John MacNeil
Daily Herald
With previous NHL training camp experience under his belt, Brandon Gorzynski doesn’t expect to be star-struck when he reports to the Dallas Stars’ tryouts this week.
The 19-year-old forward from the Prince Albert Raiders believes his composure will be that much more in check during his second Dallas training camp.
“I’m just going to go in there and work my hardest,” said Gorzynski, a fourth-round selection of the Stars in the 2025 NHL entry draft. “I trained all summer (for this).
“I went last year, so I kind of know what to expect. Those guys are very professional, so I try to model those older guys, see how they do things, and try to do my best to make the team.”
At the same time, the Arizona-born Gorzynski doesn’t plan to become too comfortable, even if the camp surroundings are more familiar the second time around.
“Yeah, you know people and the staff and everything, so it’s a little more comfortable, but still, you’re playing against the best players in the world,” he said. “So, it’s very nerve-racking and you want to do your best.”
Gorzynski did his best to keep a straight face during a post-game interview in the WHL pre-season, even with some behind-the-camera smirks from Raiders teammate Jonah Sivertson, an 18-year-old forward bound for his first NHL training camp with the Vegas Golden Knights.
“Every year, you get bigger and stronger, and (you benefit from) the experience of going last year and things like that,” said Gorzynski, an imposing six-foot-three and 195 pounds.
“I’m looking forward to being there and showing them what I can do.”
Along with Gorzynski to Dallas and Sivertson to Vegas, other active Raiders heading to NHL training camps are goaltender Michal Orsulak (Detroit Red Wings), defenceman Benett Kelly (Pittsburgh Penguins) and forward Riley Boychuk (Calgary Flames).
Braeden Cootes, a 19-year-old forward, is already in camp with the Vancouver Canucks. He hasn’t been in Prince Albert during the Raiders’ training camp and pre-season.
Gorzynski had a three-point game, including the empty-net goal, as the Raiders defeated the Moose Jaw Warriors 5-3 in exhibition play last Friday at the Art Hauser Centre. It was the first WHL action in Prince Albert since last May when the Everett Silvertips ousted the Raiders to win the league championship.
While lineup sheets from that final playoff game four months ago were still spotted in the Art Hauser press box last week, the Raiders turned the page and posted a tidy victory in their opening pre-season contest involving veteran personnel.
Three days after a team of Prince Albert prospects edged the Blades 6-5 in Saskatoon, an experienced group of Raiders looked the part Friday in taking care of business against a youthful Moose Jaw contingent.
Sivertson scored the winning goal with 10 minutes left. The Warriors had evened the score at 3-3 five minutes earlier when Rasmus Kamarainen tallied on a penalty shot.
Liam Myhre scored a goal and assisted on the winner as the 17-year-old defenceman from the U18 AAA Prince Albert Mintos moved closer to solidifying a full-time job with the Raiders.
Overage forward Carsyn Dyck, formerly of the Portland Winterhawks, also potted a goal and an assist for the Raiders.
Brendyn Van Oene, from the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals, had the opening Prince Albert tally.
Moose Jaw’s other goals came from Nolan Paquette and Karter Lundmark, son of former Warriors star and longtime pro Jamie Lundmark.
The Raiders outshot the Warriors 48-25, including a 16-6 margin in the first period.
“I thought the young D-man, Myhre, played really well,” Gorzynski said. “He was kind of up and down with us last year as an affiliated player. I thought he did really well tonight.
“Carsyn Dyck as well. I played with him most of the game, and he was fun to play with.”
Dyck has welcomed his tryout with Prince Albert and hopes to contribute much like he did in Portland during the previous two seasons.
“It’s the same thing,” he said. “They want to be quick, just like Portland. I’d say they want to be a little more physical, which I like. I think that fits into my game.
“It’s a nice pace and quite easy to get used to, coming from Portland.”
It’s also a Saskatchewan homecoming for Dyck, who is from Warman.
“I like it,” he said. “Home is an hour away, but it feels like I’m at home. It’s really nice. My lake is, like, 30 minutes away, so it feels comfortable.”
Dyck also played in his hometown of Warman on Saturday night as the Saskatoon Blades posted a 5-2 victory over the Raiders.
The Raiders and Blades tangle in another pre-season game this Thursday night at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert.
It’s the next audition for prospects, as well as veterans like Dyck and Saskatoon-born Logan Pickford, another 20-year-old forward new to the Raiders.
“Just keep working hard, doing everything you can to make the team, and helping the younger guys out, because I’m an older guy,” said Dyck, almost five-foot-10 and 175 pounds.
