With training camp fast approaching, the Brandon Wheat Kings were facing down a difficult decision on their 20-year-olds for the second season in a row. Before they could really grapple with that decision, however, it ended up being made for them.
2005-born forward Matteo Michels has accelerated his commitment to the NCAA’s University of Vermont and will join the team in 2025-26 rather than in 2026-26 as he had previously decided. He becomes the third Wheat King this offseason to join the NCAA ranks before his WHL eligibility is up.
As a trade freeze is in effect, this means the Wheat Kings likely know who their 20-year-olds will be for the start of the 2025-26 season. The lone returnee among these players, forward Nick Johnson, is also committed to an NCAA school (Ferris State) but will not join the team until 2026-27. Johnson posted 16 goals and 43 points in 52 games last season.
Over the offseason, the Wheat Kings acquired two other 2005-born players from the Swift Current Broncos. One of them, Luke Mistelbacher, is committed to the University of Maine for 2026-27. He scored 42 goals and 93 points last season, and is the leading returning goal scorer in the WHL.
Rounding out the trio of overagers is defenseman Grayson Burzynski, also acquired from Swift Current via trade. Burzynski scored 11 goals and put up 47 points last season in 62 games, and stands 6-foot-4 and 211 pounds.
Earlier in the offseason, the Wheat Kings traded 2005-born import forward Dominik Petr to the Saskatoon Blades.
