Selected with the 192nd overall pick in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL draft, Dalyn Wakely has been a high scoring forward at the OHL level. Wakely is largely known most for his two-way physical game.
The Oil Rig had the chance to catch up with the current Barrie Colts forward after one of the teams most recent games. We got to chat about his favourite hockey memories, the team, and his adjustment to a new OHL organization.
What is your favourite hockey memories?
Wakely: “I mean I’m a huge Sidney Crosby fan, so seeing him score the 2010 Olympic ‘golden goal’ stands out. Along with remembering the last couple of cups he’s won is pretty cool, and obviously [Connor] McDavid scoring the recent 4 Nations gold medal goal is pretty sweet.”
TR: “Do you remember where you were when Crosby scored the Golden Goal?”
Wakely: “Yeah, I was at my old house before my family moved, I was in our basement sitting on the couch, I’ll honestly never forget.”
TR: “What would be your favourite personal hockey memory?”
Wakely: “Personally, it’s just anytime my team is in the playoffs, and any of those big wins are always pretty cool and memorable. Obviously playoffs with Barrie are coming up and i’m hoping to create more of those [memories].”
Did you get to pick your number? Is there any meaning or significance behind 81?
Wakely: “Well I got traded to Barrie like mid-week. It was a Wednesday night I got traded, and we played Thursday, so there wasn’t much time they had a couple of jerseys ready to go, so 81 was one of those. I always use to wear number 9 as a kid, so 8 plus 1 is 9, so that was kind of a little correlation I could make. It was on the fly and we had to get something done and I liked how 81 looked.”
TR: “So a bit of confidence and 8 plus 1 equals good things ha ha.”
What kind of music do you put on pre-game in the room, does Barrie have a team DJ?
Wakely: “Ah it’s all over the place, and we are all pretty easy going. I don’t mind it. I like a lot of country stuff. Anything Luke Combs or Morgan Wallen and all that kind of country. It’s definitely a wide range of music.”
Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with?
Wakely: “Oh man, there’s a lot of guys don’t get the credit that they deserve. I think I’ve got to say Owen Van Steensel. He’s my linemate, and he’s paid his dues, and he’s a really really great player whose hardworking, and he just hasn’t got the attention from NHL teams I think he deserves, but his time is coming. He’s a really special player, and I’m lucky to play with him everyday.”
With you and Akey both being drafted by the Oilers, do you have any sort of special bond, knowing you both will end up in the Oilers system? What’s it like having a fellow Oilers draftee on your team?
Wakely: “It’s really cool, obviously we kind of just met over the summer at Oilers training camp, and then kind of funny that it works out that I get traded here and now we are teammates. It’s pretty cool, we hang out a lot away from the rink, and we are really good friends. He’s a remarkable hockey player and I’m just happy to be around him every day.”
Reflecting on your time in North Bay, you spent a lot of time with the Battalion during your junior career, what was it like being traded early on in the season? How did you find the adjustment to a new team, room, and systems?
Wakely: “Yeah it was pretty tough, you never really expect to be traded, or how difficult it is when you got to pick up and move. Even though it’s just junior it’s a change. Obviously now i’m pretty settled in, and the guys [in Barrie] have made it just so easy to be around them everyday. The coaching staff and all the players have made it really nice. I really loved my time in North Bay, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, so happy to experience both [of these cities].”
What are your playoff aspirations, are there any elements in your game you’re working on the most this season?
Wakely: “I think just trying to improve. You know being sent back this year to play another season in the OHL, I’m just trying to reproduce the season I had last year, and that means just fine-tuning some things. One of the things i’ve been working on personally is faceoffs and some of the smaller things.”
Wakely: “I’ve been pretty close to making the OHL finals three years in a row in North Bay, and we are looking to get over that hump this year, so definitely motivated going into playoffs this year.”
Last but not least, is there anything you want Oilers fans to know about you or your game?
Wakely: “I mean I’m just excited to be an Oiler prospect, and somebody whose hungry to make a difference in the organization and keep pushing my way up the levels, so I’m going to work hard to do that and put myself on the map for sure.”
TR: “Absolutely, love the dedication, and thank you so much for taking time out of your day to chat with us and safe travels home.”
Wakely: “Thank you, I appreciate it.”
We at the Oil Rig want to thank the Barrie Colts for being so accommodating and helping us put this interview together. Are there any questions you would’ve asked Dalyn Wakely? Are there any other prospects you would like us to chat with?
Let us know in the comments below.
Photo provided from the Barrie Colts
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