Klippenstein learning the WHL ropes
Local rookie Carter Klippenstein is using this year as a learning opportunity with the Brandon Wheat Kings and in the Western Hockey League.
“I kind of just wanted to approach it as a big learning opportunity,” said Klippenstein.
“As a later birthday, I’m lucky to have my draft year next year being an ‘06 . So I just kind of wanted to take it in as a year to learn and learn the league and just understand what I’m going to have to do the next year and just to help my team out the best way I can.”
Klippenstein felt his confidence get better as the season has gone along.
“The mental battle too of not playing some games and playing other games,” he said.
“Just having to learn how to stay in the game is a good thing that I learned this year too for sure.”
He credits his Brandon teammates with his development.
“They’re really good with that, and they’ve been through it and they understand,” said Klippenstein.
“And also along with the coaches too and just all the staff around, they’re a good help and push us every single day.”
Klippenstein has had to adjust to the compete level.
“Preseason and regular season are a whole different thing,” he said.
“So you slowly begin to learn the first couple of months of the season to get up to that speed and not even just in games, with practice too and in the workout room,” he said.
Klippenstein will be getting his first taste of the playoffs beginning next week.
“It’s obviously a big deal and it’s brought up every day in practice,” he said.
“Like it’s playoff time, it’s time to get ready here and make a push,”
Klippenstein sees Brandon as a team with heart.
“We’ll bring (a) full effort and have each other’s backs every night and grind out some wins,” he said.
“So I feel like we’re kind of just one of those teams that’s got a deep line-up that’ll play hard every night.”
Klippenstein said it’s been a good community in Brandon.
“It’s good to be involved around here too,” he said.
“We have good support, it’s a small town, so you got to give back. But yeah just kind of it’s been cool to see how the community treats us and use us.”
He credits his family for getting him this far and supporting him.
“But also my uncle too who’s helped me a lot along the way with being a coach and just helping out with all the other things,” he said.
He also credits his coaches for getting him where he is today.
Klippenstein has 10 goals and 11 assists in 64 games this season.