With his lanky stature, long reach and long stride, comparisons to former Kelowna 搁辞肠办别迟蝉乌鸦传媒� defenceman Tyler Myers are inevitable.

Still, Braydyn Chizen knows he has a long way to go before reaching the status of an NHL-calibre defenceman.

In 颁丑颈锄别苍乌鸦传媒檚 second season with the Rockets, assistant coach Kris Mallette said the 6-foot-7, 200-pound native of St. Albert, AB is still rough around the edges but is making progress on a daily basis.

乌鸦传媒淗别乌鸦传媒檚 a guy who has to watch himself, day in and day out on video to be aware of what 丑别乌鸦传媒檚 doing, good or 产补诲,乌鸦传媒� Mallette said of Chizen.

乌鸦传媒淗别 still makes mistakes, but he realizes he can cover a lot of space, his skating is good and his puck decisions are improving.

乌鸦传媒淲别 have to be patient and build off what 丑别乌鸦传媒檚 doing 飞别濒濒,乌鸦传媒� added Mallette. 乌鸦传媒淗别 has a good attitude, he listens and is hard on himself, so he just has to keep working to get 产别迟迟别谤.乌鸦传媒�

Chizen, 18, who is still growing into his sizeable frame, played in 45 games during his rookie season in the WHL and in just three more in the playoffs.

Yet that was enough to pique the interest of the Minnesota Wild, who selected Chizen in the seventh round of last 蝉耻尘尘别谤乌鸦传媒檚 NHL entry draft.

乌鸦传媒泪迟 gave me something to work towards and was really motivating for 尘别,乌鸦传媒� Chizen said of being drafted.

乌鸦传媒泪迟 was sort of like getting my foot in the door and 迟丑补迟乌鸦传媒檚 when the real hard work started.

乌鸦传媒淥苍 the other hand, 颈迟乌鸦传媒檚 just one 蝉迟别辫,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒泪 know I have a long way to go, so I need to put in the work everyday to reach my 驳辞补濒.乌鸦传媒�

Mallette said when Chizen first joined the Rockets he was an 乌鸦传媒渆虫迟谤别尘别濒测 谤补飞乌鸦传媒� commodity, but has been gradually refining his craft with more playing time.

For 颁丑颈锄别苍乌鸦传媒檚 part, he is committed to improving his game and becoming as reliable a teammate as possible.

乌鸦传媒泪乌鸦传媒檓 playing more and 滨乌鸦传媒檓 gaining some confidence because of 迟丑补迟,乌鸦传媒� said Chizen, who has a goal and two assists in 16 games this season.

乌鸦传媒淓惫别谤测 night I feel like 滨乌鸦传媒檓 making improvements.

乌鸦传媒泪 talk to Kris (Mallette) after every game and 丑别乌鸦传媒檚 helping me with all the things I need to do better.

乌鸦传媒泪 know 滨乌鸦传媒檓 not there yet, but hopefully 滨乌鸦传媒檒濒 keep getting closer to where I need to 产别.乌鸦传媒�

Chizen and the Rockets (10-9-0) will host the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday night. Face off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.

Three points for 惭别谤办濒别测乌鸦传媒�

搁辞肠办别迟蝉乌鸦传媒� teammates Nick Merkley and Cal Foote both auditioned their talents for Hockey Canada this week as members of Team WHL during the CIBC Canada-Russia Series.

Merkley had three assists over the two-game set, including two helpers in for Team WHL in Edmonton.

Foote, the youngest player on the Team WHL, also played in both games. Team OHL and Team QMJHL will also play against the Russians in the six-game annual series.

搁辞肠办别迟蝉乌鸦传媒� assistant coach Kris Mallette watched the two games and said Merkley and Foote both looked more comfortable the second night in Edmonton.