The Dale brothers – Brody and Brayden – are KIJHL alumni playing their first season of pro hockey for Eisadler Dortmund in Germany’s Regionalliga. Brayden, 26, played for the Kamloops Storm (2014-15) and Kelowna Chiefs (2015-16) registering 51 points in 97 career regular season games. Brody racked up 255 points in 139 career regular season games over four seasons with the Chiefs. The brothers played a season together with the Chiefs as well as in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference with the Portage College Voyageurs. Now they are together again for a third time.
Brody is leading the Regional League West with 16 goals and 46 points in 16 games, while Brayden is eighth, and second on the team, with 14 goals and 34 points in 16 games.
Brody and Brayden shared their experience so far with Eisadler Dortmund in this Q&A.
KIJHL: What has it been like for you to play on this team and in the league?
The Dales: The experience has been good as our teammates and fans have welcomed us and treated us very well.
KIJHL: What is the league’s skill level like?
The Dales: The top-end team’s are quite similar to most junior A leagues in Canada, playing a more possession game with skill. It’s less run and gun like North American hockey.
KIJHL: What led to you playing pro hockey in Germany?
The Dales: We have friends who played over here saying how it was a good experience for them and we’ve always wanted to try and take our hockey career to the next level.
KIJHL: This is the third team that you are playing together on, what do you enjoy about being on the same team?
The Dales: I think our two different playing styles go quite well together and just having someone like that to go through all of this makes the transition easier. Not many people are fortunate enough to play alongside their brother at a high level and we have been lucky enough to do so in the past.
KIJHL: What advice do you have for a KIJHL player who is considering playing pro hockey in Europe?
The Dales: If you’re looking to play in Europe, start reaching out early on, even during your season because they finalize their rosters much sooner compared to back home. Focus on getting your foot in the door to get over here and try and prove yourself once you’re here.
