For the second consecutive season, the Brandon Wheat Kings were well represented at the TELUS Cup with multiple prospects on a team that went all the way to the finals. This year, a pair of potential future Wheat Kings came home with the national championship.
Forward Chase Surkan, the Wheat Kings’ first-round pick in the 2024 WHL prospects draft, and defenseman Ethan Young, one of two fourth-round picks by the team that same year, were big parts of the Regina Pat Canadians team that won the national U18 AAA title yesterday in Chilliwack. The Pat Cs beat the Chevaliers de Levis from Quebec 3-2 in overtime.
“We are very proud of Chase and Ethan,” said Wheat Kings’ head coach and GM Marty Murray. “Winning the TELUS Cup is not an easy feat and it was great to see them both contributing in big ways. Both had tremendous seasons and we are very excited about their future.”
Surkan, the 14th overall pick in 2024, was dynamite all season long with 73 points in 41 games for Regina while also playing his first three games as a Wheat King. He kept his torrid scoring pace up on the national stage, piling up 12 points in seven games at the TELUS Cup, tied for third in tournament scoring and tied for first with 11 assists.
Young, selected 85th overall, was one of the Pat Cs’ most reliable defensemen despite being a rookie, and picked up 18 points in 41 games in the regular season, but it was clear he was building up as the campaign went along. He netted five points in eight playoff games for the Pat Cs, then five more points in seven games at the TELUS Cup.
Promisingly, both players showed up in the big games even on the national stage. In the semi-finals against the Elgin Middlesex Canucks, Surkan picked up a goal and an assist, while Young had two goals and an assist in a 5-0 win. Surkan also picked up an assist in the gold medal game.
Last season, Jaxon Jacobson, Brady Turko, and Easton Odut were all part of a Brandon AAA Wheat Kings squad that also went to the TELUS Cup final. All three joined the Wheat Kings full time this most recent season.
