Braeden Tuck has recently committed to Sacred Heart University for the 2019-2020 season. Originally for Calgary, his father was the one who put him on skates at 4 years old. “I’m sure some people can relate,” Braeden states looking back, “I didn’t like it at first. I couldn’t skate and was frustrated, I didn’t realize it wasn’t that easy. I had to practice it, and kinda got the hang of it, and have loved it ever since.” After a winter of skating on outdoor rinks and playing shinny, he started organized hockey at the age of 5.
This is Braeden’s fourth year playing Junior hockey. He played a year of Junior B hockey in the KIJHL for the Osoyoos Coyotes before playing these past 3 seasons in the BCHL for the Trail Smoke Eaters. “Coming out of Midgets I knew BCHL was the place to be and that is where I wanted to get. I think that was the route to go, to get out to [British Columbia] and get some exposure to BC teams and the league.” Having had a connection at Trail, and combined with their recruiting power Braeden decided to, “Come to Trail and try it out. It ended up being the best thing for me and it’s been a great 3 years here.”
Braden was appointed the Trail Smoke Eaters’ Captain this year. He talks about his growth with the franchise, “Last few years I’ve been finding my role a bit, just doing what I can do to help the team, and playing up and down the line up. This year, a 21 year old, took on a bit of a bigger role. Got a leadership opportunity, and I’m really grateful for it and I think I was ready for it. Trying to be a 200 foot player, produce offensively, and help the younger guys, do whatever I can do to help the team.” His main focus this season will be on creating more offensive opportunities for his team.
Talking about his college recruiting process, “It started at the BCHL showcase, I talked to a few teams there, Sacred Heart being one of them.” Other teams he spoke to at the showcase included Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Anchorage, Holy Cross, and AIC. He mentioned some of these conversations led to more serious talks and some did not. He states, “[It] came to the point where I had a good relationship with the coaches at Sacred Heart and it felt like that was going to be a good fit for me. I liked the location, we were always in contact, and [the coaching staff] were just good people. We were just talking for a few weeks and they made an offer. I sat on it for a week or two, it was a big decision, and I didn’t want to rush into it.” Braden did not make this decision alone, “I talked to my parents a lot, the coaching staff here [at Trail], some past coaches, people that knew me well and knew what might be a good fit for me. Even some friends that are at that level and know what it’s all about. [My parents] knew it was my decision and just wanted to say their opinion, but at the end of the day they would support me regardless. It was nice that they weren’t pushing too much, they let me make my decision.”
We asked Braeden about any defining moments he had that helped him get to where he is today. He mentions, growing up he was “not a top dog, and got cut from a Midget AAA team. I was a little discouraged but trusted the process, and knew if I did things the right way and worked hard it would work out. At the end of the day, hockey is fun and I did not want to put too much pressure on anything. Just trust myself and trust my abilities. That was a little bit of a defining moment to just say keep working hard and it’s not always going to be easy.”
This will be Braeden’s first time leave Canada, he has played all his youth and Junior hockey in his home country. Reflecting on that, he states he is, “A little nervous, it’s obviously a new experience. But I’ve played with a couple guys that are playing college in the States right now and they all have good things to say. So I know it’s going to be a little different going out there, not knowing anyone on the team to start. At the end of the day we are all working together and we are all on a team, so I think it’s only a matter of time before we become friends. It will be a good life experience for me to put myself in a spot where I am a little uncomfortable and have to learn how to make things work.”
Braden continues, “I have a great opportunity now to get a great education through hockey, so I will take advantage of that as much as I can.” When asked about life after hockey he mentioned he is leaning towards studying something business related, possibly accounting. “Because hockey does not last forever, I want to be smart about it and put myself in a good position.”
Braeden Tuck will enroll at Sacred Heart next fall and is currently leading Trail Smoke in points with a 9-12-21 line in 22 games.
