Bryan Cameron

History

2006-07: It comes as no surprise that Bryan Cameron has taken on a leadership role with the Belleville Bulls in his second season. After all, the Brampton, ON product was the captain of a midget squad that featured a player by the name of John Tavares. While no one’s expecting Cameron to put up Tavares-esque numbers offensively, he has been counted on to play a solid overall game – and he’s delivered.  His sophomore OHL campaign has been one of steady, yet marked development. He doubled his point totals to 58 over four less games this season (60 this year), and continued to provide solid point production in the playoffs with 12 points in 15 games.

2007-08: Cameron competed with Moller, Holloway and Simmonds right down to the wire for the lead in goals scored by a Kings prospect, ultimately finishing with 41 in 68 games played for Belleville.  Cameron led the Bulls into the OHL championship series, but struggled to score in the playoffs as top defensive pairings keyed on his line.  Instead, his line occupied the opposition’s top defenders, opening up opportunities for the second scoring line.

2008-09: Cameron had a good offensive year with the Belleville Bulls in his fourth OHL season. He scored 37 goals (12 on the power play) along with 44 assists and had a plus 32 rating while taking 51 PIMs in 64 OHL games.  The Bulls would play deep into the OHL playoffs, losing a six game series to the Brampton Battalion in the Eastern Conference Finals. Cameron played a solid two-way game while scoring seven goals (three power play goals) with seven assists and a good plus four rating in 17 OHL playoff games.

2009-10: The skilled scoring winger failed to receive a contract offer from the Los Angeles Kings and was passed over in the 2009 entry draft, becoming a free agent. Cameron was traded to the Barrie Colts for an 18-year-old player and three future draft picks just prior to the start of his final OHL season. Cameron would have his best scoring season of his OHL career. He scored 53 goals (18 on the power play) along with 25 assists and a very good plus 38 rating while taking 68 PIMs in 62 OHL games.  The Barrie Colts played deep into the OHL playoffs before getting swept by the eventual Memorial Cup Champions, the Windsor Spitfires. Cameron would silence some of his critics that said he wasn't big enough to score around the net in the playoffs. He scored 11 goals (six power play goals) along with nine assists and a solid plus six rating in 17 OHL playoff games. On May 1, 2010, the Calgary Flames jumped early to sign Cameron to an entry level contract before any other teams could sign the 53 goal scoring free agent winger.

2010-11: Cameron had a difficult rookie year with Abbottsford playing fourth line minutes after scoring 53 OHL goals last season. The 22-year-old scored only six goals along with nine assists in 60 AHL games. In late February, the young forward was re-assigned to the ECHL Victoria Salmon Kings, an affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks and Manitoba Moose, to receive more playing time in order to regain his scoring confidence. He was quickly returned to the Heat after a seven game ECHL stint having scored three goals along with three assists. The offensively talented player was unable to help the team score more goals during the last eight games of the season.

2011-12: Cameron skated in 20 games for the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies in an injury-filled second season that ended in January due to a shoulder problem. He scored 7 goals with 4 assists and was minus-15 with 12 penalty minutes for Utah;scoring 4 goals on the power play. Utah finished third in the Mountain Division and lost in the first round of the ECHL playoffs.

Talent Analysis

Cameron has good skills, hockey intelligence, good speed and a solid overall game. The hardworking forward can be an agitating crease crasher who scores most of his goals in tight to the net and getting his nose dirty. The third rounder has struggled to regain his scoring touch and find his offensive game. Injuries and poor play have him in jeopardy of falling further behind on the Flames depth chart and possibly not being re-signed.

Future

Cameron was assigned to the ECHL level to play for the Utah Grizzlies again this season. He will need to regain his offensive confidence and get off to an excellent start in order to be given the chance to play at the AHL for the Heat.