Pouteau happy to be back patrolling Pats blue-line
Defender returns to team that drafted him just in time for Memorial Cup run
Brady Pouteau didn’t expect a chance to finish what he started with the Regina Pats.
“Never,” said the 19-year-old defenceman, who was reacquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes before Wednesday’s WHL trade deadline.
“It’s been a pretty crazy few days for sure but I’m happy to be here and get a chance at a Memorial Cup. Not too many people get to have that — ever. When I did leave, it was kind of sad. But now I’m back. I couldn’t be more excited.”
Pouteau was traded to Lethbridge on Jan. 4 of last year, at which point the Pats were one of three candidates to host the 2018 CHL championship. By the time Regina’s bid was accepted, Pouteau had already settled into an important role with the Hurricanes, who utilized him on a shutdown pairing with Igor Merezhko.
“I feel like I matured a lot and my confidence grew,” he said. “I felt like I took what (the Pats’ coaches) gave me and went with it. I played more often, which kind of helped my game. Now I’m 19 so I have the size and I know what it takes to play.”
Regina landed Pouteau in the fourth round of the 2013 bantam draft. He made a strong impression as a midget AAA call-up during the 2015 playoffs, when the Pats threw him into the fire because of injuries and suspensions.
Pouteau earned a full-time spot in 2015-16 but struggled to climb the depth chart over the next 1½ seasons. Blessed with an abundance of WHL-calibre defencemen, the Pats traded him to Lethbridge, giving him the chance to play a larger role.
He thrived.
“I talked to Peter Anholt, the GM of Lethbridge, (before this week’s trade) and he enjoyed my game,” Pouteau said. “It was great between us but he gave me the opportunity to come here. (Pats head coach and GM) John (Paddock) wanted me here so I feel like overall it has been a win-win situation. I can’t thank Peter and the rest of the Lethbridge Hurricanes enough.”
The Pats identified Pouteau and fellow newcomer Aaron Hyman as precisely the kind of big, strong, stay-at-home defenders who could round out their blue-line corps. Holdover Liam Schioler is a similar player, complementing the dynamic offensive skills of Josh Mahura and the two-way talents of Cale Fleury.
The Pats added a cherry on top when they acquired Libor Hajek, considered one of the league’s premier defencemen.
“It’s a deeper defence than we had last year even,” Paddock said. “We’re happy with that. It’s going to take some familiarity with partners and so forth ... but we like our group of defence.”
If all goes well, Pouteau will be an important piece of the puzzle.
“He established himself, certainly, with Lethbridge,” said Paddock, whose team defeated Pouteau and the Hurricanes in last year’s Eastern Conference final. “We got to see him first-hand in the series and knowing him made it easier (to bring him back).
“He’s coming in here as one of the first six defencemen. He should have lots of confidence and belief in that. It helps when you know somebody already and he knows us. He was an important addition.”
Having spent 1½ seasons in Regina, Pouteau expects to make a relatively seamless transition. His familiarity with the organization also took some stress out of his second straight trade deadline move.
“I remember when I went to Lethbridge last year, I was kind of testing out the waters because I didn’t know anyone there,” he said. “Coming here, seeing the coaches, training staff, media and a few players, that feels really good. I feel almost part of the team already.”
That said, Pouteau immediately noticed the Pats are a vastly different team than the one he left a year ago. The only familiar faces belonged to Schioler, Jake Leschyshyn, Sam Steel, Nick Henry and Robbie Holmes.
“I was sitting in the room and one by one I’m trying to put faces to names,” Pouteau added with a laugh. “I’m like, ‘I haven’t seen these guys ever.’ But it’s always good to have one or two guys that you know.”
I played more often, which kind of helped my game. Now I’m 19 so I have the size and I know what it takes to play.
BRADY POUTEAU