Aiden Bulych (right) participates in a scrimmage practice with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's hockey team outdoors last week in Saskatoon. (Huskie Athletics)

By Katie Brickman-Young

New forward adds much-needed depth

Bulych excited for new opportunity with Huskies

Feb 2, 2022 | 1:25 PM

Aiden Bulych arrived only a month ago but is already enjoying his time with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team.

The newly recruited forward joined the team after Christmas during the USports break and has been quickly trying to get up to speed on his new team and teammates.

“It’s been good. It’s been such a good opportunity for me,” said Bulych. “Everything happened last minute and I’m just fortunate enough that I got a call and looking forward to finishing the last half of the year off with the Huskies. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to come in to and the coaching staff is top-notch too.”

The 6-1, 190-pound winger has played three games so far since joining the Huskies, registering two points. He hopes to bring a physical presence to the lineup and add some scoring depth for the team.

“I’m a 200-foot power forward. I like having a physical game and bring a physical presence to the lineup,” he said. “I like to score goals and catch some assists too. I see myself as a hard-working forward that isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas or the corners.”

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Joining the Huskies wasn’t something on Bulych’s radar, but everything happened quickly in a matter of hours in December.

He started his year in Swift Current in the Western Hockey League, a team he played for the past two seasons.

“It just wasn’t working out for me. It was a different start to the year for me going through certain things in my life. I found myself back at home on the farm and playing senior hockey,” said Bulych.

A previous relationship with Huskies’ assistant coach Brandin Cote, who coached him in junior also helped moved things quickly for Bulych.

“With Aiden, Cote had a relationship with him in Swift Current,” said Mike Babcock, head coach of the Huskies. “Cotes knew it hadn’t worked out for whatever reason and he was playing senior in Foam Lake. He was driving through and we brought him in and the next thing we know, we are getting him registered for school and on the team.”

Having his previous coach reach out and help get him set up helped make the transition easier for Bulych. He is learning as much on the ice as he is in school, where is he registered for business classes at USask.

“It makes it easier, for sure. Cote got my foot in the door. It helps to know Cote and I know a lot of the guys on the team – whether I played hockey with them or through mutual friends,” said Bulych. “It’s been a good learning experience for me. I don’t know if I’m learning more in the books at school or more on the ice. It’s a tight group here. As I play, I’ll get more confident as I go. It’s been a lot of fun for me and I’m excited to be here.”

As Bulych was at home on the farm in Yorkton, Sask., he was contemplating his next transition in life and hockey. When he got the call from Cote, he jumped at the chance of playing hockey in his home province and close to family.

“I found the love back in the game again,” he said. “It is special to be a part of the Huskies. A young kid dreams of playing university sports one day and get your life started and get on the right path. It is such a good opportunity to be playing for the Huskies.”

The Huskies will need Bulych to get up to speed with his new line-mates and bring some of that offensive depth as the team is down two forwards. Dawson Holt is out with an MCL injury, and the Huskies lost Chantz Petruic last game with an ACL injury. Both forwards will be out long-term, according to Babcock.

“With the injuries we got to Holt and Petruic, we lost significant players and we need Bulych to be a significant player for us,” said Babcock. “Ideally, he will get up to speed so he can help us. We are going to give him every opportunity to get there.”

The Huskies will be on the road this weekend to face the 3-13 MacEwan University Griffins in Edmonton, Alta. The 10-6 Huskies are looking to rebound from two losses at home against the University of Alberta Golden Bears. Saskatchewan currently sits in fifth place in the Canada West standings, whereas MacEwan is eighth in a nine-team conference.

You can hear all the action from the road on the HuskieFAN app or at huskiefan.ca with Wray Morrison on the call.