Allen Douglas

Catching up with Brodi Stuart

-Kamloops, BC

Recently I was given an opportunity to attend a game in Kamloops as they took on the Kelowna Rockets. The Blazers organization was kind enough to grant me some time with 18-year-old forward Brodi Stuart who was named an assistant captain with this year’s team under the tutelage of new head coach Serge Lajoie.

Some may or may not know that Stuart’s father is the head coach of the Canadian men’s national softball team, which won the gold medal in the 2015 edition of the championships. They followed that up with a bronze medal in 2017.

So I asked Stuart how he got his start in hockey and not softball.

“My brother started out (in hockey) when he was young and my parents put him in. I fell in love with it watching him,” Stuart said.

Stuart continued, “My parents told me stories about when I couldn’t even walk they had me in skates and I would just be around the rink. They put me in it (hockey) when I could skate, like when I was two or three and I just fell in love with it right away.”

The Langley, BC native spent his time pre-WHL draft time with the Delta Academy a little more than a half hour from home. In the 2014-15 season he played for the Bantam Prep team that included future WHLers Ty Smith, Luke Zazula and Boston Bilous. He was third on the team in scoring with seven goals and 13 assists in 18 games. He added eight points in four playoff games for Delta.

“It was something I will never forget. Going to that academy really helped me towards coming to this league (the WHL). Both in the school factor and in the hockey,” Stuart told DUBNetwork about how Delta helped shape his future in hockey and beyond.

Stuart was then selected in the fourth round of the WHL draft. The Kamloops Blazers were the recipient.

Another season was spent in the Delta Academy with the Prep team of the CSSHL. Brodi then moved on to the team in Abbotsford, the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds. Fraser Valley has had players such as Jake Virtanen, Noah Juulsen and Shea Theodore graduate from their program.

Brodi Stuart (Chris Mast)

Stuart played just one season at Fraser Valley, netting 18 goals and 26 assists. He also played three games as a call up with the Blazers. He then found himself inserted into the line up for five playoff games for the Blazers. He would score his first WHL goal in the sixth and final game of the playoff series against the Kelowna Rockets.

In his first full season with the Blazers, Stuart looked to impress NHL scouts with some offensive flair and hard work and determination. 38 points in 70 games for a Blazer team that fell short of the playoffs had some scouting services looking at Stuart as a late round pick. NHL Central Scouting had him ranked 129th and Future Considerations placed him at 130th.

Unfortunately his name wasn’t called on draft day.

There was some good news though as the Pittsburgh Penguins extended him an invitation to their rookie camp held just after the NHL draft.

Brodi spoke about his experience attending the rookie camp last summer.

“That was an unreal experience for me and it was something I will never forget. It was really cool for me to be able to get there and just see what it’s like to be a pro there and what they do there.”

“It was pretty amazing to get to meet some of the people there and just see what it’s like.”

A new season brought with it a new set of expectations and some circumstances that would change the way the Blazers played the game. Foremost was the situation with the release / retirement of Don Hay as head coach.

The search would not last long and former Alberta Golden Bears head coach Serge Lajoie was brought in to lead the troops in the tournament city.

Lajoie had led the Golden Bears to the 2018 USports national hockey championship and had played seven games with the Blazers back in 1986-87.

Obviously things would be different in Kamloops.

Stuart and other players needed make adjustments that suited the head coach and for Stuart that transition has been good.

“I am really enjoying it so far. He brings some new things to the team and I think it’s been going well so far and everyone is really enjoying him here.”

On November 26th, the Blazers traded Luc Smith to the Chiefs for Jeff Faith and a couple of draft picks. This would mean that Stuart could see an increase in his ice time as well as a change to his role with the team. He was named an assistant captain this season and knew that he needed to step up even more following the deal.

“I think for me just trying to stick to my game, not change too much. Obviously become more of a leader and have to be a bit more vocal in the dressing room. For me I am not trying to change too much.”

Stuart remains eligible to be drafted in the 2019 NHL Draft, hosted basically in his back yard in Vancouver. He is determined to continue to work hard and capture the attention of scouts so that he can hear his named called. He figures he knows what he needs to do to make that happen.

“I need to really play my physical game and speed. Trying to create more offense. I’ve gotta continue to work hard and show that every shift. I’ve gotta be noticeable every shift and do the best that I can.”

Through 34 games this season, Stuart has 17 points, 11 of which are goals. On the night I had interviewed Stuart, he helped lead the Blazers to a 3-2 overtime win over the Kelowna Rockets by scoring a shorthanded marker. He followed that up with a game winning goal over the Prince George Cougars just two night’s later.