Port Perry’s Jake Bricknell named Player of the Season by Swindon Wildcats

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

SCUGOG: Port Perry’s Jake Bricknell has capped off a sensational first season with the Swindon Wildcats, by being named Player of the Season, for the team in Britain’s National Ice Hockey League.

In his debut campaign with the Wildcats, the 27-year-old forward electrified fans and dominated the stat sheet, leading the league with 57 goals and finishing second overall in points, at 107.

"It’s been an incredible year," Bricknell said. "Coming back to England and playing for a team like Swindon has been so special. I’ve played here before, with the Manchester Storm, and it feels like home. The fans, the atmosphere, it’s a fantastic place to be."

Jake’s hockey journey has taken him across North America and back to the U.K., after, originally, being drafted by the Belleville Bulls and later spending time with the Guelph Storm, in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He captured a national championship in 2017, with the Cobourg Cougars, at the RBC Cup.

After his junior career, Bricknell played for Ontario Tech University, turning pro with the Kansas City Mavericks, of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) in 2021. He spent two seasons in that league before returning to England, where he had had a previous stint with the Manchester Storm, before joining the Wildcats.

"It’s a different style of game here: fast, skilled, and really passionate," Bricknell said. "Having played in England before, I knew some of what to expect, but it pushed me to grow even more, as a player and a person."

Wildcats head coach, Aaron Nell praised Bricknell’s impact both on and off the ice.

"Jake’s been a game-changer for us," Nell said. "Not just his scoring, although 57 goals speaks for itself, but the way he carries himself in the dressing room, the way he leads by example. We couldn’t ask for a better ambassador for our club."

Despite Bricknell’s stellar performance, Swindon’s playoff run ended in the semifinals with a loss to the Peterborough Phantoms.

With the season now over, Bricknell said he is taking time to reflect on his future.

"I’m just taking everything in right now," he said. "It was a great year, and I’m really thankful for the opportunity. We’ll see what happens moving forward."