Confidence soaring for Bulldogs defenceman

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Recently acquired defenceman Owen Protz is over-the-moon with excitement about being traded to the Brantford Bulldogs.

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While the former Sudbury Wolves player loved his time up north, he feels extremely lucky to be playing at the civic centre.

“I’m really happy,” said Protz, who celebrated his 18th birthday last week. “I knew I was going to love their style of play and I knew I was going to love the fans.”

To get Protz at last month’s trade deadline, Brantford had to send highly regarded defenceman Noah Van Vliet the other way.

At first glance the trade, which also saw two second-round picks and a third-round pick added to the Bulldogs coffers, was made for Brantford’s future. However, Protz was immediately placed on the second pairing and following an injury to Tomas Hamara on Friday and Cedricson Okitundu on Saturday, the six-foot-two, 205-pounder saw his minutes increased even more substantially.

“It really helps my confidence knowing that coach (Andrew) Campbell and coach Jay (McKee) have that confidence in me and have that ability to trust me on the ice in every situation,” said the Ottawa native.

“I think that’s really going to help me out this season.”

Protz, who was selected by Sudbury in the fifth round (86th overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, had high praise for McKee and Campbell.

“I think they’re two of the best coaches I’ve ever had,” he said. “Their attention and focus to detail has been really awesome for my game.”

In 2022-23, Protz played the majority of his season with the Central Canada Hockey League’s Ottawa Jr. Senators, scoring three goals and adding 15 assists in 49 games. He did get in one game with the Wolves.

“It was a great experience and I loved it,” said Protz of his OHL debut.

“That first game, the first couple of shifts, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. There was no other league and not other place I wanted to be.”

This season he had one goal and six assists in 36 games for Sudbury before being traded.

“They have a good group in Sudbury,” said Protz, who has two goals and three assists in 13 games with Brantford. 

“They helped me with my foundation but I think coach Campbell and coach Jay really helped me elevate my game to where it is now.”

Ranked 168th among North American skaters in the Central Scouting mid-term rankings, Protz is looking forward to the NHL draft later this year but he’s got more imminent things on his mind.

“Of course it’s on my mind but I’m trying to focus on the season,” Protz said. “I’d love to pay the scouts $1-million to get drafted but I’m just focusing on myself and helping the team win.

“Us going far in the playoffs and me helping the team do that will give me more visibility so I just want to help the team.”

Winning an OHL championship is something he thinks is well within the team’s grasp.

“I’m super confident,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so confident in a team.

“We have superstar players and we have players who are depth and know their roles. That’s what you need on a hockey team.”

As for the future beyond this season, he’s looking forward to growing with a strong core.

“I know that guys like (Jake) O’Brien, (Marek) Vanacker and (Luca) Testa are moving up with me next year and even the year after that,” he said. “I know we’re going to have a super strong team.”