From fourth line to new life
BUTLER TWP — The fun was going out of the game for Brayden Povlick.
The Butler senior has been playing hockey since the age of 3 and was in his fourth year with the Golden Tornado varsity team this past winter. But he found himself on the fourth line and with diminishing minutes on the ice in the first half of the season.
“It wasn’t working out between the coach and myself and I didn’t have much of a role on the team,” Povlick admitted. “We had a coaching change halfway through the season and everything changed.”
Nick Wilcox, Butler’s junior varsity coach, was bumped up to coach the varsity.
“The team was struggling and the board decided to move me up,” Wilcox said. “I had coached most of that varsity team in JV’s at some point. But I had never coached Brayden.
“The first time I saw him play, I saw a solid hockey player with a lot of skills. All he was lacking was confidence and an opportunity.”
Wilcox moved Povlick to the No. 1 line, put him on the power play and penalty kill, and his play drastically improved. He was already the leading scorer on the North Pittsburgh Wildcats, scoring 17 goals and adding nine assists. He picked up three assists in a handful of games on the Tornado’s top line.
Toward the end of the 2022-23 hockey season, Povlick — who plays center — signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Madhatters of the United States Premier Hockey League. That circuit — founded in 2012 — is designed to prepare players for college hockey.
“My goal has always been to play major college hockey and this league specializes in that area,” Povlick said. “I had conversations with eight or nine teams in the league, along with teams from two or three other leagues.
“I chose Atlanta because the coaches there have a lot to offer, I love that area and the hockey facilities are excellent. I was able to go down there and watch them play a game in Florida. I feel like I’ll fit right in with their style of play.”
The USPHL consists of 60 teams and nine divisions. Atlanta plays in the Florida Division and finished second in that group last season, sporting a 24-16-3 record.
The Premier League is the highest level of a hockey organization that has more than 600 teams overall, ranging in age from 6 to 21. It has sent more than 5,000 players to college hockey, 200 to Division 1 teams and has had seven players drafted by NHL teams.
It is the largest amateur hockey league in the United States.
Povlick reports to training camp in August. Players live together with host families. The season runs from September through February.
“You can play as many as 60 games with a deep playoff run,” Povlick enthused. “As a center, I feel like I’m good on face-offs and I can use my speed to beat guys to the puck.”
Players can spend two years at the Premier level in the USPHL. Povlick is signed to a one-year deal.
“When you play with confidence, you’re a different player,” Wilcox said. “As long as Brayden believes in himself, he’ll perform.”
The Butler coach described him as a “grinder” who can help a team in a lot of ways.
“Not everybody in hockey is a superstar,” Wilcox said. “Not everybody can be Sidney Crosby. Teams need a bunch of solid players to succeed and Brayden is one of those guys.
“He’s an excellent penalty killer, smart in the defensive zone, blocks shots and knows how to get the puck out. He can be used on a top line, the power play ... He’s a dynamic player.”
A dynamic player who hopes to have plenty of hockey left in him.
“I know I have to prove myself,” Povlick said. “This is my chance to do that. I want to eventually play at some level of pro hockey for as long as I can.”
