“I have lots on my mind as I’m going (into the final game)."
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Wyatt McLeod is craving fast-food grub once he leaves the Western Hockey League hub.
While certainly savouring his WHL hub opportunity with the Saskatoon Blades, McLeod can’t wait to gobble down something from, say, McDonald’s or Burger King.
Indeed, the very first thing the graduating Blades’ defenceman is going to do — after bursting his WHL bubble — is get his hands on a big, fat, greasy hamburger.
That’s how he will celebrate his new-found freedom after spending two months in the WHL’s East Division hub in Regina, where the Blades will wrap up their season Wednesday against the first-place Brandon Wheat Kings before hopping on a bus back to Saskatoon.
“When we get back, (Blades goalie) Nolan Maier and I are going to jump into his vehicle and we’re going to go to some fast-food restaurant and go get a nice, greasy burger,” offered McLeod.
“That is going to be our first stop.”
McLeod, who was acquired by the Blades from the Edmonton Oil Kings prior to the WHL’s shortened season, joined a new team in Regina for two months of hockey isolation.
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Players have spent their time split between their apartment-style dormitory, team bus and the Brandt Centre in Regina. They’ve been away from family and friends and, really, much of civilization.
“I’ll say this: I’ve really enjoyed the time here — it’s obviously been unique and it’s been a great way to get familiar and meet new friends, and I’ve kind of acclimatized myself with a new team quickly — but, with all that said, I think I can say on behalf of just about everyone that we’re ready to get out of Regina,” admitted McLeod.
Prior to the shortened ‘bubble’ season, McLeod got traded from a top contender to an unknown. He didn’t know what to expect.
“In a sense, I didn’t quite realize how good we were going to be, at first,” said McLeod, a native of Dawson Creek, B.C., where his parents own and operate an oilfields rentals business.
“I’d say after about our first week of practices and first couple of games, I thought, ‘holy smokes, we’re an elite team in this league, regardless of if we’re in a bubble or locked into one division or whatever; we’re a very strong team.’ That’s one of the things that really jumped out to me right off the bat.”
McLeod jumped into a big role with the Blades, trying to help fill the void left behind after Scott Walford and Nolan Kneen graduated, and import Radek Kucerik stayed in Europe.
Love describes McLeod as a “key pickup” from a good program in Edmonton.
“He’s brought that veteran presence, that veteran leadership, understanding the game, giving us some quality minutes back there, which is also helping the development of our young defencemen,” said Love.
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“He’s really balanced our group back there. Coming from a very good program in Edmonton the last few years, he’s brought that along to our culture here and mixes well with our veteran players in terms of part of our leadership. I think that will be something that, years down the road, will probably pay dividends with our younger players.
“He’s been a pleasure to work with.”
Blades general manager Colin Priestner says McLeod has been “outstanding” this season.
“He’s been a guy that we’ve been able to rely on in all different kinds of situations,” said Priestner, adding that he’s especially noticed the positive influence McLeod has had on fellow D-man Rhett Rhinehart.
McLeod has also played a mentorship role for the Blades’ young and inexperienced defencemen.
“That’s been a fun part,” said McLeod. “They’re very open-minded. They’re all sponges. They want to get better. Taking them aside one by one and giving them little tips, whether it’s practice or games or on-ice habits, whatever it is, it’s been a really nice experience, just answering questions. I try to rub my experience off on them.”
McLeod is about to play his final game of junior hockey Wednesday.
“I have lots on my mind as I’m going (into the final game),” he said. “I don’t know my whole plan of attack for the future. I’m trying to put that aside and just focus on hockey and really enjoy it too.”
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Leaving WHL hub and craving fast-food grub, Saskatoon Blades D-man Wyatt McLeod ready to transition back to real world - Saskatoon StarPhoenix
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