By James Shewaga /

Paul Van de Velde was on his way out of the Western Hockey League when the 2010 Memorial Cup hosts came calling.
And the 19-year-old native of Mariapolis, Man., couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity he has received with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings.
“Me and my family are really excited about being here in Brandon,” said Van de Velde, who was acquired from the Everett Silvertips for a conditional ninth-round WHL bantam draft pick back on Oct. 28.
“They are at every game and I just feel really comfortable that my friends and family are here watching and I would love to be able to help this team in the Memorial Cup. It’s unreal being here.”
The 19-year-old forward has played both centre and right wing since being acquired by the Wheat Kings, scoring three goals in his first 11 games for Brandon entering the final week of November.
Van de Velde has given the club a little more veteran presence on the third line after 18-year-old sophomore centre Jesse Hall was re-assigned to the Junior A ranks.
“(Wheat Kings head coach/GM Kelly McCrimmon) has been great to me and he’s given me an opportunity here to play with the guys and I just love the feeling from all the guys and the way they have accepted me and want me to be a part of the team,” said Van de Velde. “I feel like I am having some good games here and I would like to be more consistent and be able to help the team more.”
A former Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey League scoring star with the Pembina Valley Hawks, Van de Velde was originally selected by the Kamloops Blazers in the third round (46th overall) of the 2005 WHL bantam draft, but never played for the Blazers.
Later picked up by the Silvertips, Van de Velde scored four goals and notched 13 points in 52 games in 2008/09. Everett had planned to re-assign Van de Velde to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines before the Wheat Kings acquired his rights, reuniting him with a number of familiar faces, including former Midget AAA teammates Jay Fehr, Aaron Lewadniuk and Darren Bestland.
“I knew about half the guys here when I got traded here, so I felt really good coming in,” said Van de Velde. “I have a couple of really good friends here and it was an easy transition for me.”

BRANDON BITS
Wheat Kings right-winger Mark Stone was ranked 11th among WHL prospects in the Central Scouting Bureau’s preliminary rankings for the 2010 NHL draft. Stone had a goal and an assist in three games before suffering a broken thumb on Sept. 25...The Wheat Kings’ final season ticket tally is a franchise-record 3,646, with the majority also gobbling up Memorial Cup tournament passes...Shaw Cable will broadcast the Brandon at Saskatoon game on Dec. 9.