Kings Bruneau commits to Lindenwood University

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Wheatland Kings forward Brady Bruneau has committed to Lindenwood University in Belleville, Ill. starting in the 2015/16 season.
He will be playing for the Lindenwood Lynx program, which finished atop their division in the ACHA’s Division 2, amassing a 29-2-1 record in the process.
The Calgary native marketed himself through a profile he created and the Lynx really liked what he put on the table.
“I did a profile through NCSA, I uploaded videos from my midget double-A year and camps I went to in the spring and summer. The program matches you with a bunch of schools based on your academics and skill level,” said Bruneau. “They interview you and e-mail back and forth. It’s kind of how it got started, and he (coach Lindsay Middlebrook) and I this year again we just kept talking, eventually I made my decision to go to Lindenwood.”
His decision was made easier because, like the Wheatland Kings, Lindenwood offers a lot of opportunities to play.
“They’re keeping a Division 2 team and also having a Division 1 team, so there is a lot of opportunity to play,” said Bruneau. “With it being a new program, there is a lot of opportunity for everyone and you just got to go in and earn it and get the spot.”
He admits that he was pretty fortunate to get recognized and play close to home for considerably less than he would have in other junior B leagues.
“It was nice playing close to home and didn’t have to travel all that far from Calgary and didn’t have to go down to the states or anything to get noticed. That was one of my goals at the beginning of this year was to go down and play college hockey at some point, it’s nice to get that out of the way,” said Bruneau. “I went and tried for the KIJHL at the beginning of the year and got released in late September and then I ended up calling Jeremy as he ended up talking to me in the summer and ended up coming here. It was a lot less off the pocketbook, you didn’t have to pay billet fees, you could stay at home and pay the team fees.”
A lot of credit goes to his coaches from previous years.
“I’d say my coaches from midget double-A year and then Jeremy, Joel and Shaun this year and myself just putting in the work,” said Bruneau.
Bruneau will be enrolling in sports management come the fall.