Four players from the most recent draft class for the Brandon Wheat Kings have already signed WHL Scholarship and Development Agreements with the club, as the next wave of up-and-coming young prospects is eager to make their mark on the team. Today, the Wheat Kings announced they’ve made it five.
Goaltender Dylan McFadyen, the Wheat Kings’ sixth round selection in the 2023 WHL draft, has signed his own WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team. The 2008-born Winnipeg native has been playing with the Interlake Lightning of the Manitoba U18 AAA ranks this season.
“Dylan has made some really nice strides this season,” said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. “He has put in the work to get stronger, and his upside is huge. His commitment level has been off the charts since we drafted him, and we are looking forward to watching him continue to develop.”
In the absence of netminder Carson Bjarnason, McFadyen had been serving as an emergency backup to goalie Ethan Eskit. He has been doing so while still playing with the Lightning, including one game where he played for Interlake against the AAA Wheat Kings in the afternoon before coming to the rink to serve as the Wheat Kings’ backup in the evening.
Standing 6-foot-2, McFadyen has the projectable frame of a future goalie and has been putting up strong numbers in the present. In 14 games with the Lightning, he has a 2.90 GAA and a .919 save percentage.
In his first season of U18 AAA hockey, McFadyen has not only put up excellent numbers, he’s helping his Interlake squad to one of their best finishes in a decade. The Lightning currently sit fourth in the twelve team league, which would be their best finish in any of the complete seasons since 2014 (the Lightning were in 4th place when the 2020-21 season was cancelled due to the pandemic).
McFadyen was also part of the Team Manitoba that won the province’s first ever gold medal at the WHL Cup in October of 2023. McFadyen appeared in two games and posted a 3.05 GAA with a .912 save percentage.
(Article courtesy of the Brandon Wheat Kings)
