The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Beyond the Crest: Cam Reid on the Kitchener Rangers, Being Drafted by Nashville & NHL Aspirations

Episode Date: May 12, 2026

Jeff Marek sits down with Kitchener Rangers defenseman Cam Reid for an in-depth conversation on his hockey journey, from growing up in Elmer to becoming a key piece of the Rangers blue line. Reid reflects on his early days in the game, including playing in The Brick Tournament, his development through Power Edge Pro, and what it was like leaving home to chase the OHL dream. He shares insights on life with the Kitchener Rangers, the impact of coaches like Brad Flynn, and the competitiveness of facing top OHL talent. Reid also discusses being drafted by the Nashville Predators, learning from players like Roman Josi, and what it will take to reach the next level. Plus, stories about skating with NHLers and the mindset driving his push toward a Memorial Cup.Subscribe for more interviews, stories, and hockey insight right here on The Sheet.#TheSheet #NHL #OHL #Hockey #KitchenerRangers #CamReid #JeffMarekChapters:00:00 Intro00:06 Growing up in Elmer & hockey roots01:15 Early hockey memories & The Brick Tournament03:08 Training with Power Edge Pro04:25 Why defense & influence from family05:51 Discovering the OHL dream06:38 Moving away to develop (Bishop Kearney)07:35 Life with the Kitchener Rangers08:20 Coaching impact & Brad Flynn09:52 Toughest OHL opponents10:41 Drafted by the Nashville Predators11:45 Learning from Roman Josi12:57 First OHL goal moment13:49 Equipment habits & skating style15:29 What it takes to reach the NHL16:05 Daily routine & preparation17:00 Favorite players growing up17:33 Skating with NHL players18:43 Rangers goals & Memorial Cup mindset19:03 Outro & programming notesReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Flames_Nation🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Nashville Predators have a long line of great defensemen skating through their organization. Shea Weber, Ryan Souter, Roman Yossi, P.K. Suban, it goes on and on and on. So it's no surprise they took Cameron Reed of the Kitchen Arrangers in the first round of last year's NHL draft. Enjoy my conversation with Cameron Reed. Cam Reed, long way from Elmer. Not too far, actually. But as far as metaphorically speak, take us through your journey to get here to the Kitchener Rangers. I want to get to Nashville, first rounder, all these things.

But you've had already a really storied junior hockey career. Take us back to when you first got on the ice. Yeah, I mean, I was a little kid. My family grew up hockey people. So my dad grew up in Niagara. His dad, my grandpa, was a equipment manager for the Iriottos for a couple of years. So I think... What era was that?

Who were the players then? Who were the biggies then? Remember? No, I don't really remember too much. I know he did a top prospects game with Dustin Bufflin. Oh, wow. Yeah, so that's what I remember. I remember a picture around the house.

I remember seeing that. Okay, so I interrupted you. Yeah, but that's, yeah, my mom grew up in Tilseburg, not too far. Oh, yeah. A long way from Elmer and both hockey families. And it kind of just gone on in a young age and kept going from there. What are your earliest hockey memories? Like, is there something,

as far as like being on the ice. Like, where are your first you can still remember? Yeah, some of the first, I'd say playing in the brick tournament in Edmonton when I was 10 years old. So you were good early then? Well, you don't get to the brick unless you're like, it's okay. Yeah, I guess you can say that. You got to be really good to go to the brick. Yeah.

I was just very fortunate to have the opportunity. You were very good. That's why you went to the brick. You're very humble. Thank you. But, yeah, those are my earliest memories. I think that was a big tournament. Yeah.

I knew from a young age. What team were you won that? Toronto Pro Hockey. So you're pro hockey? All right. So that, I mean, that's an elite program. Yeah. So what do you remember from the, I mean, that's become already like the sort of early

indication of, you know, future superstardom, for lack of a better term. What was your experience of the brick like as a kid? It was awesome. I mean, you hear it all the time, but playing in that mall. That was the biggest thing. Yeah. But also playing against all the young players. I think that was huge.

I mean, when we were playing, Michael Mesa was there. Who was there? He was on the Bulldogs, and we played them a couple times. Those are the rivals, Bulldogs and pro hockey, just so have one notes.

Yeah, Gavin McKenna, he was playing for BC at the time. Oh, yeah. Those were just a couple of names that ring a bell right now, but those are good players still to this day, we talk about all the time, so.

So did you just take to the hockey naturally? Yeah. Like right away? Yeah, I think so. I mean, I think I just had fun with it. That was the biggest thing. I mean, growing up in a smaller,

compared to a big city. Yeah. That was the biggest thing for me. It was hockey was my life. I mean, you're not really near any of your friends. It's kind of you out in your house and shooting pucks in your garage pretty much every day. Did you have a backyard rink? Do you have an outdoor rink?

