By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter @BlackAndGold277
A few months before the 2022 National Hockey League Entry Draft, I mentioned that the Boston Bruins organization should select another goaltender to add to the thin prospect pipeline. Well, on the afternoon of July 8th, 2022, the B’s did select a netminder from day two of the National Hockey League Draft festivities from the Bell Centre floor in downtown Montreal, Quebec, with the addition of Reid Dyck.
Dyck, a 6′-4″ 195-pound Winkler Manitoba, Canada native, is a sixth-round pick and currently playing in the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos. Reid joined the Broncos team for his first full season in 2021-22, where he appeared in 23 games and posted a regular season record of 6-12-1 with a 4.26 goals-against-average and .884 save percentage. Reid didn’t have great numbers in his first full season with Swift Current last season and is the gravitating factor when many Bruins fans question the organization’s decisions concerning drafting and this particular late-round selection.
In an article by Elaine Cavalieri on BostonBruins.com, Reid explained below the challenges his Swift Current team went through during the 2021-22 WHL regular season. “We went through a lot of adversity and just missed the playoffs by a game, so it’s pretty disappointing that way, but we had a great stride and organization, and we’re going to try to come back next year.”
Ryan Nadeau, who’s entering his fifth season as Bruins Associate Director of Amateur Scouting, had this to say after the selection of Dyck in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft and from the same article mentioned above from the BostonBruins.com website. “We just think there’s an upside that our goaltending group, [goalie coach] Bob Essensa and [goaltending development coach] Mike Dunham, can really work with and hope to hone and work through,” said Nadeau.”
Boston Bruins goaltending coaches and former NHL’ers Bob Essensa and Mike Dunham have recently done a tremendous job developing netminders. The duo worked hard with former Bruins goaltender Dan Vladar who’s now a Calgary Flame, and continue to do what’s needed to help current Bruins keepers Kyle Keyser, Brandon Bussi, and Philip Svedeback.
With Keyser recently signing a one-year extension, along with Bussi, who finished his NCAA career last season with Western Michigan University and signed for one year as well, it was important for the NHL Bruins to add another netminder to the organization’s depth in the crease. As mentioned above, the Bruins scouting staff is high on Dyck’s upside, and he’ll have an excellent opportunity to showcase his skills in the upcoming 2022-23 WHL season as he moves into a starting role for Swift Current.
With the departure of longtime WHL Swift Current goaltender Isaac Poulter who signed an AHL-Only contract with the Utica Comets, Dyck looks to lead the Broncos to a better upcoming WHL regular season and hopeful 2023 postseason birth. Reid has worked very hard this summer with a solid showing at Bruins Development Camp and later returning home to Manitoba for continued training. The Swift Current club is currently playing preseason games gearing up for the start of the 2022-23 regular season, which starts on Friday, September 23rd, 2022, at the InnovationPlex in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Dyck will likely spend the next two seasons developing in the WHL and could fit seamlessly into American Hockey League action after his 20-year-old campaign. Developmental coach Dunham will keep close tabs on his work ethic, stay in touch with current Swift Current goaltending coach Dave Rathjen, and even make the trip to the Canadian midlands for one-on-one in-person training.
Reid will also participate in the upcoming Prospects Challenge in Buffalo, New York, as he confirmed in the above Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast interview that he did with hosts Dominic Tiano, Kevin O’Keefe, and myself. The 2022 Prospects Challenge starts on Thursday, September 15th, at the LECOM Harborcenter and is a round-robin tournament featuring NHL teams such as the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The first game for the Bruins in this annual tournament from Western New York will see the B’s and the Ottawa Senators do battle on Friday at 3:30 pm EDT.
If any Boston Bruins fans want to watch prospect goaltender Reid Dyck or any other prospects currently playing in the Canadian Hockey League, I highly recommend you purchase an affordable steaming package on CHL TV. For all streaming options and package prices, please check out the CHL TV website.
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