As it stands, the Brandon Wheat Kings will have four 2005-born players on their roster when training camp begins. As of last night, three of those players have chosen where to take the next step in their hockey journey after the coming season is over.
Forward Nicholas Johnson has committed to NCAA Division 1 school Ferris State. Johnson clarified that his commitment will begin in the 2026-27 season and he will be in Brandon for training camp for his final year of WHL eligibility.
Acquired from the Portland Winterhawks in the Nate Danielson trade in January of 2024, Johnson’s early tenure with the Wheat Kings was beset by injury troubles. Once he got healthy and acclimated to his new surroundings, however, he took off. Johnson posted career highs across the board in 2024-25, with 16 goals and 43 points in 52 games. He followed that up with four points in five playoff games.
Johnson becomes the third 2005-born player on the Wheat Kings to commit to an NCAA school, joining Luke Mistelbacher and Matteo Michels. Interestingly, at a time when many WHLers are forgoing their final year of eligibility and going straight to college, all three Wheat Kings have chosen to play out their final year of eligibility and return to Brandon for their 20-year-old season.
Four Wheat Kings (Marcus Nguyen, Luke Shipley, Nolan Flamand, and Quinn Mantei) committed to Division 1 schools following the NCAA’s change in eligibility rules last season. Johnson is the seventh Wheat King of the modern era to go to the NCAA.
