SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Chiefs losing a player as elitely skilled as Berkly Catton to the Seattle Kraken is a loss the chiefs surely feel, but one that’s overcomable.
The Chiefs started the 2025-26 season captainless, until head coach Brad Lauer made the call to promote one of his best, young, bright defensive stars.
“There are a couple guys we talked about, but his name kept coming up,” Lauer said. “And I think he represents what we want to be on and off the ice.”
In his fourth season with Spokane and second as an assistant captain, the next step only felt natural for Will McIsaac.
“It’s an honor, and something that I’ve dreamed about since my first day here,” McIsaac said. “Just trying to take all the stuff that I’ve learnt from the old guys and bring that into our locker room.”
The 19-year-old Vancouverite swaps his ‘A’ patch for a captain’s ‘C’ on his jersey, an honor he’s still letting sink in.
“Not a lot of thoughts, I think just a lot of excitement initially, and then, obviously, just right away talking about the leadership group and talking what we need to work on and all the little things, going through that with Lau,” McIsaac said.
McIsaac also shared how much Catton taught him to lead by example.
“Just bringing his practice habits, bringing a guy along with him or taking charge in a game, whether that’s a hit or a shot or just changing the momentum,” McIsaac said. “I really liked that stuff he did.”
Coach Lauer added how this change can help right the ship of a middling season, one that finds Spokane sitting ninth in the WHL Western Conference.
“I think it gives him that status where now if he sees something, he can say something,” Lauer said. “He can be emotionally more involved into situations with the team and his players, and I think this helps us tremendously.”
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