Through his first ten games of the season, 16-year-old Ben Brunton has been one of the hottest scorers in the country. The North Bay U18AAA Trappers forward currently boasts the second-best points-per-game (PPG) average among all players at the Triple A level in Canada, with 2.50 PPG.
“I think me and my linemates are really clicking right now, we’re off to a really hot start,” says Brunton. “We just have to keep moving our feet and keep moving the puck well. I think that’s where a lot of my success is coming from.”
Brunton trails only Jace Egland, who posted a 2.88 PPG with the Swift Current Legionnaires before signing with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. Brunton, too, is hopeful for a path to the next level, and Trappers Head Coach Josh Dale shares his ambition.
Dale says he saw the potential in Brunton almost immediately. “When I first got the position as Head Coach for the Trappers, I got a lot of feedback on current players, past players, and possible players,” Dale says.
“I spoke to a lot of experienced and talented coaches who knew the players, and all of them said the same thing: Ben Brunton is a star, and he should have been drafted.”
See related: Brunton overcomes obstacles as OHL draft approaches
Their first encounter happened after the OHL draft. Despite being named by some scouting services as one of the top 2008-born players, Brunton was not selected. He was named by Neutral Zone scouting in their ‘Top 50-players not drafted’ among players in his birth year.
However, the rankings are one thing, and putting in the work to get to that next level has been on Brunton’s mind ever since. Dale says he was overseeing a goalie session in April where Brunton was there with a few teammates to shoot on the goaltenders. Dale remembers calling him over with one question on his mind. “I said, ‘Are you mad?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ I replied, ‘Good, now let’s get you drafted.’” Dale made it clear that his primary goal was to help Brunton fulfill his ambitions. “His goal is not only to get drafted in the upcoming U18 draft but to play at the highest level possible next season, and it’s my job to find those areas of improvement that will get even more eyes on him.”
Two weeks into the season, Dale already knew the feedback had been right. “This kid is a star,” Dale says. “My job now was to find out his areas of improvement. But it’s more than just his talent that makes him stand out; it’s his character, his focus, and the respect he commands on and off the ice.”
And perhaps Brunton is following in the footsteps of some other local products who are currently playing in Junior 'A' such as Heath Bradley and Caleb Dawson with the Powassan Voodoos. Bradley was a teammate of Brunton’s last season with the North Bay Trappers U18 team and Brunton says, “Heath is very aggressive and very smart defensively, I liked watching him play last year and it’s great to see the success he’s having with the Voodoos this season.”
He also respects the style of Dawson’s play, who he feels has a knack for positioning and scoring. “Over the last two years, when I watch him play, you can see that he is really smart on the ice; he’s great at finding open ice and getting into good scoring areas.”
Last season, Brunton earned a one-game call-up with the Voodoos, where Dale was then an assistant coach. Brunton says the experience had a big impact, adding, “Every single one of those guys were incredibly respectful and welcoming to me.”
Working under Dale has been rewarding, he says. “He’s a really good coach, and he’s got great connections within the hockey world. “This season, Dale’s move from Assistant Coach with the Voodoos to Head Coach of the Trappers has brought the two even closer and Dale’s guidance, combined with Brunton’s commitment, has proven fruitful, both on the scoresheet and in his growing leadership skills. “I’ve asked Ben several times on the bench to adapt his play depending on the game situation, and every time he’s impressed me with his performance,” says Dale.
Brunton isn’t just a scorer, and Dale says the it’s one of the reasons he named Brunton an assistant captain. He says the role came naturally. “The real reasons for him being assigned a letter on our team are because no one works harder than he does,” Dale says. “No one puts in the effort on and off the ice like Ben does. I have coached a lot of players at high levels, and Ben is right up there for players who want it the most.”
Fellow captain Jackson Culin shares Dale’s assessment. “No one works as hard as Ben does on and off the ice as consistently as he does,” Culin says. “He never takes a day off.”
“Ben gains respect from his teammates and from me, not only by his incredible work ethic but by how encouraging he is to his teammates when he’s on the bench. His focus and determination are keys to our team’s success, as he makes everyone around him better,” Dale says.
Brunton credits his family and coaches for helping him build the skills to reach this point in his hockey career. He grew up skating on a backyard rink and at the Bill Barber Complex in Callander. He first played competitively when he joined the East Nipissing Vipers before moving to North Bay in his second year of Atom. Reflecting on his recent development, he appreciates the mix of coaching he’s had at a high level over the last few years. “Last year, having Doug Sanders coach Team NOHA was great. He had a different style, but it helps you learn and grow as a player being involved in a different mix,” Brunton explains. “We had Vitali Yachmenev and Guy Blanchard as well, and they both have so much experience; you just want to take in everything they say and use it in your game.”
That coaching has helped Brunton and the Trappers to jump out to what has been nothing short of a dominant start this season, with a 9-1-0-0 record, topping the Great North U18 League with 18 points. They’ve only lost once, a tight 3-2 game to the U18 Jr. Greyhounds. But Brunton took the loss in stride. “We got down in that game against the Soo,” he recalls. “Ever since that loss, we have just tried to keep positive, in the room and on the bench. We know most success comes when you’re positive, and we were able to keep that in our minds and bounce back over the next couple of games.”
Since then, the Trappers have won four straight, with Brunton leading the charge, scoring eight goals and tallying 12 points in those games. Dale feels these last few weeks have highlighted Brunton’s value as a leader. “He’s always on top of the little things that others may overlook,” Dale says. “Ben’s discipline and determination make him the kind of player that inspires confidence.”
With the team now sitting in first place, Brunton knows their success makes them a target for rivals. “We’re going to have a target on our backs now,” he says. “Every game, they are going to be coming at us, and we just have to keep playing our game. If we do that, I don’t think there’s anybody that can beat us.”
