Pauls soaking in pro opportunity

By Lethbridge Herald on September 8, 2025.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Chase Pauls has been skating with the Lethbridge Hurricanes this week as he prepares for his second year in the pros.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Former Lethbridge Hurricane defenceman Chase Pauls is back in town training with the club before he heads off to pro camps. 

Pauls suited up in the WHL for four seasons split between the Canes and Prince George Cougars where collected 69 points in 224 regular season games and had four points in 23 postseason games.

Once the Osler, Sask. product  finished his junior career after the 2023-2024 season,  he  started his professional career last season  in the ECHL with Bloomington Bison, which is a New York Rangers affiliate, and then he was traded this past January to the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush, who are affiliated with the Calgary Flames.

He also had two games in the American Hockey League with the Henderson Silver Knights.

“Learned a lot this (last) year playing pro, it’s definitely an adjustment for sure from junior,” said Pauls.

“Being the young guy again probably  was the biggest thing I noticed but it was a lot of fun and looking forward to the year coming up.”

Pauls felt he had to put in more gym and on-ice time to prepare himself for the next level.

“Just trying to beef up a little bit because I’m not a small guy by any means but  playing against grown men’s a little different than playing against 17,18,19-year-old kids,” said Pauls.

Pauls admitted it took some time to adjust  going into Bloomington as he was a part of a team that had a new coach that was in his first year in the pro ranks and a club that had many new players.

“It kinda took us, as a team, awhile to adjust,” said Pauls.

“But once I found my game a little bit, it was awesome, I had lots of fun.”

Pauls has enjoyed working with older guys on his teams.

“Both (of) my teams I played on had captains who were almost 30 and had been  playing for a long time,” said Pauls.

“Just to see their work ethic and hear some stories of guys they played with and about the league, it was awesome.”

Living my himself has been Pauls’ favourite part about pro hockey.

“You miss the very little  or no responsibilities  you have playing junior but I really enjoyed cooking for myself (and) looking after my own apartment,” said Pauls.

“The guys were awesome, and they make it what it is.”

Pauls had 14 points in 61 games split between Bloomington and Rapid City.

His hope is to stick around the American Hockey League with Calgary Wranglers this season.

He is back in town for a week training as players in Saskatoon were leaving , and there was limited ice, and he texted cane head coach Matt Anholt to see if he could skate with the team.

“It’s weird,” said Pauls, on watching current Canes prepare for a new season.

“There’s lots of turnaround from the team, there’s only (a) couple guys left here  that I played with.”

Pauls sees this year’s team being exciting with a roster that is young and has a new head coach.

“So, I’m hoping the best for the guys here,” said Pauls.