Yager enjoying a decorative career

By Lethbridge Herald on January 29, 2025.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes Brayden Yager attempts to get a shot off while being checked by Connor Bear and Cohen Klassen of the Regina Pats during WHL action at VisitLethbridge.com Arena last week.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Brayden Yager is enjoying a decorative junior hockey career, which has lead him being drafted to the NHL and earning some awards along the way.

Yager’s accolades include winning  the Western Hockey League’s Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year two years in a row while with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

“I’ve always been a player that tries to play the game the right way, you know,  play between whistles and I’m not going to go out looking for any of the other stuff,” said Yager, on his sportsmanlike quality.

“I think for me just focusing on myself, helping the team win and staying out of the box is a huge part of that. But also making sure (I am) playing hard as well and playing honest.”

Yager won the 2022 Canadian Hockey League and Western Hockey League Rookie of the Year awards after collecting 34 goals and 59 points in the 2021-2022 season.

The Saskatoon product was the first to win the award for the franchise in the CHL, while he got the WHL award for setting a franchise record in goals as a 16 year old and led the league in the categories of goals, points and game winning goals.

“Going into that year, I didn’t really have any crazy numbers or goals,” said Yager.

“I just wanted to go out and play my game, and obviously we were trying to kind of turn the page there with Moose Jaw’s culture, and try (and) be a winning team. And obviously we did that by making the playoffs that year.”

Yager spoke about Moose Jaw’s championship run last season.

“Whenever you get the experience of winning, that’s something you’ll never forget,” said Yager.

“I think you just realize how hard it is to win and how much you have to come together as a team to get the job done. It’s incredible and obviously looking to do that here in Lethbridge.”

Yager says it’s a huge honour, when asked about being  that decorated in his junior career.

“I think the league is so good and filled with so many great players,” said Yager.

“To get any individual awards is really cool but I think obviously the best one of all is the championship.”

In an NHL.com interview with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023, the team’s personnel had asked Yager when he felt he played his best. Jager said he was a “big moments” player and thrived in high pressure situations. At a media scrum on Wednesday, he was asked why he felt that way.

“I think being a young kid, you always dream (of) yourself being in big situations, whether it’s playing mini sticks or road hockey or whatever and that’s always the most fun moments,” said Yager.

“I like to think (of) myself as a player that rises to the occasion.”

Yager had an eventful off season this past year as the Penguins, who drafted him 14th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, traded him to the Winnipeg Jets for the 14th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Rutger McGroarty.

“I think once you get on the ice, everything kind of goes away, all the outside noise, and you kind of just play and do the drills you’re supposed to do,” said Yager.

Yager learned from the pros in how to they prepare.

“How they prepare (themselves) for games and practices is something that you can really learn from,” said Yager.

Yager is getting comfortable with his new teammates in Lethbridge since coming over in an early December trade.

“It was nice to have a little time here before obviously (I) went to world juniors just to get comfortable and meet everybody,” said Yager.

“Just so when I got back it wasn’t a completely new scenario. But yeah obviously now starting to get comfortable and obviously I’m not going anywhere now. So it’s all Hurricanes now, and can kind of get into a little bit of a groove and get everything dialled in and kind of go on a good stretch here before playoffs.”