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Berkly Catton, the first-round draft pick of the Kraken in 2024, comes from a family of educators. This upbringing has resulted in a remarkable hockey intelligence, which has caught the attention of Seattle GM Ron Francis, renowned for his exceptional on-ice knowledge. Scouts, summer workout leaders, and even rival coaches from the Western Hockey League have all praised Catton’s remarkable abilities. Last season, he impressively scored 54 goals for Spokane and showcased his playmaking skills by setting up an additional 62 goals through official assists. Moreover, his swift puck movement through the neutral zone has likely resulted in several more goals for his team.

Two weeks ago on a Tuesday, the strong bond between the teacher and parent was on display as Catton, along with around 400 fellow classmates, graduated from secondary school at Centennial Collegiate in Saskatoon, SK. In a remarkable turn of events, just a few hours after the graduation ceremony, Catton found himself boarding a flight to Las Vegas for the NHL Draft. Throughout his childhood, Catton consistently placed his academic responsibilities above his passion for hockey.

Catton’s lineage includes a skilled father and grandfather who excel in household tasks as well as backyard activities. Catton developed a deep passion for his father Christopher’s homemade ice rink, which was meticulously built and frozen over each winter. Christopher would often create mini-courses for Catton, where he would spend hours honing his skills in solo turning and stopping drills.

Last summer, before his impressive scoring season, Catton made a decision to reassess his backyard shooting practice setup. He realized that his “shooter tutor” tarp, which had small openings at the corners and the “five-hole,” needed some adjustments. With the help of his grandfather John Catton, who provided guidance and company, Catton took matters into his own hands and constructed a goalie figure to stand in front of the shooting net. This creative endeavor showcased the skills that impressed fans and teammates at the recent Kraken Development Camp.

After three days, the wooden goaltender made its debut equipped with leg pads and a mask. However, it quickly became apparent that the stand-in was not sturdy enough to withstand powerful shots. To address this issue, Catton and Granddad ingeniously attached a pole from the goalie to the crossbar, enhancing its ability to absorb the blows. Additionally, Catton cleverly incorporated a small opening under the armpits, mimicking the vulnerable spots a goalie exposes while maneuvering into position, alongside the traditional four corners and five-hole.

Everything fell into place perfectly for Catton, starting with his outstanding performance in the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky tournament, where he was hailed as Canada’s best player by Kraken director of amateur scouting, Robert Kron. His success continued with a breakout season in the WHL, where he significantly increased his goals, assists, and overall points compared to the previous year. As a 17-year-old, he scored 23 goals, made 32 assists, and accumulated 55 points. Catton’s dedication to improving his goal-scoring abilities, evident in his use of a wooden goalie and long shooting sessions, was driven by his desire to showcase his all-around skills in addition to his exceptional playmaking and puck movement. These abilities earned him top-five rankings in categories such as Best Hands, Best Offensive Forward, Best Transition Forward, and Best Straight Skater according to Elite Prospects scouting service, making him one of the most promising prospects for the 2024 draft. With an impressive 116 points, Catton outperformed all other eligible players in the draft.

As Catton made his way back to his parents’ suite at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas after the Hlinka tournament, he expressed, “The tournament was a significant boost to my confidence. It was the first time I scored more goals than assists, which meant a lot to me.” Wearing jersey number “27” in Spokane to honor his teacher-mom Desrae’s birthday, Catton reflected on his journey while walking from Sphere.

Catton has been actively involved in enhancing his skills by participating in backyard marathon drills and practice sessions throughout the year. Additionally, he has taken advantage of local coaching and training opportunities in Saskatoon. During summers, Catton joins a consistent group of skaters, which includes defenseman Caden Price, who was selected in the third round of the 2023 draft. Interestingly, Price happens to live nearby Catton, as revealed by Catton during a recent interview at the development camp.

From the early years of grade school, Catton has been training on the ice with Jordan Trach from Trach Power Skating. Trach Power Skating is known for its work with NHL players such as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Brayden Schenn, Ethan Bear, Connor Zary, and Jake DeBrusk, as well as other talented prospects like Brayden Yager, who played alongside Jagger Firkus on the 2024 WHL champion Moose Jaw team, and is now part of the Kraken 2022 second-round draft. Trach spoke highly of Catton’s exceptional work ethic and emphasized that the Kraken’s top pick is highly dedicated to his summer self-improvement program. A testament to this dedication is Catton’s practice of refining his moves during downtime if he is unsatisfied with his performance in a drill, showcasing his commitment to constant improvement.

He makes time in his purposeful summer weeks for strength and conditioning trainer Blaine Whyte of Pro Sport Rehab and Fitness in a workout group that includes Chicago defenseman and former WHL Seattle Thunderbirds star Kevin Korchinski (7^th overall, 2022) and the aforementioned Yager, who was drafted 14^th overall by Pittsburgh in the 2023 NHL Draft. In media interviews, Whyte has praised Catton’s “compete level” and “drive in him that is unique” focused more on self-improvement than bettering his workout mates.

After graduating, embarking on a trip to Vegas, enduring the intense scrutiny from the media as a result of being chosen as the eighth overall pick, and subsequently traveling to Seattle for introductions and assessments regarding health and fitness on June 30 and July 1, Catton expressed immense joy upon returning to the ice at Kraken Community Iceplex last Tuesday for the commencement of the development camp.

Catton expressed his enjoyment in simplifying his approach and indulging in his passion. Speaking to the media, the focus shifted towards the 18-year-old’s self-assured evaluation for Kraken fans. “Using my intelligence and abilities, I am capable of executing plays with my mind. However, my strong skill set enables me to do so. When I possess the puck, I possess the power to alter the game’s momentum and assist my teammates, while also possessing the ability to score. I am an offensive player who thrives on accelerating the pace of the game.”

This leads us to Catton’s future plans, which may involve creating additional props during the upcoming summer.

Catton expressed his desire to join the NHL at the earliest opportunity. Observing the older prospects at the development camp, he noticed their well-developed lower body and legs. Catton acknowledged the need to enhance his own physique by increasing size and strength, a sentiment echoed by trainer Whyte. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of improving his defensive skills, as earning trust in the NHL necessitates proficiency in that area.

This quote surely sounds like hockey music to both new head coach Dan Bylsma and the legendary two-way center and Kraken GM Ron Francis.

Bylsma praised the impressive numbers and production of the 2024 first-round player after day one of camp and his first on-ice assessment. Bylsma particularly admired the player’s dynamic and quick playmaking abilities, which were showcased in the final few games. The coach thoroughly enjoyed watching the player’s skill and playmaking abilities on full display during the last game. Bylsma also mentioned that the player has scored 50 goals in the WHL and countless more in backyard games, and expressed his enjoyment of the player’s performance during the latter part of practice.

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