(Supplied photo/ Drumheller Dragons)

By Ian Gustafson

WHL Debut

Red Deer’s Easton Daneault taking game to the next level in junior hockey

Jan 4, 2025 | 1:05 PM

Red Deer’s Easton Daneault has taken the junior hockey world by storm.

The young forward is only 16 years old but as a rookie in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) he’s near the top of the scoring race and recently earned his first call up to the Western Hockey League.

It’s been a hectic few weeks for Daneault but he’s just getting started.

“As a 16-year-old in the league I feel like it’s been a good start to the year and I’ve adapted to the junior level pretty well,” he said.

After suiting up for the U18 AAA Red Deer Optimist Chiefs last year, he signed with the AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons in the summer.

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He chose Drumheller because his older brother Ty had played two seasons (2021-23) with Dragons and after the family developed a relationship with head coach Kevin Hasselberg it seemed like the right fit.

So far, it appears to have been the correct move as Daneault is in the mix for the AJHL scoring title with 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points in 33 games.

He’s just three points back from teammates Bradley Gallo and Ellis Mieyette who are tied for second and 10 points back Calgary Canucks forward Jack Plandowski, who leads the league with 44 points.

“I think the Dragons organization has been the reason for why I’ve done so well with the opportunities I’ve been given,” he added.

“With the playing time and the guys I get to play with, it’s helped me a lot.”

He’s also just one point ahead of Lloydminster Bobcats forward Cooper Moore, who’s also from Red Deer and a former teammate.

“We’ve talked about and joked around about it a few times… It’s pretty fun being so closed together in the scoring race,” he said. “I do want to try and beat him but we’re good friends. It would be cool to have that for the rest of your life.”

Daneault has played on a like with Gallo and Mieyette who’s been the best overall line in the AJHL this season in terms of offensive production.

That’s helped translate into team success for Drumheller, who sits in fourth place in the south division with a 17-14-2-0 record.

“We’ve been developing chemistry as the season’s gone on and being able to play with the same guys the whole year really helps when you get to know them. You just know where they’re going to be when you’ve played with them for so long,” Daneault said.

He also recently made his WHL debut with the Lethbridge Hurricanes filling in for an injured player through three games in December.

He was originally selected by the Hurricanes in the seventh-round, 146 overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft last summer and was signed by the club to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement at the beginning of December.

Through the three games he played in he recorded an assist and more importantly soaked in the experience.

“It was awesome,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to play at that level and playing at that level was a whole another experience with the facility you get to play in and the calibre of guys you’re playing against. It was a lot of fun.”

At the time of the draft, he was surprised to be picked by the southern Alberta team because he had no prior conversations with the franchise. However, when he saw his name pop up on draft day he was elated to head to Lethbridge.

“The group of guys in Lethbridge are great and they made me feel welcome. That was probably the reason why I was so excited going into my first game because the guys around me made it so much better,” Daneault said.

He’ll have a good shot at becoming a full-time player for Lethbridge next year as a 17-year-old but will look to continue to improve with Drumheller this season.

At the beginning of this campaign, he also committed to playing NCAA Div. I hockey in Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. His brother Ty is currently in his second season at the college.

“Ultimately, I think it’s the coaching staff. Both assistant coaches made a trip down to Drumheller to meet me and they even flew me down to see the facility and what they’re all about,” he said.

“Just the dedication from them I think is what really led me there.”

He plans to play in the WHL next year to take the next step in his playing career and after he’s a bit older plans to take another step up to the NCAA before reaching the ultimate goal of one day playing in the NHL.