ESTEVAN - An Estevan hockey product has found both team and individual success in Slovakia.
Brant Harris, who played minor and junior hockey in Estevan, won a Slovak league championship with HC Slovan Bratislava in the top league in the European nation. He was also the team’s top scorer, and second overall in the league, with 21 goals and 38 assists in 49 games.
Harris has spent two seasons with HC Slovan Bratislava, and is set to be back with the team next season.
“It was the first championship of my professional career, so it was awesome. It was really exciting. Especially with the year we had. We were first, so there was a lot of pressure, and it was good to make sure we won that thing,” said Harris.
It was the first championship he has won since capturing a league title with the Estevan U18 AA Bruins program in 2007.
HC Slovan Bratislava had a lot of depth. When injuries occurred, they had players who could capably fill in.
“Our goaltending was key. We had two import goalies, which I would say a lot of teams don’t, so that was nice to swap back and forth, whoever was the hotter goalie. We were, all-round, a pretty solid team.”
Harris played his minor hockey in Estevan, and spent 2 1/2 seasons with the junior A Bruins until he was dealt to the Melfort Mustangs midway through his final season of junior hockey in 2009-10.
He then spent four seasons with the University of Connecticut Huskies, where he remains the all-time leading scorer with 106 points in 141 games.
From there, he played in the American Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, and in Austria and Sweden before landing in Slovakia.
His first season in Slovakia was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was still a good experience, although they lost out in the semifinal round.
“Bouncing between leagues, every league is different, so some leagues fit you better, and some leagues don’t so much. Once I got comfortable in that [Slovak] league and figured it out, I was able to do well.”
The Slovakian hockey players typically play a grittier style of game, and Harris said that helps his style of play as a bigger and more physical player.
“The Swedish league was highly skilled, and so I think I brought that skill back into Slovakia. I developed a little bit, played a little bit of centre, and switched back to centre when I played in Slovakia.”
It’s a high-calibre league, too, although it’s a different style because they play on a larger ice surface than in North America. The imports in the league have typically played in the American Hockey League at some point.
The league championship means Harris and the Slovak club might compete in the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland, during the Christmas holidays. The tournament, which is televised on TSN each year, features European league champions, the host Davos team and a team of Canadian players competing overseas.
Harris and HC Slovan Bratislava were supposed to compete in the 2021-22 Spengler Cup, but it was cancelled due to COVID-19.
They also made it to the Champions’ League European tournament this year, advancing to the semifinal.
“It’s funny when people over here, especially friends and family, can watch games that I’m playing over there,” said Harris.
Harris is grateful to Estevan’s hockey programs for helping find the love of the game and helping him develop as a player.
“I moved up from defence to forward … my second-last year of midget, and that fit me really well, and I went down to college and played there, and here we are today,” said Harris.
