Eight games, less than an eighth of a junior hockey season, is not a long time for a player to develop. And yet, through the first eight games of his season with the Brandon Wheat Kings, there have been massive leaps forward in the game of defenseman Cam Allard.
Allard has three points in his last four games and four points in eight games so far on the season. The 6-foot-3 right-shooting defenseman’s progress has garnered NHL attention as well, as he earned a “W” rating on NHL Central Scouting’s first list of the season.
“It’s awesome, and something I’ve been working toward my whole life,” Allard said. “Since I was a kid, I wanted to get drafted into the NHL. This is obviously a small step towards that but it’s a step nonetheless. It’s cool to have happen. I know my family is excited but there’s still lots of work to be done.”
Allard’s progress can’t really be confined to the eight games he’s played this season, of course. He joined the Wheat Kings for 13 games during the worst of their injury troubles in 2024-25 and played three playoff games for the team as well.
“Playing against older guys, we had (2004-born players) in the league last year, getting into a few playoff games as well and seeing how the game changes,” said Allard, “overall playing a little bit my 16-year-old year really helped me adjust to the pace and know what to expect being a 17-year-old and coming in with the mindset that I can play at this level and I can be confident at this level.”
Originally an eighth round pick of the Wheat Kings of 2023, Allard quickly made it evident he was going to outperform his draft position. At the end of his first season with the Estevan Bears, in which he was the leading scorer among 2008-born defensemen in Saskatchewan, Allard signed his scholarship and development agreement with the Wheat Kings before returning to the Bears for most of 2024-25. That season, he was named the SMAAAHL’s top defensive defenseman.
“He’s feeling more comfortable,” said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. “He’s a puck mover, he’s made some good reads and gotten the puck moving north. That’s kind of what we want out of our “D” and he’s done a good job of that. He’s engaged in the offense a couple of times… that’s his game, and he’s understanding when and where to create some offense while at the same time not giving anything up defensively.”
The Yorkton native is keenly aware his job is not finished and the work is nowhere near done. There’s lots of season left, and the team needs to right the ship after a difficult start. But after the start he’s had, and with the experience of last season under his belt, Allard is confident about the path forward and he knows what he needs to do to walk it.
“I’m staying simple with everything,” Allard said. “Obviously I’m taking advantage of my opportunities when I’m out there and doing everything I can to help this team have success. We need everyone buying in right now and I’m going to do what I can to help this team win. Sometimes that’s getting on the scoresheet, sometimes that’s playing sound defensively, it depends on the game.”
Allard was one of three Wheat Kings who earned a rating from Central Scouting, with Giorgos Pantelas (B) and Jimmy Egan (W) also listed on the first list of the season. The Wheat Kings have a home double-header this weekend, starting against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday night at 6:00.
