Episode 2: Kale Pratte

He was tied for 31st in league scoring.

He averaged 1.37 points per game, the 24th best in the league. It was the second straight year that he scored 17 goals after notching that total with the U17 White team the season before. Kale Pratte lit up the scoresheet last year with the Prairie Hockey Academy U18 Prep team.

He was fourth in team scoring with 41 points. He had five power-play goals, and his three game-winning goals were tied for the second-most on the team. Four years before, he played for the U15 Prep team, recording 12 points.

He worked his way up the ranks and became one of the program's top players. He was an assistant captain on last year's team, and in their final game at the Western Championships against Delta Hockey Academy, Kale had two assists. He had seven more points in just four playoff games, proving that no matter how big the game gets, Pratte can produce at an elite level.

"Yeah, it was something special," said Pratte. "I had some incredible teammates; they helped me put up those numbers. I was very pleased with how the season went."

While with Prairie Hockey Academy last year, Kale had the chance to play with his current teammate, Dauphin's own Luke Myhre. They played together on a line over the weekend against Swan Valley, combining for three points.

"Yeah, we've built that connection over the past couple of years," offered Pratte. "We still have it on the ice here in Dauphin, which is great."

Getting set to transition from U18 to full-time junior, Kale trained all summer at Prairie Hockey Academy, skating three times a week and working out five times a week. That helped Kale prepare for what is to come, and now, one game into his Manitoba Junior Hockey League career, it's been a seamless transition for the 18-year-old from Moose Jaw.

"I'm loving it, I have awesome billets," offered Pratte. "The team is awesome. I couldn't have asked to play for a better organization."

Dauphin Kings fans will know Ty Pratte. He's coming off a career year and is an assistant captain on this year's team. The power duo pushed each other hard in the gym over the summer, and now, they're getting to play on the same junior team together.

It's not often that brothers get this opportunity. For Kale, he's soaking in every moment.

"Honestly, words can't even describe how it feels to play with Ty," continued Pratte. "It's so special. It is a dream come true playing with him. I didn't have the chance to play with him when I was growing up. To be here and have my brother by my side means everything."

After he was held out of the lineup on Friday in the team's season-opening defeat against Swan Valley, Kale made his regular-season debut on Saturday night in front of 1,100 fans at Credit Union Place.

Dauphin won the game 7-0.

"It was pretty exciting to play my first game at home," said Pratte. "I felt I kept up with the pace, and my line was pushing it. I'm pretty pleased with my first regular-season game."

7:14 into the third, on a beautiful play, Pratte got his first. He scored his first-ever junior hockey goal. Quinten Fisk and Luke Myhre earned the assists.

"Quinten had the puck down low and there was no one in front," added Pratte. "He gave me a sweet pass, I went around the goalie, and put it in. It was very exciting, I will never forget that moment."