Bjarnason set for big step

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This article was published 27/06/2023 (861 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — Carson Bjarnason’s incredible journey is nearing another destination.

The Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender from Carberry, who went unselected in the 2020 Western Hockey League draft, will hear his name called at the NHL Draft in Nashville on Wednesday or Thursday.

While it’s been an unlikely trip, Bjarnason said it’s tough for him to reflect on everything that’s happened.

“I’m the one living it so it’s not like I can sit back and stare at all my big accomplishments or whatever you want to call them,” said Bjarnason, who turns 18 on Friday. “It’s what I do and it’s part of my life now and part of my identity and who I am.

“For me, as long as I stay the way I am and stay humble and give back to my community and respect all those people who respect me, then that’s the biggest thing for me. That will keep me grounded and keep me the same kid I was coming into camp.”

Scouts say he was initially ignored by WHL teams because he was a bit undersized, however, a massive growth spurt that summer led to Brandon listing him a few months later. At the Wheat Kings main camp in 2021, Bjarnason, just 16 at the time, came in and stole the backup job from an older goaltender, Nick Jones.

Serving behind Ethan Kruger, he became the first full-time, 16-year-old Wheat Kings goaltender since 1990.

“He’s a competitor,” Brandon general manager Marty Murray said. “He’s an outstanding young man and an outstanding teammate. I love the story of Carson, being undrafted, and I think that really lit a fire under him. It showed what kind of competitor he is. That’s been driving him the last couple of years to put himself in the position he’s in today.”

In 23 games in his rookie season (many of which came early when Kruger was injured and the team was struggling to dress 18 healthy players), Bjarnason posted a 4.00 goals-against average and .882 save percentage. He then earned a spot with Team Canada and won a gold medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2022. With Kruger’s graduation, the 6-4, 180-pound Bjarnason took over as starting goaltender at age 17 last season.

He was virtually unbeatable early in the season, with a .945 save percentage through nine appearances, and was named the league’s goalie of the week in mid-October.

But Bjarnason admitted load management was a concern as the season went on. In the previous three years, he appeared in a combined 44 games with the Southwest under-15 AAA Cougars at age 14, the Rink Hockey Academy at 15 and the Wheat Kings at age 16.

Last season, he played 47 games, and suffered a minor hip flexor pull from overuse after a hard weekend and a week of practice.

He didn’t play between Feb. 25 and March 10, his longest absence of the season, and ultimately posted a 3.08 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.

“The coaches said they didn’t know how much they wanted to play me but sometimes they felt they had to,” said Bjarnason, who lived in Gillam until age five, when his family moved to Carberry. “Looking at the bright side, it’s nice knowing you have their trust and knowing you’re their guy. It’s something to work on this summer for sure, growing and developing.

“It definitely takes a toll on your body but it’s something to learn from.”

Even after Murray took over behind the bench in late November when Don MacGillivray was dismissed, Bjarnason’s workload didn’t diminish, and he appreciated the vote of confidence.

But he said it was ultimately a tough year, with the team missing the post-season by eight points.

“I’m a team-first guy for sure all the time so not seeing that happen was unfortunate but it was an exciting year with draft year and being able to turn into that starter role and have both coaches throughout the year trust me and let me do my thing was big for me,” Bjarnason said. “You obviously take some things and stuff you need to do better and things that you do well to take into the next season. It was definitely a learning experience.”

After the season, he earned a spot with Team Canada again, making six appearances at the IIHF U18 World Championship in Switzerland, going 4-2-0-0 with a 3.51 goals-against average and .849 save percentage.

Canada ultimately earned bronze in the tournament after a tough start that saw them shellacked 8-0 by Sweden in a game Bjarnason started and surrendered five goals before being pulled.

“It was really cool,” Bjarnason said of the experience. “It’s Switzerland, so it’s a pretty sweet spot. It was a tough first game for sure but it was over with and then I was able to bounce back. I just wanted to prove I could play over the course of the tournament and give my team a chance to win.”

Bjarnason attended the annual combine in Buffalo, N.Y., earlier this month with more than 100 other prospects. It included the usual battery of physical testing and meetings with 28 of the 32 teams.

“You’re giving teams the most information you can about yourself,” he said. “I’m not trying to prove to them that I’m a good kid off the ice, I’m just letting them know who I am and that I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

On Monday, he headed to Nashville with his family, including his mother, Becky, and his father, Clarence, and could be facing more interviews. Other than that, he plans on lying low, relaxing and enjoying the experience as much as he can.

“It’s a business trip, and then it starts all over again,” Bjarnason said. “This really is a beginning and the work doesn’t stop.”

pbergson@brandonsun.com

Twitter: @PerryBergson