Rookie Spotlight: David Breazeale

After a long weekend of three hockey games in three days for the Wheeling Nailers, Olde City Sports Network sat down with defenseman David Breazeale and spoke about the NAHL, University of Maine, and more!

Before hitting the collegiate and professional ranks, Breazeale started his development in the NAHL with the Shreveport Mudbugs. He dressed in 140 regular season games with the Mudbugs and tallied nine goals with 36 assists. He also dressed in 20 post season games and tallied one goal with fivee assists in those post season games. Breazeale was part of the 2021 Shreveport Mudbugs championship team. The NAHL is responsible for developing many players that are now in the professional world. “I think it had a lot to do with where I'm at today. It helped me get to New University of Maine, where I kind of was able to kick start my career a little bit. They call it the League of Opportunity, and they gave me a great opportunity to continue my development and continue playing the game that I love so much. Playing down in the South was absolutely amazing experience. There was some awesome towns all throughout the south, where guys could go and having amazing junior experience and give them a chance to go up play college hockey at a really high level. So I credit a lot to playing in the North American. It was an awesome league and a great experience.”

Playing in college and juniors, players develop friendships that have a lifelong connection. For Breazeale, one of those connections has crossed paths with him in the professional world. He played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Nolan Renwick, whom also has played a few games with the Wheeling Nailers this season. For Breazeale, it’s an awesome experience to be able to play in the same organization. “That was so cool. He's one of my best friends, one of the best human beings I know. So for us to be able to be in the same organization is pretty cool and continue to cross paths. It's an absolute blessing and I'm looking forward to hopefully continue.”

Leading a team of other players is one of the biggest honors that a player can receive, and most often times, it’s decided on by fellow teammates. Breazeale held the “A” during his sophomore year, and then led the team with the “C” during his junior and senior years. During Breazeale’s senior year he was named to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team, was runner-up Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award and was the Hockey Humanitarian Award nominee. He was also named Hockey East Defender of the Week in late March of that year. During Breazeale’s time with the University of Maine, he dressed in 144 games and notched eight goals with 43 assists. “Getting the “C” at Maine was that was pretty special, there was a lot of great captains before me, and a lot of legacy in the University of Maine. So to be able to represent the team and represent the whole school, with that on my chest was really cool and I thank my coaches and everybody for that opportunity. We had a lot of great guys there and a lot of guys that who could have been captains and who carried the leadership roles there. So it made my job pretty easy. That was an absolute honor and something I'll cherish forever. I think in the locker room, just trying to be a good person, and bring spirits up, be a good guy. Do things the right way, have a great effort, great attitude. You're not the most skilled guy, but you can go in with a really good attitude and bring other guys up around you.”

At the end of his collegiate career, Breazeale signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and dressed in two games. Even though it was only two games, Breazeale gained experience from those two games and is applying it to his rookie season. “Those two games, I probably learned the most about what it means to be a pro and about my game and what I'm going to have to do in the future to continue to play professional hockey. So that was an awesome experience. I learned about playing fast, playing efficiently, keeping my game simple and adapting to the pro style.”

While in Wheeling, Breazeale is working on multiple skills throughout this season too continue to develop and make the jump to the next level. “I think continue to have really good gap control, really good stick detail, and I'm playing fast. Not over handling the puck when the play is there to be made, make the play, get to the forwards. There are some good players in this league, so let them do the work and just defend really hard.”

Defenseman need to use their sticks in order to dictate plays, especially when they are on the rush during a game. Breazeale being in his rookie season, is continuing to develop that necessary skill and is working on it with the coaches in Wheeling. “That's something I'm actually working with our assistant coach, Mitch Giguere. We really want to be able to have a stick in the passing lane, stick on puck all the time, taking away plays and dictating the play. If you're able to dictate the play with really good skating and really good stick detail, it makes it really hard for another team to play. It could be really frustrating for them when you're just taking everything away and having a really good stick and do that.”

When being on defense, players need to be able to think quickly, being as they see most of the game. One of those skills of being able to think on their feet is knowing when to shoot versus pass on the blue line. “I think it's just taking what's there. You want to get as many pucks as you can in the net, but sometimes you got to pick your head up and find a play that's there to be made and catch the goalie off guard. So I think it's just a read that you have to make in the situation, whatever the situation is, and whatever opportunity presents itself, just to be able to make a play.”

Goalies are the last line of defense in a game, and arguably have the toughest position on the ice. Goalies communicate with their team and vice versa. Communication is vital for team chemistry and team play. “That's a big one because we want goalies that are going to go out and play the puck and be able to help us on our breakouts. So we have simple calls: up, over, set. That's pretty much it. It's just one word, a lot of it's on us to be able to scan the play, look up ice to see what's coming, and then give the goalie a good call, be loud, and call it early, and trust him to make a play, put it on tape.”

Mobility and patience are both important for defenseman. Mobility allows the position to be efficient at covering the ice, escape pressure, and join the rush. Patience allows defenseman to read plays and make smart decisions. When a defenseman puts both together, it enables transitions that are smooth and better positioning. “Both are very important. I think, for a defenseman, mobility is super important just being able to have really good gaps and skate to close space. Patience, especially defending and with the puck not over extending yourself is superb, but I think with really good mobility, you can come really good patience.”

Every player has a way that they became involved in hockey, and for Breazeale, it was a family affair that led him down the path to professional hockey. “So my grandpa played, he coached, my dad played, he continues to coach, and then both of my older brothers played as well. So I was started at a young age. So it was inevitable. So I'm really glad that we got into the game. We're hockey family through and through up in Michigan. So skating on the rink outside was kind of where I started and then just fell in love with the game.”

At the time of this article, Breazeale is on recall to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In this season, Breazeale has dressed in 25 games with the Wheeling Nailers and has notched two goals with nine assists.

- Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network

- Photo Credit: Stacey Gramlich/Olde City Sports Network