Carson Denomie enjoying final WHL season as one of league’s top goal scorers

Regina Pats forward Carson Denomie is one of the WHL’s top goal scorers, but his goal for the last two games of his junior career has nothing to do with getting on the scoresheet.

“I just want to have fun with them. There’s no playoffs this year, (but that) doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to play for. You still have your pride and to give all the people watching (online) a good performance,” Denomie said following a 4-1 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday at the Brandt Centre. “I’m hoping that it’s going to be fun.”

Denomie has enjoyed an offensive breakout while inside the WHL’s East Division hub. He’s tied for the league lead with 14 goals in 22 games. His previous season high was 21 goals during the 2019-20 season.

The 21-year-old Regina product fully expected his hard work during the off-season to translate into more points.

“There was a group of older guys in Regina who started up this new training group and we skated a lot with them in the summer and I did a lot of training with our team trainer,” Denomie said. “Due to the extended off-season, there was a lot of time to do a lot of training.”

Head coach Dave Struch said it’s great to see a player like Denomie get rewarded.

“I’ve spent some good time with Carson and he’s a really good, smart hockey person. Him being an assistant captain on our team, he’s very helpful on the bench and he thinks and works with young guys. For him to be rewarded this way, it’s important for him,” Struch said.

“He makes mistakes, but when he does, he can rub them off and he can move on and get ready for the next shift.”

Denomie was one of the many players who faced the possibility his final year would be cancelled due to COVID-19. But the WHL found a way to get 24 games in during the pandemic.

“It meant a lot. I don’t think any 20-year-old coming into this year wanted there to not be a season. I think everybody wanted to play whether it was 24 games or a full season. I think everyone wanted to play out their last season and get some games from it,” Denomie said.

While he isn’t committing anywhere yet but with earning a pro contract at the top of his priority list, Denomie said he has been contacted by some university programs about playing there.

After building up a rapport with 15-year-old phenom Connor Bedard — who assisted on nine of Denomie’s first 12 goals this season — Denomie wishes it was possible to get more time to build on that.

“I said it a month ago: I wish I was 18 and I could play with him for two more years. I think it would be awesome. He’s a hell of a player so anyone who’s going to be able to have the opportunity to play with him, they’re going to have success,” Denomie said.

While he didn’t add to his goal total Friday, Denomie did assist on the Pats’ first goal of the game, a power-play marker from forward Cole Dubinsky.

The Pats also got goals from Layton Feist, Drew Englot and Zack Smith. The Warriors’ only tally came from Cory King.

Denomie was traded from the Warriors to the Pats last season and admits it still feels good to get a win over the team that traded him, even if it’s just for bragging rights.

“I still have some good buddies over there so it’s definitely nice,” he said. “I have this win in my back pocket if I ever need to bring it up.”