Edmonton Journal

Fresh Faces of the WHL: Kaiden Guhle

 

(photo-PA Herald)

(As part of a running feature before the start of the year, we will have some features on players going into their rookie WHL seasons).

When the Prince Albert Raiders 2018-19 training camp gets underway later this month, a lot of eyes will be drawn to defenseman Kaiden Guhle.

That is what happens when you are a first overall WHL Bantam draft pick. Guhle was drafted first by the Raiders in 2017.

As a first overall pick he follows in the foot steps of recent first round NHL draft pick Ty Smith and recent NHL Rookie of the Year Mathew Barzal among many others.

While there is a lot of pressure on the 2002-born defenseman from Sherwood Park, Alberta, he has a resource those others would have liked to have had. That is an older brother who was a high pick by the same WHL team en route to the NHL.

Brendan Guhle was quick to provide his younger brother with some advice as Kaiden prepared to start his season with some time at U17 Hockey Canada Development Camp.

“He told me to come ready to have fun. He told me it’s going to be hard but it will also be a really good time and really great experience,” Guhle said.

Competing with his fellow Canadian 16-year-olds for a spot on one of three U17 teams, was something he enjoyed.

“It’s awesome being a part of Hockey Canada for even a week really means a lot. It has always been a dream of mine since watching World Juniors and seeing my brother go through this process when I was younger.”

Looking back on the 2017 draft, Guhle says he did not have any expectations but was excited to be picked by the Raiders.

“I didn’t really have an idea. I was just hoping to get picked. I was just hoping that the team would be excited to have me.”

Brendan was again someone he reached out to prior to the draft when deciding whether to go NCAA or WHL and the older Guhle’s words were all about trusting yourself.

“He just said do whatever my heart tells me. If I want to go Dub – go Dub and if I want to go college – go college. I chose to go Dub and I happy with my decision.”

Kaiden got into eight WHL games last year, notching his first WHL point – an assist. There was a noticeable difference for him in playing major junior.

“Speed was obviously a really big factor in the WHL compared to Midget but it was really fun and it was great to get that experience.”

That octet of games he feels is a major advantage for him as he nears his first full season in the WHL.

“Those eight games and being up with them in the playoffs – even though I didn’t play but I still got to know they guys. It will help me get more comfortable.”

Even with that advantage, he knows hard work is the key to a strong rookie campaign.

“I know I need to train hard and do what the coaches told me at the end of the year to do. I need to keep working on what they told me and preparing by getting stronger and faster.

They told me to just get bigger and stronger and work on my pace.”

That hard work he put in over the off-season will be put to the test later this month when the Raiders take to the ice. Guhle’s first steps in what could be a remarkable rookie year will be some that Raiders fans will be excited to watch.

(The interview for this piece was conducted by DubNetwork contributor Tyler Lowey).