The secret is out Battalion fans.
Fans around the hockey universe now know what fans in North Bay have known over the past few seasons. Justin Brazeau can play hockey and play hockey well.
The former Battalion captain spent his weekend in Newfoundland with the Toronto Maple Leafs as they went through their training camp on The Rock. This camp represented the first time Brazeau has attended a camp already signed to a contract and not trying to obtain one.
“Yeah, it feels good. I’ve kind of done it a bit with Columbus and Detroit but more in an invite sort of role or roster-filler sort of role,” the big righty said. “It’s definitely been different, but I think everything has gone pretty well so far.”
It must be a different feeling in camp for sure for Brazeau as his last two seasons with the Troops he wore an “A” and the “C” and was expected to carry a major part of the offense both years. Now his focus is on cracking the Marlies lineup and opening eyes even more with the Leafs.
“I think I just keep doing what I’ve been doing that’s gotten me to this point. I’d say over my time in North Bay, from my first year to my last, my habits haven’t really changed,” Brazeau explained. “Obviously being the captain you definitely have some different responsibilities but I think as far as leading by example and working hard every day doesn’t change no matter if you have a letter or not.”
Brazeau certainly left his mark on the team throughout the annual rookie tournament in Traverse City, Michigan as he pitched in two goals and had Leafs Nation buzzing.
“It’s been great, I have been through the process a few times now but being able to through it in a different role as a player who is now signed within the organization and being relied upon more in different situations is great.”
“I’m not surprised,” Battalion Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Stan Butler said when asked about Brazeau’s recent play. “It’s a rookie tournament. In fairness to the big guy, let’s not get too excited, it’s him playing against kids that he has played before.”
“I think the biggest challenge will be when he gets to a full American Hockey League roster. You’re in a tough situation. The Marlies were a good team last year, their East Coast team won the championship in their first year. I think he will be fine and the people that I have talked to in the Leafs organization, I said if they are patient with him and persevere with him, at the end of the day it will work out for them to get a very good player.”
If one digs up his stats over his OHL career, you will notice that patience is a key. Brazeau didn’t exactly set the league on fire his rookie season with 6 goals, 7 assists for 13 points in 65 games. But his final season in green saw him explode for 61 goals and 52 assists for 113 points over 68 games, and as previously mentioned, he has caught the attention of Leafs nation with his play, even being mentioned in popular Leafs YouTuber Steve Dangle’s annual “Leafs Prospects Pyramid” video.
“It feels good but with that comes more pressure, especially in a market like Toronto,” Brazeau explained. “One day it can be good stuff, then the next, bad. The Leafs have a huge fan base that are very passionate, so I think as a player you have to do your best to not listen to all the noise and just go about your business or you can kind of get caught up in what everyone’s opinions are.”
It is definitely a bit of a shift from North Bay fans, who are passionate, but not nearly on the size that Leafs fans are as they have a bit more of a global following, so why choose the Leafs?
“I had been talking with my agent the last couple weeks of the regular season and he was just telling me kind of what he had been hearing and kind of what to expect,” Brazeau said on the attention he was gaining.
“But for me I just wanted to wait until the season was over with since my main focus was just on North Bay and trying to help the team the best I could but when the season ended I just took a little time to reflect and go over some of the options he had been telling me and I had a meeting between my parents, Stan, my agent and myself. For me what it all came down to was the fact that I felt the Leafs were the most invested as far as the development side in helping me become the best player I could be. I had talks with Kyle Dubas and some of the staff and I just thought that was the best fit for me going forward”
Skating has always seemed to be the knock on Brazeau no matter what the outlook has been, but the Leafs employ renowned power skating Coach Barb Underhill who has been working with Brazeau, who said that the sessions have been going great.
Late Sunday as the Leafs were wrapping up Camp, Brazeau was assigned to the Marlies, and he is determined to crack their lineup.
“I think going into the year the only thing I’m really focused on is to make the team out of camp and then from there be a full-time player. I think the other stuff will come if I’m able to do that so for me that’s my main focus.”
Another 61 goal season seems unlikely, but Battalion fans will have many reasons to cheer on Brazeau in the blue and white this season. As for this secret, it is one fans are happy got out.
