Everyone in the Brandon Wheat Kings organization knew Chase Surkan could pile up points. When you set a modern era scoring record in your U15 league, which Surkan did right before the Wheat Kings selected him in the 2024 prospects draft, offensive ability is assumed.
But even though Surkan continued to light up the scoresheet in his subsequent U18 AAA season, even though he kept right on scoring at Canada’s U17 camp over the summer, and even though his offensive roll continued into training camp and the preseason, not too many people would’ve predicted he would fly out of the gates the way he has in his first full-time WHL season. As for that, Surkan wouldn’t have predicted it himself.
“I don’t think anyone would think their Western League career would start off like that,” said the 16-year-old Regina native. “I’m very fortunate to play with such great players on every line I’ve been on, so it’s very fortunate to be in those shoes.”
Three games into the season, on a team loaded with veteran offensive talent, Surkan sits atop the Wheat Kings’ leaderboard with seven points, two points off the league lead. After putting up two goals and an assist in the overtime loss against the Prince Albert Raiders, Surkan was named the league’s Rookie of the Week.
“The one thing with Chase we’ve seen so far is it doesn’t matter who you put him with, he makes those players better,” said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. “He’s all over the scoresheet, for a 16-year-old it’s quite impressive.”
As Surkan alluded to, he’s had some of that veteran offensive talent to lean on wherever he’s been in the lineup. Most recently, he’s been lined up alongside 20-year-old Nicholas Johnson and third-year player and former first-round pick Joby Baumuller, who set up his second goal against the Raiders.
“It’s been awesome to have the older guys helping me out all over the ice,” Surkan said. “They’re all such great players and they’ve been in the league for some time so they know their way around the game. It’s obviously good to play with them.”
Through the preseason, Surkan frequently found himself skating alongside Jaxon Jacobson, who assisted on his power play goal against the Raiders. The style comparisons between the two are obvious, and the 2009-born Surkan has learned a lot from the former 5th overall pick Jacobson.
“He has a very incredible hockey IQ,” said Surkan. “He knows where you are, he can make unreal passes, and he can also bury the puck too.”
As happy as Surkan is with his start, he and the rest of the Wheat Kings would be happier if the wins were coming as a result. There are still elements of his game the rookie forward wants to work on, especially as the offense has flowed naturally so far.
“I just want to be overall better in the D-zone, getting pucks out every chance I get and coming back hard,” he said. “I want to still put up those points and obviously get wins as well.”
Surkan and the Wheat Kings will have two tough opponents on deck over the weekend as they host the Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday and the Saskatoon Blades on Sunday.
