(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).
The Brandon Wheat Kings had the eighth overall pick in the WHL Bantam Draft and they went to a strong program in Alberta to take center Ridly Greig.
Greig came up through the Lethbridge Golden Hawks program and won the AMBHL with them in 2015-16. The following year he played for Team South at the Alberta Cup and won that tournament as well.
Having a history of winning is something the Wheat Kings value and Greig has that. Lethbridge is one of the strongest programs of late in Alberta and Greig fully credits the amazing staff there.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have great coaches and have played with a lot of great players. There are quite a few guys I have played with that are going into junior clubs. They have been pretty successful. I am happy to be here with good players and playing against good players,”Greig said.
Greig follows in the foot steps of former first round picks for Brandon, Nolan Patrick and Stelio Mattheos. He admits that there is a little pressure for him to be a high pick for a program that has had such great talent come from high in the draft.
“There is a little bit of pressure but I am just looking forward to go in there and have a fun season. I will try to have fun and learn a lot of stuff there.”
Greig got into four games for Brandon last year – notching an assist for his first WHL point.
He also played for Team Alberta at the U16 WHL Cup and had his strong squad fall to Team BC in the title game.
“I got to know quite a few of the guys there so I am just getting to know more. Knowing a lot of the guys really helps.”
Greig hopes the lessons he has learned in Lethbridge, Brandon and elsewhere will help him make the Wheat Kings out of training camp, but he knows that task will not be easy.
“I’m just going to do my best to learn from the older players there. I know there is lots of great players there like Ty Lewis and (Stelio) Mattheos. I will just try to learn from them and that will help me in the years to come.”
(The interview for this piece was conducted by DubNetwork contributor Tyler Lowey).
