Brett Hyland’s performance can only be described as an A

It’s no secret to anyone who’s watched the University of Alberta Golden Bears Hockey team that Brett Hyland has come in and proven he can be the dynamic player any team needs. However, it’s a unique story from the 200th overall draft pick to the Washington Capitals.

As a dynamic, physical player, Hyland has become a key part of the Bears’ forward lineup. He’s been successful at driving the play into the offensive zone, and play-making once he’s there. After ten games with the Bears, Hyland’s performance can only be described as an A.

The Bears had an electric start to the season, no doubt assisted by their exhibition series in Ireland. Unfortunately, Hyland said he was busy having “a next level” experience at the Capital’s training camp, and missed that bonding experience with the team. Not that it held him back.

Hyland had a unique transition to the Bears

Hyland said his transition to the team “was pretty fluid. [He] already knew 80 per cent of the guys beforehand.” However, it wasn’t until the weekend against the Grant MacEwan Griffins on October 4 and 5 that Hyland said he really “started feeling apart of the team.”

Ironically, because his equipment was stuck in Washington, Hyland had to use borrowed equipment against the Griffins. As you would imagine, Hyland said it “felt terrible. [His] lungs were gone.”

However, those games weren’t his first experience with the Bears. Hyland attended the Bears’ training camp before heading to Washington. But something just clicked.

“It’s a good program. It’s good hockey. I wanted to play at U of A and be with my family here at home.”

“That experience [with the Capitals] is nothing like I’ve ever had before,” Hyland says

After getting to know the coaches and staff at the U of A, Hyland attended the Capital’s training camp — a pretty next level experience for a guy coming off major juniors.

“It’s a neat experience, but you try and go in and take someone’s job, and at the end of day, that was my goal.”

So what did the coaches giving Alex Ovechkin advice, like about Hyland?

“They liked my physicality. That’s always been a big part of my game, work ethic and playmaking abilities.”

What really sent Hyland over the edge was “winning battles.” He said that “winning 50-50 puck battles was what they constantly talked about.”

All in all, Hyland said “that experience is like nothing [he’s] ever had before.”

Despite his success at the Capital’s training camp, Hyland didn’t know he was getting drafted.

After checking hundreds of missed notifications, Hyland got a call from the Capital’s general manager, Chris Patrick.

“He told me the news, and I was like, oh my God. Then I just took 30 minutes to myself, just to process everything. It’s a different feel. And then you just feel proud,” Hyland said.

“I don’t even think we’ve hit our peak yet,” Hyland says

With a great start to the season behind him, it’s easy for Hyland to see that joining the Bears was the right choice.

“I see so much potential in our locker room, up and down our lineup. I can’t say that about many other teams I’ve been on,” Hyland noted.

After a close call this weekend against the Griffins on November 8 and 9, Hyland thinks “it’s pretty incredible that [they] were able to keep pushing. [They] wanted to get that win.”

“We can’t be winning every game, without any hardships, and be a championship team,” he said. Because of this, Hyland thinks the Bears haven’t even “hit [their] peak yet”.

On top of his team’s performance, he’s done great and he’s just getting started.

“When I’m enjoying playing hockey and what I’m doing, which I am, that’s when I have the most success,” he said. “The less I think about it, the easier it seems to come.”

Heading into the next few games, Hyland says he has the “utmost confidence.”

“Going into every weekend there’s confidence, not even in yourself, just in the guys around you. You know they’re going to be giving the same effort as you.”