Former Victoria Royals all-time leading scorer Brandon Magee is beginning a new chapter in his hockey career.

Magee departed this week to Beijing, China, after signing a professional contract with the Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

DUBNetwork spoke to Magee on topics including the upcoming opportunity in the KHL, as well as playing at the University of Alberta, and of course, his time with the Royals.

Making the move to professional hockey in the KHL

This summer saw Magee sign a two-year professional contract with the Kunlun Red Star. The move was the forward’s second pro contract, as Magee signed with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League in 2015. That deal, however, saw Magee in the ECHL for the 2015-16 season.

When Magee was asked about the prospect of making the move overseas, he said “I’m thrilled to get to experience what it is like over there. In being a university student-athlete for the last couple of years there wasn’t a lot of signs that I would be heading pro midway through my university career. But when this opportunity came about, I was obviously very excited.”

“The talent is pretty high in the league, so I am hoping I can fit in. I aim to be a heads-up player that can make plays at speed. I’m going to bring my assets and hope they contribute to the team.”

The Edmonton native traveled over to China this past May to see the team operations and venues. “I was over for a camp. Head Coach Curt Fraser was there, along with assistant coaches Alexei Kovalev and Steve Kasper. It was an unbelievable experience. They showed us around including their KHL facilities, the VHL (Vysshaya Liga) rink, and had us on the ice every day. Coach Fraser is a great hockey mind, so being able to learn a lot from him is something I am looking forward to.”

Although far from North America, the Red Star team has a definite Canadian flavour to it, and a Western Hockey League one at that. The roster includes several former WHL players, including Adam Cracknell, Gilbert Brule, Victor Bartley, Garet Hunt, Zach Yeun, Tyler Wong, and Magee’s teammate from the University of Alberta, Jason Fram.

“Having guys there able to speak English, along with a North American background helps. I grew up playing with a few of them or have crossed paths in the past. Hopefully we can put something together as a team and make something special.”

“The talent is pretty high in the league, so I am hoping I can fit in. I aim to be a heads-up player that can make plays at speed. I’m going to bring my assets and hope they contribute to the team.”

Student-Athlete life at the University of Alberta

The last two seasons saw Magee studying arts at the University of Alberta, where he also helped contribute to an exceptional Golden Bears team. Taking advantage of the WHL scholarship program, he recorded 52 points in 47 games with an additional 12 points in 12 playoff games across two seasons. During that time, the Golden bears captured back-to-back conference titles and won the 2018 University Cup.

“It was some of the most fun I’ve had playing hockey in (a) long time,” said Magee of his time at university.

“My time at the UofA gave me an opportunity to further my hockey career and get some academics in while doing it. Our team there was incredibly skilled, and the guys were phenomenal hockey players. The rosters we had showed the level of recruiting they were able to do in order to bring in good players year after year. “

The list of Magee’s teammates with the Golden Bears reads like a WHL all-star team: Luke Philip, Trevor Cox, Steven Owre, Jamie Crooks, Tyson Baillie, Cole Sanford, Brendan Burke, and on and on.

Since the end of the 2018-19 season, five Golden Bears have signed pro contracts: Zach Sawchenko (San Jose Barracuda), Stephane Legault (South Carolina Stingrays), Luke Philp (Calgary Flames), Fram, and Magee.

“I think it’s something that will start happening more and more,” said Magee of the signings. “All the players are in their early twenties and are highly skilled players — a lot of players that could have had NHL contracts if they had some luck. Things must fall into place for you to be able to get the ‘golden ticket’ for a contract. But being able to persevere, keep at it and working hard can result in a contract in other places, like my situation as an example.”

Success in the WHL

Victoria Royals fans remember Magee as an electrifying player with a win at all cost mentality. This served him well as he played in 318 regular season games and 27 playoff games between the Chilliwack Bruins/Royals franchise.

“I always had a little bit of fire in my belly,” said the scrappy forward. “Tenacity has always been something in my game, and being a smaller guy, it definitely helps. But playing with speed and skill is always something I admired in players and tried to emulate myself. I feel I was able to bring a lot of that to the table as well. A combination of physical hockey paired with skill is where I found my game.”

Upon leaving the WHL, Magee held the franchise record for points with 264, which stood until Tyler Soy eclipsed it in 2017.

When asked about a key to his success in the WHL, Magee said, “I think it is a little bit of everything. You need the right hockey mind and skills. I tried to be an exciting player and make it fun for fans to watch.”

“At the same time, you must keep working hard and have a coach that believes in you. If you’re not able to get minutes, then it’s hard to put up points. Fortunately for myself I was always a hard-working guy who had a pretty decent skillset. I was able to get some decent minutes and able to put up points.”

For Magee, that coach was Dave Lowry. “Dave was able to show us how to be a pro — to approach the game every single day with the right mentality of putting your work boots on. Whether it be in the gym or on the ice, being positive and working hard.”

Lowry had some lasting lessons for Magee. “He really stressed on me to focus on what you can control. The bounces aren’t always going to go your way, so be able to roll with the punches. Try to process information as it’s coming to you so you can make the best of it to be positive and successful in not just hockey, but in life.”

“I can’t say enough of a thanks to my billets and all the people who made Victoria home for me. When I’m done my hockey career, I can see it being a place I would settle down and end up living in one day.”

Always a Royal

Spending four full seasons in Victoria led to fond memories for Magee. “Victoria definitely has a piece of my heart.”

“I have always come back every single summer to visit friends and my billets. I met a lot of good people while I was out there and wouldn’t trade that in for anything else. Even to play in my hometown of Edmonton or anything like that.”

“I can’t say enough of a thanks to my billets and all the people who made Victoria home for me. When I’m done my hockey career, I can see it being a place I would settle down and end up living in one day.”

First WHL game memories

The upcoming season will mark 10 years since Magee’s first game in the WHL. For the forward — now 25 years old — it seems hard to believe that amount of time has passed. Like all players, he can vividly remember breaking into the league.

“I remember getting a phone call to come out to practice with the team while they were in Saskatoon in 2010. Making the trip with my dad, I practiced with the team, and the guys were awesome.”

“After practice, I talked with the coaching staff, and they told me that I had a good practice, but they were going to send me home. I went back to (the) hotel room with my dad. I remember it was a Tuesday night, and we were watching the Olympics in Vancouver on television. It was late around 12:30 at night, and then Assistant Coach Bob Rouse called and told me I was playing the next day. I was so surprised and remember my dad turning off the TV and telling me I better get some sleep.”

“The next day we traveled to Prince Albert, and I played in my first WHL game. I remember the butterflies that came with playing the game in the league you always wanted to play in. It was a really great experience that I will always remember.”

Final thoughts and goals for this upcoming season

For many players, life after the WHL can be uncertain. For the rare few, the jump to a higher professional level is automatic. Other players like Magee find the path is not as direct but can be rewarding in its own way.

“Every kid growing up who likes hockey has NHL posters all over the walls. So the dream to play in that league and win a Stanley Cup is the ultimate goal. As you become older, you realize where that hockey has a lot of different roads.”

“For myself, being able to stick with the game has been the most rewarding thing possible.”

“Now it’s taking me to China, a place I never thought I would have the opportunity. I’m going to be able to travel and see most of Russia — something a lot of people will not get the chance to do in their lifetime. I feel very fortunate and lucky that hockey has allowed me to see different parts of the North America and now the world.”

“My main goal is to make the KHL team and be with the big squad. I feel that is a very good spot for me, and I have the ability to play there. I’ll continue to work hard here in the next weeks and months to earn my spot with the team. From there, if I can get into the lineup consistently and be an everyday player at the KHL level, I can build on that. “