Brett Brochu's 22-year career has brought an abundance of expertise and top-notch results to ERC-Tor.
Newcomer Brett Brochu Ready to Make a Splash in DEL with ERC Ingolstadt
Brett Brochu, the highly-touted goaltender, is set to make his mark in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) with ERC Ingolstadt this season. Before joining the German league, Brochu had a distinguished career in North American junior and professional leagues, particularly in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL).
In the OHL during the 2021-22 season, Brochu ranked among the top goaltenders, finishing with 29 wins (tied for 3rd), a goals-against average of 2.75 (7th), and a save percentage of .911 (tied for 3rd). His strong performance was evident throughout the season, with a high point being his lead in save percentage (.921) and wins (16) at one point, as well as maintaining a 2.48 goals-against average heading into the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Internationally, Brochu represented Canada at the World Junior level, making a strong debut by stopping 20 of 22 shots before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. More recently, Brochu played for the Milwaukee Admirals, the AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators, showcasing competitive professional-level experience in North America before moving to Europe.
As Brochu prepares for his first season in the DEL, he will have the guidance of goaltending coach Ilpo Kauhanen to help him adjust to different shooting angles. During a training camp, Brochu could be found on the ice during lunch break, trying to stop the shots of NHL stars, including Corey Perry.
Brochu's ambition, persistence, and passion for hockey were evident in his junior days, as he often sought out extra practice opportunities. He believes his early experiences and hard work give him an advantage in Ingolstadt. His focus is on becoming an even more complete goaltender, especially for the larger ice surface in the DEL.
Some fans may be skeptical about Brochu's readiness to be a DEL goaltender after just two professional seasons. However, Brochu has been seeking tips from his summer training partner, former ERC goaltender Nico Daws, to improve his rebound control, agility, and positional play. He plans to start speaking his first sentences in German and is interested in learning the language as a way to immerse himself in the culture.
Brochu's goal is to help the team have a successful season, which could potentially delay his flight back to Canada. He has not made any competitive remarks towards his goaltending partner, Devin Williams, but hopes to contribute good results to the team's success.
Brochu's height is "only" just over 1.80 meters, which is shorter than the trend for tall goaltenders. However, he wants to prove that height doesn't matter and focuses on stopping the puck. He was impressed by the professionalism of McDavid and Draisaitl during his time at the Edmonton Oilers training camp, standing on the ice with them in an exhibition game.
Brett Brochu will be 23 years old at the start of the new season in the DEL. Despite his youth, Brochu seems more mature and reflective than a typical 20-year-old. He has enjoyed his first days in Ingolstadt and finds the apartment, car, and city to be great. With his strong work ethic and attitude, Brochu is poised to make a significant contribution to ERC Ingolstadt this season.
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- Brett Brochu, with his impressive performance in North American junior and professional leagues, such as the Ontario Hockey League and the American Hockey League, is eager to demonstrate his skills in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) and hockey arena, like the NHL.
- As he embarks on his first season with ERC Ingolstadt, Brett Brochu has been working diligently to enhance his game, particularly his rebound control, agility, and positional play, under the guidance of goaltending coach Ilpo Kauhanen, and with the support of former ERC goaltender Nico Daws.
