By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter @BlackAndGold277
Hockey Canada announced yesterday that their National Junior team had added Boston Bruins prospect Brett Harrison, to the 2022 development camp roster. The Bruins selected the 6′-2″ 185-pound Ontario, Canada native in the third round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Last season with the OHL Oshawa Generals, Harrison posted 27-34-61 numbers in 65 games, almost doubling his offensive production from his rookie season with Oshawa in 2019-20.
Harrison participated in this week’s Boston Bruins annual development camp at the Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, Massachusetts. Brett had some challenges during this week’s camp but seemed to get more comfortable later in the five-day camp. The 19-year-old is a solid work in progress for the Boston organization, and by his yearly growth, developing in the OHL, I wouldn’t be surprised if he surpasses his career high in offensive production. The Dorchester, Ontario native will re-join his OHL Generals team for the upcoming season and will look to take a more significant role with Oshawa’s leadership core as he served as Generals assistant captain last year.
Although Harrison is Boston Bruins property as a drafted player, he remains unsigned by the NHL organization. I’d expect Brett to sign an NHL three-year, entry-level contract after next year’s OHL commitment with Oshawa is over. After next season I’d also expect the then 20-year-old to join the AHL Providence Bruins for his first full professional experience and continued development with the Boston Bruins top minor-pro affiliate.
The following two seasons will be the most important for this Bruins prospect’s development. One final year in the OHL in 2022-23 and an entire AHL campaign in Providence in 2023-24 will benefit both the player and the organization. With the NHL Bruins center depth pretty thin, Harrison will need to be on his game for the next two seasons if he wants to be heavily considered to be a part of the NHL Bruins next core up the middle in Boston. He certainly has the skill set to be an up-and-coming pro hockey player, but there are still things to work on in his game as he continues his lifelong dream of playing at the highest level in the world.
Canada’s 2022 National Junior Development camp starts on July 23rd and ends on July 27th. The camp festivities will be held at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta. Hockey Canada’s director of player personnel Alan Millar said this in an article from CHL.ca writer Matt Tidcombe on June 17th, 2022. “This is an exciting first step as we begin preparations for the upcoming season and the opportunity to compete at the 2023 World Juniors on home ice in Halifax and Moncton this December.” Millar also said, “We are excited about this group of players, and we look forward to returning to the ice for a highly-competitive camp to kick off a new season.”
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