There isn’t much Brandon Wheat Kings defensemen Eric Roy and Ryan Pulock haven’t done together.
The duo are both eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft and broke into the Western Hockey League together in the 2010-11 season. Both have patrolled the same blueline for over 150 games together for the Wheat Kings.
But only Roy skated in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in January. A bone chip in his wrist kept Pulock in Brandon.
“I kind of gave him a hard time because I didn’t think he wanted to come with me,” Roy joked. “It was an unfortunate injury that he couldn’t come. It was a lot of fun, a lot of fun to go there. Hopefully his injury will heal.”
Though the effects of Pulock’s injury will fade, Roy’s memory of the event that pits 40 of the Canadian Hockey League’s top draft eligible talent against each other in an exhibition bout hasn’t.
“It was a lot of fun,” Roy said. “I felt very honoured to be (among) the top 40 prospects. It was intense, fast, hard hitting. I just went there with a simple mind to keep everything safe, don’t try to do too much. It was a lot of fun.”
Roy’s participation in the event may very well have been in doubt, too.
Struggling to start the season, the offensively gifted Beauval, SK product had just three goals and 11 points through October. November was no kinder to the six-foot-three rearugard, registering a minus-13 in the month alone.
Lately, Roy’s game has been coming together, especially in his own end.
“It’s something I’ve been focused in on this whole year,” Roy said. “I had a bit of a slow start, my plus/minus isn’t the greatest but I just try not to think about it. Me and the coaches have been working on it every day. It’s one of the most important zones in hockey. It’s a work in progress, though.”
A trip to Halifax to skate in the Top Prospects Game served as reward for the 18-year-old.
“Playing in the Prospects Game gave me a lot of confidence,” Roy said. “I’m just trying to keep things simple, come to the rink every day and work hard every day. Do the little things.”
Those little things don’t include paying attention to where Roy is sitting amongst his peers in various draft projections.
“I try to stay as far away from draft rankings as possible,” Roy said.
In fact, Roy is doing his best to deflect any talk about the draft itself. June 30th’s event will play out as it does, he said.
“I try not to think about it,” Roy admitted. “It’s going to be a very exciting day but I just go about my business every day and try not to think about it too much. The day will come and it will be a lot of fun when that day comes.”
When he takes another step of his hockey journey with Pulock by his side.