Brayden Yager was one of the newest members of the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Selected third overall at the Western Hockey League draft in April 2020 — two spots behind phenom Connor Bedard and barely a month into the COVID-19 pandemic — the teenager was eager to jump right in.
When society started to open back up later that year, Yager asked head coach Mark O'Leary if he could make the two-hour drive south with his parents, Cam and Maureen, to get the lay of the land and pitch in at a team fundraiser.
"The humility," O'Leary said of what stuck with him about the family from that first meeting. "They had a stud for a kid ... but you'd never know.
"They just wanted their son to get a great opportunity."
He took it and ran — and is on the cusp of realizing one of his dreams.
Yager heads into next week's NHL draft as the 11th-ranked North American skater after three seasons in Moose Jaw that included one pandemic-abbreviated campaign.
The 18-year-old from Saskatoon had 34 goals and 59 points in 2021-22 before showing more playmaking ability this season, scoring 28 times and adding 50 assists.
O'Leary said Yager's discipline on and off the ice has stood out since Day 1.
It's not hard to see why.
Cam worked as a jail guard, often putting in a 12-hour overnight shift, but would be there in the morning to take Brayden and his brother to school or hockey practice. Maureen, meanwhile, worked as the warden's assistant.
"They're pretty strict," Yager said of his parents, both now retired, with a bit of a smile. "Really instilled hard work growing up."
The five-foot-11, 170-pound centre spent part of his childhood in Prince Albert, Sask., and was a season-ticket holder for the WHL's Raiders when future Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl was just getting started.
Yager met the big German forward as a kid and wanted to have a similar impact on youngsters in Moose Jaw.
"Watched all the games," he said of Draisaitl's time with Prince Albert. "Pretty special."
At the family's request, the Warriors set up a program for Yager to work alongside minor hockey players in his free time.
"It was for them to make sure Brayden remained humble," O'Leary said. "You see a real maturity about him with the way he carries himself off the ice."
On the ice, Yager has all the tools of a modern NHL forward.
"Explosive ability where he attacks with his feet and his skills to generate scoring chances," NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr said. "With players like that, it does take some experience to get that timing down.
"They learn the advantage of the risk-reward game, and he's done that."
O'Leary said Yager's commitment and confidence was evident the first time the Warriors got together for training camp ahead of the shortened 2020-21 season inside the Regina bubble.
"We were playing a small-area game," O'Leary recalled. "Some (draft picks) would come in and feel a little sheepish and shy in terms of the pace of play and just want to get rid of the puck."
Yager was the exact opposite.
"Had the puck, wanted to make plays ... like a 19-year-old right out of the gate," O'Leary continued. "Impressed the coaching staff, but caught his teammates' attention."
Yager likes to watch the power and skating of Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon, but is cognizant of his craft at both ends of the rink.
"That'll be something that really helps me going into the NHL," he said. "Gaining the trust of my coaches and working my way up the lineup."
O'Leary said the team that drafts Yager will get a player he used in all situations.
"What you want in your top guys," said the coach. "Whether it's winning a big faceoff, having a smart stick or the ability to anticipate a play to get the puck back and get the puck out — responsible and honest.
"And I haven't even talked about as his offensive ability."
Speaking of ability, O'Leary added it's Yager's capacity to self-evaluate coupled with an inner motor that sets him apart.
And has him knocking on the NHL's door.
"You can't get better if you're not honest with yourself," O'Leary said. "When he has a good game, he knows. But when he has a tough shift or a tough night, he also knows it and owns it.
"When you're honest about your shortcomings or things that need to improve, you have a drive to be great."
-With files from Gemma Karstens-Smith.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2023.
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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
