one another while being an unbelievable teammate and person off the ice that is really going to fit in with our culture,” Boudreau said. “With that type of mentality, I think he will be able to deal with the ebbs and flows more than others of his age normally would.”
“I think Braidy is a team player, he’s right there in the mix and always bringing a smile to the rink,” Boudreau added. “You look how he’s received in that room and he’s walking around with a ton of confidence and that just speaks to the culture we’re building in this organization.”
Boudreau took over as head coach of the IceDogs on November 10th, 2023 in the midst of his first season as Associate Coach behind Niagara’s bench and adds that the culture within the room has slowly been changing in the positive direction thanks to their young core, which Wassilyn is now a part of.
“That’s something I didn’t know what I was walking into but this year is completely different,” Boudreau said. “It is a confident group in there and kids like Braidy have really added to that positive culture in the room.”
The former Markham Majors captain made it clear that whatever role is expected and given to him this year, he will carry out to the fullest. “I know the coaching staff are expecting a lot from me, it’s going to be an exciting season and I’ll to adjust to whatever role I’m put into and whatever they want from me,” Wassilyn said.
A person of high principles
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Boudreau finished by saying that Braidy’s values and faith are admirable traits that he carries with him in all aspects at and away from the rink that helps him stay grounded and focused as he goes through this process.
“There’s going to be a learning curve for sure with any player coming into this level but he’s the kind of guy is pretty even keel,” Boudreau said. “I haven’t seen too much negative emotion out of him, he always comes ready to play. Braidy just loves being at the rink, being around everyone and I love the fact that he has faith-based values and is pretty regimented in that fact and it carries over to his daily habits.”
“Just focus on what I do best, I’ve been having so much fun that it really hasn’t been about hockey and I hope it stays that way,” Wassilyn ended. “I keep faith in 'The Lord Jesus Christ' and that is who I look up to every day. It’s been an exciting last month and I just can’t wait to get started with the regular season.”
Niagara will complete their preseason schedule with a road matchup in Windsor this coming Saturday the 21st of September. The Dogs from St. Catharines will then open their 2024-25 OHL regular season week on the road in Ottawa and Kingston, beginning on September, 27th, with their regular season home opener taking place on October, 6th against Central Division rival Brampton.
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