Cali kid: Blades’ Bocharov adjusting to life in Saskatoon

Pasha Bocharov is settling into Saskatoon.

The second-year Saskatoon Blades defenceman arrived after debuting for the club during last spring’s shortened Regina hub season.

Due to the isolation of a WHL season where he didn’t spend any time at his team’s rink or city, Bocharov decided to bring his car with himself all the way from his hometown of San Diego, Calif.

“I just thought being in the confines of that hub was something I didn’t want to have to experience again,” Bocharov said. Having the car, having the freedom … it’s a lot better.

“That was a crazy drive. Twenty-six hours.”

Blades general manager Colin Priestner took a flier on Bocharov in the eighth round of the 2019 WHL bantam draft. Priestner had Bocharov ranked much higher than 160th overall, where he ended up falling to the Blades, but Priestner knew it was going to take a recruiting effort to lure the San Diego native.

“This is a very exciting signing for us and something we’ve been working towards for the last nine months since we drafted him,” Priestner said in a team news release after signing Bocharov in 2020.

“We had Pasha ranked as a top-level talent in last year’s draft. Given he was American, we knew it was going to be a bigger challenge to recruit him.”

After spending two months in Saskatoon, Bocharov is impressed with what he sees so far.

“It’s an amazing city. There’s a lot of stuff to do, I can’t complain one bit and the facility is unbelievable,” Bocharov said.

However with the chilly November air dropping temperatures, Bocharov’s perception of Saskatoon is changing as winter approaches.

Cold mornings aren’t just affecting him, but also his car, which he admits isn’t cut out for a Canadian winter in its current state.

“It’s not at all right now, but I’m getting it prepared because it’s getting chilly,” Bocharov said. “It’s getting chilly really fast, too. The (temperature) is dropped 10 degrees or something like that.”

Born to a Moscowian father and a Californian mother, Bocharov captained the Americans at this past summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, a prominent showcase for NHL prospects.

Looking to make the most of his draft season, the 17-year-old was given a “C” rating for the initial NHL Central Scouting Players to Watch list.

Should the Blades continue their impressive showing to start the season, having lost just three of their first 11 games, Bocharov should have no problem gathering attention from NHL scouts.

“I’m getting more comfortable here and the routine. I’m kind of on the younger side, but I would like to help out any way I can,” Bocharov said.

Head coach Brennan Sonne appreciates Bocharov’s outgoing attitude and positivity.

“That’s an honest personality. He’s very well articulated, he speaks well and he’s a happy human being. What you’re seeing is what you get,” Sonne said of his first impressions of Bocharov.

With the WHL season beginning to heat up, Bocharov is familiarizing himself with his new city, one engine block heater, winter tire and parka purchase at a time.