During the 2021-2022 season, his first in the Ontario Hockey League, local forward and first round pick Alex Pharand would net a grand total of six goals (to go along with eight assists).

Sure, the truth is that the 6’3” long-time Nickel City Sons' product would start the season with a veteran-laden Hamilton Bulldogs team that would capture the league championship. His playing time – and numbers – both increased as he made the move home, acquired by the Sudbury Wolves at the trade deadline in January of 2022.

And while pretty much all who follow the team closely predicted some form of progression this year, Pharand’s early output of 15 goals in 32 games, second on the team only to Seattle Krakken second round pick David Goyette is far more than expected.

Some power play time has definitely helped, as has the experience that comes with now having 85 games in the league under his belt – all of which has made Pharand a more confident player and shooter.

But at the end of the day, some friendly advice very close to home may have had as much impact as anything as the well-spoken and very accommodating young teen looks to help his team on a run to the playoffs in 2023.

“My dad told me an old saying,” said Pharand. “If you want money, go to the bank; if you want bread, go to the bakery; if you want goals, go to the net. A lot of my goals have been right around the net, rebound goals and stuff, just getting to that area. And one-timers are something I will work on after practice.”

For a young man who always made things look easy on the ice, the adjustment to the next level was tricky at times, just as it is for the overwhelming majority of one-time minor hockey stars who make the ascension to the OHL.

“When I started last year, I thought I would be a centreman all the time; I thought I would be a goal scorer – but there’s so many skilled players in this league,” said Pharand. “I think I am now more established in junior hockey. I know I can play centre, I know I can play wing – but for pro, I am likely more of a hard-nosed winger with flashes of skill.”

Those flashes are often part and parcel of garnering a level of comfort at whichever level of hockey one might be playing, something that Pharand has come to understand as he continues his development under the watchful eye of a Wolves staff that have been fans of his skill-set since day one.

“You have to have a goldfish memory, to learn from the mistakes you made but then forget about them,” he said. “That was kind of my challenge. Sometimes, I would get the puck and my only mindset was not to make a mistake. I play my best when I am out there having fun, playing with confidence.”

A summer spent in the company of some of the best hockey players in the city only served to supplant an already well-established work ethic, with Pharand tapping into some of the shared messages of striking a healthy balance.

“Recovering well is so important,” he said. “I lost ten pounds last year during the season. Now, I stretch before workouts, stretch after workouts, flush my legs, do a lot of cardio. For the on-ice stuff, I focused a lot on the smaller details: chipping pucks out, handling pucks that are rimmed, taking a hard pass on your backhand.”

“All of those little things I worked on during the summer are paying off this year.”

Recently upgraded to a B prospect for the NHL Entry Draft by Central Scouting, Pharand is fully aware that team success and individual success are linked quite closely, more often than not. “If you look to the past, guys who go on to play pro careers often come from winning teams,” he said.

“Our main goal at the end of the day is win, win, win. We want to make the playoffs, go on a long run. That will help my stock.”