Brayden Sinclair has evolved into an all-purpose forward.
The 20-year-old Smokie who has played at centre for the majority of his career is now a winger on a newly formed and potent line with Erik Pastro in the middle and Dylan Lariviere on the other wing.
Sinclair was instrumental in Pastro’s hat trick during Trail’s 7-4 win over Spruce Grove last Friday in Trail.
Sinclair is liking life as a winger.
“Yeah you know it’s a change, but I feel like it allows me to be more offensive and I’m liking it a lot,” said the 20-year-old.
Sinclair battled through an offensively challenging first half of the season to score seven of his nine goals and 14 of his 22 points since Dec. 20.
The Coquitlam native says a new mind set was the key.
“I think I’ve just changed my approach, just not so hung up on little mistakes, just kind of playing my game out there,” Sinclair stated.
Head coach and general manager Eric Thurston praises Sinclair’s versatility and positivity, saying Sinclair can also be deceptive.
“He’s got a sneaky wicked shot,” beamed the bench boss, noting it’s part of Sinclair’s overall contribution to the team.
“He’s on the second power play, kills penalties and is a key member on that line with Pastro and Dylan Lariviere,” added Thurston who noted Sinclair is quietly reliable and effective.
“He doesn’t want fanfare, he works hard, when he’s skating, the speed he brings to the table, when he has that outside speed, that’s really a formidable weapon that he has,” Thurston pointed out, while also calling Sinclair among their best defensive performers.
“When your best players play a good 200-foot game, they’re good in their own end, they get pucks out, they battle and they do all those little things, you’ve got a trust with them and that’s key,” stated Thurston.
“He’s a guy that can be out in the last two minutes, the last minute, he can go up against the other team’s top line because he doesn’t take short cuts,” Thurston added, lauding Sinclair’s commitment to play the game the right way, with the right attitude.
“It’s also his character, he’s a great kid, he’s got a smile on his face, he’s very respectful and polite, and we are very fortunate that last year Tim Fragle (former coach and GM) picked him up (in a trade with Cowichan Valley), he has been a great addition for us in the last year and a bit,” commented Thurston.
Sinclair feels defense is the foundation of his game.
“I take a lot of pride in playing defense and not getting scored on, it’s really important to me that the other team doesn’t get scoring opportunities while I’m out there,” said Sinclair, who is confident the team has turned the corner from an adversity filled time since Christmas.
Louis Jonerheim left Trail for the USHL, while Owen McCarthy, Carter Matthews and Ryan Oothoudt have joined WHL teams since January. Cade De St. Hubert, Drew Anasatsio and Gairin Michalski left for USHL teams during the first half of the season.
Sinclair says it was difficult to see team mates move on.
“When we were losing players it was tough because we kept losing key pieces of our team, great guys, obviously we had to pick ourselves up and I think we’ve been doing a pretty good job since.” he explained.
The overage forward who is in his last season of junior hockey hopes to be part of a long playoff run to make his time as a Smokie as memorable as possible.
“It’s been unreal, last year I came in and they (teammates) welcomed me pretty quickly, it was a great group of guys and this year it’s a great group of guys, we’ve had our ups and downs but I’ve enjoyed the entire run,” concluded Sinclair.
The Smokies clinched second place in the Interior West Division with last Saturday’s 6-4 win over Salmon Arm at Cominco Arena and head to Alberta this weekend for games in Blackfalds, Brooks and Okotoks.
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