With his lanky stature, long reach and long stride, comparisons to former Kelowna ¸é´Ç³¦°ì±ð³Ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ defenceman Tyler Myers are inevitable.
Still, Braydyn Chizen knows he has a long way to go before reaching the status of an NHL-calibre defenceman.
In °ä³ó¾±³ú±ð²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s second season with the Rockets, assistant coach Kris Mallette said the 6-foot-7, 200-pound native of St. Albert, AB is still rough around the edges but is making progress on a daily basis.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœH±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s a guy who has to watch himself, day in and day out on video to be aware of what ³ó±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s doing, good or ²ú²¹»å,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ Mallette said of Chizen.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœH±ð still makes mistakes, but he realizes he can cover a lot of space, his skating is good and his puck decisions are improving.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœW±ð have to be patient and build off what ³ó±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s doing ·É±ð±ô±ô,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ added Mallette. 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœH±ð has a good attitude, he listens and is hard on himself, so he just has to keep working to get ²ú±ð³Ù³Ù±ð°ù.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
Chizen, 18, who is still growing into his sizeable frame, played in 45 games during his rookie season in the WHL and in just three more in the playoffs.
Yet that was enough to pique the interest of the Minnesota Wild, who selected Chizen in the seventh round of last ²õ³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s NHL entry draft.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá³Ù gave me something to work towards and was really motivating for ³¾±ð,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ Chizen said of being drafted.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá³Ù was sort of like getting my foot in the door and ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s when the real hard work started.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœO²Ô the other hand, ¾±³Ù91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s just one ²õ³Ù±ð±è,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ he added. 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá know I have a long way to go, so I need to put in the work everyday to reach my ²µ´Ç²¹±ô.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
Mallette said when Chizen first joined the Rockets he was an 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœe³æ³Ù°ù±ð³¾±ð±ô²â °ù²¹·É91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ commodity, but has been gradually refining his craft with more playing time.
For °ä³ó¾±³ú±ð²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s part, he is committed to improving his game and becoming as reliable a teammate as possible.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m playing more and ±õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m gaining some confidence because of ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ said Chizen, who has a goal and two assists in 16 games this season.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœE±¹±ð°ù²â night I feel like ±õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m making improvements.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá talk to Kris (Mallette) after every game and ³ó±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s helping me with all the things I need to do better.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá know ±õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m not there yet, but hopefully ±õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™l±ô keep getting closer to where I need to ²ú±ð.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
Chizen and the Rockets (10-9-0) will host the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday night. Face off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.
Three points for ²Ñ±ð°ù°ì±ô±ð²â91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦
¸é´Ç³¦°ì±ð³Ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ teammates Nick Merkley and Cal Foote both auditioned their talents for Hockey Canada this week as members of Team WHL during the CIBC Canada-Russia Series.
Merkley had three assists over the two-game set, including two helpers in for Team WHL in Edmonton.
Foote, the youngest player on the Team WHL, also played in both games. Team OHL and Team QMJHL will also play against the Russians in the six-game annual series.
¸é´Ç³¦°ì±ð³Ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ assistant coach Kris Mallette watched the two games and said Merkley and Foote both looked more comfortable the second night in Edmonton.