Michigan Tech has secured its third major junior commitment in quick order in the form of Swift Current Broncos winger Rylan Gould. Gould (of no relation to Malcolm and Gavin) is a heady and skilled two way forward who excels at creating offense through disruption. Those who have followed the Huskies for more than a couple of months will have undoubtedly heard head coach Joe Shawhan declare his love for players who have “hard skill,” and Gould fits that description to a tee.
Originally selected by Swift Current in the WHL bantam draft, Gould made his debut in the 2021-22 season as a 16-year-old. For those unfamiliar with junior hockey, making a roster in a top-level junior league as a 16-year-old is an impressive accomplishment. Gould struggled to produce whilst playing down the lineup as a 16- and 17-year-old but has exploded into a point per game player over the past season and a half.
Unlike Michigan Tech’s other CHL commits in this cycle, Gould is a 2005 born. This means he has an overage year available to him, and it appears that his plan is to play that overage year in Swift Current before joining the Huskies in the fall of 2026. When Gould does arrive in Houghton, expect to see him featured heavily straight away. This is a sure-fire top 6 forward with the potential to be used in all situations. Gould profiles quite similarly to current freshman forward Elias Jansson, though Gould is a better skater and will make his collegiate debut at 21 years old as opposed to Jansson at 19. Because of this, it is likely fair to expect a more immediate high-end impact from Gould.
Image courtesy of Doug Westcott of Elite Prospect and Creative Commons.
Nathan is currently a student at Michigan Tech, studying Engineering Management. He cultivated his love for the game over a 10 year youth hockey career and is excited to bring his passion to Tech Hockey Guide and Michigan Tech hockey. While not at school, Nathan resides in the Chicagoland area
