Prince Albert's Braden Schneider playing for Team WHL back in November at the Art Hauser Centre. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

The Braden Wheat Kings

P.A.’s Schneider was convinced he would become a Raider, but couldn’t be happier as a Wheat King

Aug 14, 2020 | 2:30 PM

Braden Schneider came as close as one possibly could from playing for his hometown Prince Albert Raiders.

The Raiders held the 13^th overall selection in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft and it looked almost inevitable that Schneider would end up playing in the Art Hauser Centre, where he played his midget hockey as a Prince Albert Minto and where he sat in the stands watching.

With the Kelowna Rockets drafting defenceman Kaeden Korczak at 11^th overall meant the Raiders only had to wait for the Moose Jaw Warriors to make their selection before they could select their hometown hero.

But the Brandon Wheat Kings swooped in and acquired that pick from the Warriors to snatch up Schneider themselves before the Raiders even got their chance. The Raiders ended up taking Rhett Rhinehart with this pick, who then turned into Kody McDonald, who then turned into Dante Hannoun, who scored the 2019 WHL Championship-winning goal.

“When I first saw what was happening, I knew for sure that P.A. was coming up and they were going to be the ones to take a chance on me,” Schneider said. “But when I saw the Brandon trade, my dad [Kelly] and me and my mom [Carmela] got a funny feeling that something funky was going to happen. Sure enough, Brandon ended up taking me.

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“It was surprising because they had only talked to me the night before,” Schneider added. “I filled out a little survey for them, so I had no idea they were interested. But I’d like to think that it turned out pretty good.”

Thanks to the three ensuing seasons with the Wheat Kings, Schneider is now largely projected to be selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.

Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino projected Braden Schneider will be drafted 12^th overall to the Florida Panthers. ISS Hockey has him ranked 13^th overall, 15^th by McKeen’s and 17^th by TSN’s Bob McKenzie. Future Considerations has Schneider 21^st, while Elite Prospects has Schneider just slipping out of the first round at 34^th.

Since day one, Schneider has basically been on the Wheat Kings’ top defensive pairing ever since, even as a 16-year-old rookie.

He scored a goal and 22 points in that rookie year in 2017-18, and scored eight goals and 24 points in 58 games as a sophomore. Schneider had by far his best offensive season despite having the year cut short due to the pandemic, scoring seven goals and 42 points in 60 games.

“I’ve been very fortunate to be a guy that has gotten a lot of opportunity, and has taken that opportunity and tried to make the best of it,” Schneider said. “I feel like with the Wheat Kings and the team we have now, the team and me, we’ve all grown together… It’s been a special experience to go through that with my close friends now.”

Back at the Hauser

Schneider sure picked a great time to make Team WHL for the CIBC Canada/Russia Series. Prince Albert was named as the final location for the Canada/Russia Series back on Nov. 14, 2019, the first time it came to the Art Hauser Centre since 2008.

Schneider and Team WHL lost the game 4-3 in a shootout to Russia, meaning the three Canadian leagues were tied with the Russians after six complete games. Team WHL came through in a tiebreaking shootout, giving Canada the series win.

“Having it being in P.A. was super special moment for me,” Schneider said. “It’s always special coming back when you’re with Brandon, but it’s a little different when you’re on the opposite side. Seeing as I was a Prince Albert Minto and being used to that home bench, coming back for that Dub series and being back on that bench was really special. It was really exciting to be a part of that.”

As happy as Schneider was to be home for that, he was also at home for the Hockey Canada development camp for their World Junior team. Schneider, who has represented his country at the Under-17 and Under-18 world level, is no stranger to Hockey Canada camps and events. But he had never experience a virtual camp like this before.

“It was a little weird being at home for something like that, and seeing guys that you’re so used to seeing at the rink and whatnot,” Schneider said. “It was different but they pulled it off and did a good job with it.

“It was a series of Zoom calls each day. They would explain what the Canadian way is, and we’d go through our medical thing and whatnot. And then we tried to get a little coaching and they’d explain how they wanted us to play if we get the opportunity to represent Canada at that stage. They tried to inform us, they tried to keep it fun and tried to keep it light. And we had some little games and some team builders on there, too. It was good.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW