The more he learned about the Brandon Wheat Kings, the more eager forward Marcus Nguyen became to get his final season of WHL action underway with them. Now, the moment he skates in a game for his new team is just two days away.
After spending time with the Florida Panthers’ prospects and playing with them at a rookie tournament in Nashville, Nguyen has rejoined the Wheat Kings just in time for their home opener. He’ll have a couple days worth of practices to get used to his new teammates once again.
“I got back yesterday so this is my first day practicing and seeing the guys again,” Nguyen said. “They’re all welcoming me back and I’m super happy to get the season started this Friday.”
You could forgive Nguyen for being a little fatigued after arriving in Brandon just last night, but he, like the rest of the Wheat Kings, was in good spirits at practice. That’s to be expected when the home opener is just over 48 hours away.
“It’s all the talk in the room about Moose Jaw and Friday night,” Nguyen said. “It’ll be my first regular season game at home for Brandon, so I’m pretty excited as well.”
Nguyen got into an exhibition game with the Wheat Kings (registering a sweet between-the-legs assist against Saskatoon) and then he was off to the Panther’s rookie tournament games. Playing against other team’s top prospects from leagues around the world, he found the mental side of the game reached a new level.
“I think I learned a lot this past week getting used to the pace of it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s anything too different from junior with the speed, it’s more the thinking of the game and the details. You can’t miss your passes. You’ve got to be spot on every time.”
While he would’ve liked to earn a spot in the Panthers’ main camp, Nguyen is happy to be back in Brandon to get his final WHL season started. He also came back armed with some encouraging feedback from the Panthers’ staff.
“It’s just confidence for me, stringing a good regular season together for my last one in the ‘dub,” he said. “They told me I have all the tools and the work ethic as well, so it’s being consistent with it day in and day out.”
Nguyen is one of four 2004-born players on the Wheat Kings, who have until into October to reduce that number to three.
