CHL notebook: Oilers prospect Chiasson stars on, off ice

Future NHL stars are developing in the Canadian Hockey League this season. Each week, NHL.com will highlight a few of the top NHL-affiliated prospects in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.

Jake Chiasson
's best play this season with Brandon of the WHL had nothing to do with his ability as a hockey player.
The 19-year-old forward, along with teammates Nolan Ritchie, Calder Anderson and Ben Thornton, were returning home from a charity event around 9 p.m. on Nov. 29 when they noticed a distressed man on the edge of the First Street bridge in Brandon, Manitoba.
"There was a man standing over the edge on a lamp post with a pretty steep drop down," Chiasson said. "We drove by once and it was pretty dark, so it was tough to see. So just to be sure we pulled a U-turn and drove back down the other side of the bridge and sure enough, it was a person standing there. Pretty quickly kind of addressed the situation and did what we needed to do to kind of get the police involved. We talked to the guy, and Calder got out and kept talking to him to ensure he'd be OK."
While Anderson talked to the man, Chiasson was on the phone with emergency services.
"I just called and said there's a man on the First Street bridge, there's four of us guys stopped in the middle of the bridge and if we could get whoever needs to be here as quickly as possible because it's a pretty serious situation," Chiasson said. "And they did a great job, obviously, responding as quickly as they could, within about five or six minutes. The four of us guys were thankful for it to kind of help with that situation."

Brandon police reported that the man in distress, believed to be between 25 and 30 years old, received needed treatment.
"I told them after practice [the following day] that's a lot bigger than hockey and what they did was heroic," Brandon coach/general manager Marty Murray told the Brandon Sun on Dec. 2.
Chiasson said he feels he and his teammates were lucky to be in the right place at the right time.
"In that moment, the only thing that we're focused on is that guy and that guy only," he said. "It's just something that I think was just second nature just to help out and step in.
"This month and this time of year is pretty stressful for people. All some people need is someone to reach out to. ... We're obviously grateful, and more in the sense that people can read the story. We don't need any of the recognition for it. I think it's just important for lots of people to realize they're more of a help than they may think they are, even to a stranger in their daily life. I think that's what we were happy to kind of get out there to the world."
Tyler Wright, director of amateur scouting and player personnel for the Edmonton Oilers, said Chiasson's character was one of the reasons the Oilers selected him in the fourth round (No. 116) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
"You're elated, your sense of pride that the young man, all four of them, had the notion to stop and help somebody out," Wright said. "I think what they did that night was a pretty special thing."
Chiasson's season on the ice has been solid but much less eventful; he's fourth on Brandon with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 28 games.

Helping his development is his return to health after missing the first six months of last season following surgery to repair a dislocated right shoulder sustained during Oilers training camp.
Chiasson said his shoulder is stronger now than it was before he was injured, and his time at Edmonton training camp this season showed that.
"We were down in Penticton at the rookie tournament and I thought every day he kind of got better and better and a little bit more comfortable," Wright said. "Then we get into main camp and practicing with NHL players on a regular basis. I think he got better and better and earned the right to get into [a preseason] game."
Chiasson said his goal is to keep getting stronger and maturing on the ice. His actions Nov. 29 show he has a good handle on his off-ice maturity.
"My offensive ability has always been there and something that I've worked a lot on and worked hard at," he said. "It's just the physical strength of playing all around the ice, winning all your battles. In order to be able to play at that next level it's taking care of both ends and kind of having just that pro-game style."
Wright said he believes if Chiasson stays on track, he'll be a good fit on and off the ice in Edmonton.
"The character and leadership which Jake brings was a big thing for us," Wright said. "We're happy that he was able to contribute off the ice as well, because you can never have enough good humans."

OTHERS TO WATCH

Sasha Pastujov, RW, Sarnia (Anaheim Ducks): Pastujov has taken his game to another level since he was acquired by Sarnia in a trade with Guelph on Nov. 17, with 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in nine games, including nine points (four goals, five assists) during a three-game point streak. His offensive burst has him tied for fifth in the OHL in goals (18) and points (36) in 23 games. The Anaheim Ducks selected the 19-year-old in third round (No. 66) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
James Malatesta , RW, Quebec (Columbus Blue Jackets): Malatesta recently scored five goals during a four-game goal streak and is tied for second in the QMJHL with 22 in 27 games. He has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his past six games and is third on Quebec with 34 points. The Blue Jackets selected the 19-year-old in the fifth round (No. 133) of the 2021 draft and signed him to a three-year entry-level contract Dec. 1.
Ryder Korczak , C, Moose Jaw (New York Rangers): Korczak began the season with Hartford of the American Hockey League, and after playing five games was returned to Moose Jaw on Nov. 14. The 20-year-old made his WHL season debut Nov. 18, and has at least a point in 10 of his 11 games (17 points; seven goals, 10 assists), including a hat trick at Red Deer on Dec. 3. The Rangers selected Korczak in the third round (No. 75) of the 2021 draft.
Photo: Brandon Wheat Kings