In the Pipeline: Daniel Brickley

For Daniel Brickley, the path to playing professional hockey wasn't a typical one.
In the span of just a few years, the defenseman went from being skipped over in the NHL Draft to becoming one of the top sought after college free agents.

Brickley left home to play Junior A for the Hawkesbury Hawks of the Central Canada Hockey League at the age of 18, a few years later than most hockey players, which he admits was hard on his mom.
His dad, who was a professional referee, never forced the game upon his son, but enouraged and supported his development.
After leaving Junior A, Brickley played for the Minnesota State men's hockey team. He earned several awards during his time there and became one of the top undrafted free agents.
After his junior season in 2018, Brickley signed a
two-year, entry-level contract with the Kings
.

He made his NHL debut on April 5, where he picked up his first career point, all with his family watching from the stands.
With a taste for the NHL, Brickley was eager to work hard over the summer to earn the opportunity to compete with the Kings again.
"When I first came here, everyone is so close, the bond here with everyone is so tight," Brickley said. "Playing with [Anze Kopitar], Dustin Brown, and Jonathan Quick, guys you watched growing up... it was awesome."

So, when the Kings announced they would be returning to Salt Lake City for preseason games, Brickley knew it would be a unique opportunity to play in front of his hometown.
And it provided to be just that. In the game against the Vancouver Canucks, the Kings picked up a 4-1 preseason win and Brickley was able to celebrate with his family after the game.

Although Brickley's journey may just be beginning, he admits there's no place he'd rather be than with the Kings.
"It's my childhood dream," Brickley said. "And every day I'm living it."