16-year-old Damon Bickler is one of those guys you may see as a constant on the Winterhawks’ roster in the coming years.
Last season
@DSEHC15O defenseman Damon Bickler made a few great plays in his own end in the opening contest versus Compuware, with this being one of them: pic.twitter.com/Sggp5XlXxr
— Puck Preps (@PuckPreps) April 29, 2021
Spending last season on the 15O AAA Dallas Stars Elite team, Bickler shared the ice with Cru Hanas, the younger brother of Portland forward Cross Hanas. Coming into camp with a veteran Winterhawk showing him the ropes, the listed defenseman has been enjoying the entire experience in Portland so far.
In the off-season
Earlier this year, Bickler was both drafted by the USHL’s Fargo Force and listed by the Portland Winterhawks organization, though this does not mean we won’t see him in the WHL. He has yet to decide where he will spend his junior career, but some great options are available to him.
“Yeah, I’m not too sure. I was drafted in the USHL and then listed by Portland. Both are right up there in my wheelhouse, so I’m thinking just finish the 16-year out and see what happens.”
With that said, he has had a pretty productive year already as he prepared for the upcoming season.
“I mean, in Dallas, there’s not many restrictions right now, so all the gyms are open, all the rinks are open. I’ve probably been on the rink six times a week and at the gym every day.”
In July, Bickler, along with Winterhawks prospects Tanner Bruender and Jason Zaccari, found himself invited to Amherst, NY, for the 2021 USA Hockey Boys Select 16 Development Camp after competing at USA Hockey Nationals with his Dallas Stars Elite team.
If he could play any other position, he’d choose to be a center.
“I’m a defense myself, and center is a good balance of defense and offense, so I think I could rock that for a little bit.” Maybe he’s on to something fun for a scrimmage one day.
His first Neely Cup
His favorite thing about the Neely Cup? The speed of the games. “It’s high-paced up here, so can’t go wrong with that.”
Kurt Pohs, the US Division scout at FC Hockey, had this to say about Bickler after the first day of the Neely Cup.
“He was really nervous in warmups and the first 10 mins or so of the 1st game he played, but after that, he settled down and showed he could play at the WHL level. He anticipates the play well and is a really smooth skater. He’s got pretty good puck skills as well, so he looked like a copy of (Ryder) Thompson and (Luca) Cagnoni out there.”
Pohs mentioned that Bickler was the biggest surprise for him after day one, as there is not much information available for the AAA guys in the US.
Speed and passing may be some areas for development, but the young defenseman had a great showing at his first Neely Cup.
As far as getting stronger goes, the Texas native said that his favorite training activity is weightlifting.
“Just lifting the weights, competing against your buddies. It’s fun. I could be in the weight room for hours a day.”
Music and entertainment
If you looked at his playlists right now, you see: “Probably right now just hip hop and rap. Kind of how it’s going.”
If he had to pick one artist right now, he’d choose to listen to Drake. According to Bickler, “He never misses.”
While “not a big TV guy,” Bickler enjoys a good movie just like anyone else. His favorites? “You can never go wrong with Miracle or any of the classics. Classic hockey movies.”
His favorite food stays true to his Texan upbringing.
“Probably a good steak. Yeah, that’ll do it.”
His favorite place for a good steak?
“There’s a good place down in Dallas called III Forks, and they have top-notch steak.” Good to know where to go if you ever find yourself in the area, though it looks like the restaurant may have moved to Frisco recently.
With golf taken off the table as an option, Bickler says his favorite activity outside of the rink is hiking.
“I like to go hiking in my off-time with my buddies and just explore the wilderness and get out.”
Should the blueliner end up spending his junior career in Portland, this works perfectly, and he knows it. His favorite thing about coming out to Portland for camp?
“The wilderness. It’s nice to just get out of Texas. It’s all highways and roads down there, so it’s nice up here.”
What the fans can look forward to
On the ice:
“I’m a puck-moving defenseman. Just always join the rush. I’m not the biggest kid on the ice, but I play like it.”
Off the ice:
“I’m a funny guy, I guess. Don’t talk much, but when I do, I can make people laugh.”
