IceDogs Jack of all trades
Niagara IceDogs defenceman Jack Brauti at Boston Bruins rookie camp. Photo: SPECIAL TO BPSN.
The Niagara IceDogs are expecting big things from Jack Brauti this season.
The 18-year-old defenceman was acquired from the Barrie Colts in an off-season, three-team deal and IceDogs head coach Ben Boudreau has big plans for the Thornhill native.
“We need to rely on our defence to help contribute on the offensive side and I think Jack is a guy that’s really going to break out,” Boudreau said Wednesday afternoon before practice at the Meridian Centre. “Obviously nine goals last year would have topped any one of our defencemen that we had. This is supposed to be his breakout year and we’re supposed to have him for some tenure, so I’m really excited for him to join the squad.”
Brauti has impressed Boudreau in a number of areas.
“He’s a personality off the ice and we need that as well,” Boudreau said. “He’s a very intense individual and I love the competition that he brings in practice, so he’s been really good for us so far.”
The IceDogs struggled big time on the power play last season and Brauti’s skill set should see him get plenty of ice time with the man advantage.
“You want to put players in position to have success and you saw a 20th-ranked power play last year and you’re bringing a guy that scored nine goals in the season before,” Boudreau said. “He’s gonna be a big contributor with the talent that we have up front and we’ll rely on him to do big things for us this year.
“It’s gonna be exciting to see. You can see the little techniques he has that we kind of lacked last year, getting the puck through, a hard and heavy and accurate shot, deception from the blue line. I mean, these are all things you can already see.”
Brauti is excited to play an important role, but also realizes he needs to produce.
“Obviously it’s one thing to get it (ice time) but then it’s another thing to kind of excel in your role, so that’s kind of what I’m hoping to do, just not kinda get ahead of myself or anything. Just take it day by day and if I can make the team better in certain aspects, just do that,” he said.
Brauti appears to be settling in nicely in his new surroundings.
“It was pretty quick from when the rumours started to when it kind of happened, but coming to Niagara, it’s a beautiful spot, great locker room, great everything, great staff, great organization. They’re giving me some opportunities here so I can’t complain about being here at all.”
Brauti attended rookie camp recently with the Boston Bruins.
“It was good, we got to meet some of the NHL guys, see how they live their day to day life and how dialled in they are and how hard they work, so it kind of motivates you seeing those guys,” he said. “It was also great to get out there against really skilled guys, get some more competition in, kind of play against that.”
Brauti was passed over in the NHL draft, but hasn’t given up on the NHL dream.
“My aspirations are still to play in the NHL and if I do what I do, and I excel, I think I’m on the right track,” he said. “Especially being here in Niagara, they’re putting me on a good program, basically, you could say, and I think eventually down the road, I’ll be ready to play in the NHL.”
The IceDogs, who have a win, a loss and an overtime defeat in pre-season, play their final exhibition game Friday in Windsor in preparation for their regular season opener Friday, Sept. 27 at Ottawa.
“Well, 100 per cent you want to play games, but you need practice time,” Boudreau said. “We can’t just put a blanket over us and say this is who we are, this is how we’re going play.
“There’s so many new faces, there’s a new coaching staff, one with the two assistant coaches that we have, and we’ve made a ton of trades. You just look at a lot of the new faces and it just doesn’t come together overnight. You need as much time to gel and not only understand how you play but how you prepare and how you execute.”
The IceDogs are still without four players away at NHL main camps — Kevin He in Winnipeg, Noah Van Vliet in New York, Matthew Virgilio in Detroit and Andrei Loshko in Seattle.
As well, the club made three roster moves this week. Forward Andrew Vermeulen was dealt to the Kitchener Rangers for a ninth-round pick in the 2028 Ontario Hockey League draft while right-winger Dean Doherty was added from Sarnia for a 2025 fifth-round pick and defenceman Joey Wassilyn from Guelph for a 2025 13th-round pick.
Joey Wassilyn, the older brother of 2024 first-round pick Brady Wassilyn, had three goals and 111 minutes in penalties for the North York Rangers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League last season. He has yet to play at the OHL level.
Boudreau indicated rookie centre Max Crete, who has yet to see action in pre-season, is set to make his debut Friday.
“He’s had a little something nagging that’s kept him out,” Boudreau said. “I cannot wait to see him in his first junior game and it’s going to be exciting.”
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