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The travel to join his new team wasn’t much different than what he experienced in three seasons playing in the Western Hockey League.
Newly acquired overage netminder Bailey Brkin make the trek from western Canada to join the Soo Greyhounds after the team acquired his rights from the Kingston Frontenacs on Tuesday.
After starting the season with the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors, Brkin was released by the team and, after clearing waivers in the WHL, was claimed by the Frontenacs, who proceeded to flip his rights to the Greyhounds in exchange for Christian Propp and a draft pick on Tuesday.
“It’s definitely been hectic,” Brkin said of the trip east, which began in Edmonton and included a stop in Toronto before he made his way to Sault Ste. Marie.
“It was definitely no 20-hour bus ride through the night to Prince Albert or Brandon,” Brkin also said.
The WHL, spread throughout western Canada from Manitoba west to British Columbia, is notorious for lengthy road trips.
Brkin spent last season with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. Going into the season, he wasn’t expected to be the starter but when Dawson Weatherill struggled, Brkin took over and would end up winning 27 games while posting a 2.75 goals against average and a 0.914 save percentage.
“It was an interesting year,” Brkin said. “I got the opportunity to become the starter and I ran with it.”
Brkin wouldn’t get the chance to return to the Chiefs due to a crowded overage situation this season but joined Moose Jaw prior to the start of the regular season.
Brkin joined the Warriors to fill in for veteran netminder Adam Evanoff, who was injured prior to the start of the season.
“It was fun playing there,” Brkin said. “I knew coming in that I was probably going to get moved within two months when Evanoff came back. I wasn’t upset when it happened. That’s a very young team there. That’s going to be one of the best teams in the WHL within a few years.”
“I felt like I went in and played my role and tried to be a leader to the younger guys,” Brkin added.
Brkin said he knew a little bit about the history of the Greyhounds prior to joining the team, adding that his favourite goalie growing up was former Greyhounds netminder Matt Murray.
Brkin said he doesn’t think it will be a major adjustment playing in the OHL after spending time in the Western League though he did notice some differences in the play between the two leagues.
“You hear about how good the players are, how skilled the players are,” Brkin said. “It’s definitely going to be a little bit of an adjustment coming here compared to a more structured style out west.”
“There’s definitely a lot less dumping of pucks (into the zone),” Brkin also said. “The players are more willing to hold onto pucks. It’s more of a possession game.”