Braun - Impactful & young leader ready to take the next step

Head Coach Brad Tippett has seen a lot of Junior and Major Junior hockey players in his many, many years of coaching in the Prairies, and now on Vancouver Island.  And in Riley Braun, his acute eye has seen a talented youngster who is going to add significantly to the Peninsula Panthers' success this coming season.  "If you watched Riley Braun without his name on the back of his sweater – you might think you were watching Nathan McKinnon's little brother. He can skate, score, check, and has deceptive speed.  Riley is mature far beyond his years – and he was likely our most dependable players as a 16-year-old.  He is very coachable and very accountable, and does a lot of little things right," said Tippett.

Everyone on the Peninsula knew that Riley Braun was going to make some kind of impact in his first year as a Panthers' right winger, but his composure and competitiveness surprised just about everyone.  Braun had played all of his minor hockey in the Peninsula Minor Hockey system starting out in the IP program and going all the way through Midget.  It was in those years that the sniper could be seen at almost every Panthers' hockey game, always thoughtful, always with wide eyes.

"Coreen saw all the young kids come through as fans and Riley was one of those kids," quipped Pete Zubersky.  "His dad was at a lot of the games with Riley, taking him out on Friday's to the rink.  He was a quiet kid but always seemed to be so engaged in the action.  He is a great young man and as an Organization, we could not ask for anything more both on and off the ice.  He is a fantastic Ambassador for the Club."

Braun was the Assistant Captain on a Peninsula Midget Club that went to the Provinicals in his first year at that level and he was affiliated by the Panthers.  He practiced with the Club once or twice a week throughout the year and just seemed to get more comfortable each time out.  Braun was one of the top point-getters at the Provincials in the Lower Mainland and late in the summer prior to joining the Panthers, he was invited and attended the WHL Kamloops Blazers' Camp after being spotted by local Blazers' scout Greg Batters.  He was affiliated to the Cowichan Capitals of the BCHL and played in a regular season game with that Club.

"My affiliation with the Panthers in 2016/17 was a really great experience.  All the guys treated me as though I was part of the team and coming into the dressing room was an easy transition," said the likeable and sincere right winger.

Braun home-schooled until grade 9, then finished off his high school through South Island Distance Education and Stelly's Secondary.  He completed his high school a year early and although only 17, he will be attending the University of Victoria this year in the Sciences faculty and will be taking Biology, Chemistry, English, Psychology and Exercise Physiology.  He is interested in Kinesiology however, his father Loren would love nothing more than for him to join the family Dentistry business.

"It's really great to be playing for a team that allows me to take University classes and play as the Panthers do," said Braun. 

Braun's hobbies include hiking, soccer, spike ball or just hanging with his friends.  The rugged right winger has a ton of irons in the fire but his first love is the game and he has his eyes set on bigger and better things this time around.  "Last year we were a young team, but this year I want us to take the next step and be a serious contender in this League.  I want and believe that we can finish in the top three and then compete at a high level in the playoffs.  A personal goal for me would be to play in both the Prospects and All-Star games.  I know this is a pretty lofty goal but I enjoy the challenge.  Another goal of mine is to play Junior A next season and my ultimate goal in the game would be to obtain an NCAA Div. 1 scholarship."

"Riley is one of the most enjoyable people I know, just a pleasure to be around.  He is a kid that just makes everyone around him feel better the minute he walks into the room.  The kid is a gamer and we are looking to him as one of our leaders and an impact player who knows how to find the back of the net.  He still has wide eyes and drinks in every second of every day," added Zubersky.