Or was it always indoor rinks? For me, it was just shooting pucks in my garage most of the time. And then one year during COVID, we had an outdoor rink. But it was just Elmer Rink. I think that was really it for me. Yeah. Um, your dad was a, and I think still does teach Power Edge Pro. Yeah.

So was that a lot for you? Because that's like, I got kids that do the same thing. Yeah. So I'm quite familiar. I think a lot of people are familiar now through Connor McDavid, specifically what PEP is like. What was your experience like with it with your dad? Did he help train you? Yeah, it was awesome.

I mean, when I was young, uh, he would run sessions, uh, and I'd go out and either train or help him out depending on who, uh, what the ages are like out there. But, uh, I was always on a lot of days, uh, just, uh, skating around, whether I was training or just helping out. It was awesome. But he still does it to this day. I think we started when I was around maybe seven years old, I would say. But yeah, it's been a lot of years of that.

Was it really hard at first or were you a natural? At first it was really hard. I mean, Power at Pro, if everyone knows PEP, it's hard. And it only gets harder as you grow up. Yeah. Any friends as well, do it along with you? Yeah. Like, I'd say whoever I was playing with on my teams.

Yeah. Or honestly, like, whoever I played with, they'd keep on doing it and I'd see them around. And, yeah, it was especially cool just to have all the boys out and you're just doing Power Edge Pro. Were you always a defense or were you converted? Yeah, I was always a defense. I think it was just natural. I'd always just kind of stay back, make sure the fuck's out of my net. So why D for you?

Like, what was the attraction to it? Yeah, I think it was my brother for sure. I mean, he played defense. He's three years older than me, and I would always watch him. I think that was a big thing for me getting into hockey. I would always watch his games, wanted to be like him. Where did he play? Elmer.

He was an Elmer. We were called the Elmer Flames at the time. So when I was a very young kid, I was playing Elmer Flames too. And it was just a simple thing, like just taking his jersey when he was done playing. And it would always just fit me when I was ready to play at that age. So it was cool to watch him play. I wanted to be like him. Here's the awkward question.

At what point did you get better than him? Was there a moment or like, uh-oh? Oh, I don't know. I'd say probably like puberty when I was starting to get as big as him. So, yeah, that was the biggest thing. How was that skate where all of a sudden cams better than the brother? Oh, I don't remember it to the exact point, but it was probably definitely pumped. Yeah.

Thoughts on the kitchen arrangers? Like, this is a heritage organization. heritage team in the OHL and has like a lengthy history behind it, obviously. Growing up, did you go to OHL games? How aware were you of the Ontario League and Kitchener Rangers place in it? Yeah, I mean, Kitchener's that's awesome. I mean, I love it. I love it here.

But growing up, I was always attending London Knights games. So that was always a team I would watch. I mean, even at a young age, I remember watching Boer Havat, Mitch Mariner in that era. And that was the biggest time for me. I was a little kid and I loved it. There were some good players on that team. You mentioned a couple. I'll throw in Nikita Zedoroff.

I'll throw in Max Domi. I'll throw in Chris Churny. Like, that was a juggernaut team. You know, it's an easy team to cheer for as a kid. Yeah, exactly. The, you know, at a certain point, though, you have to be growing up and kids will always want to go and take that jump. And I'm going to play in the OHL one day. At what, did you think, you know what?

I can play in the OHL. I'm good enough. And this is like, I'm on a track here. where I can play in the Ontario League. Yeah, I think when I moved away from my home to play in Rochester, New York, so I played for Bishop Kearney. It was a school out there. I played there two years prior before coming here in Kitchener.

I think moving there, it was kind of an eye-opener for me, moving away at a young age, I think it was 14. That was kind of a big test for me, and I think I took it pretty well. That was something where I started seeing, friends getting drafted, people I knew in general really well to start getting drafted and have an impact in the OHL. So I think that was something that really woke me up.

What's this experience been like for you? I want to get into getting drafted by the National Predators, but a couple more things here on Kitchener. Brad Flynn handles the blue line. I know you're quite close with him. Matthew Andinovsky comes back from H.L. Belville this year to help round out your blue line as well. What's been your experience here at the Kitchener Rangers?

It's been awesome. I mean, from year one, it's been unbelievable. I mean, I remember I came in year one. All the coaching staff were new. A lot of the players were new. And I remember clearly Brad Flynn and was the defense coach and still is to the day. But my defense partner, Simon Woteau, he was an overager. And he took me under his wing.

And from that point on, it's been a lot of learning from me. And I'm very thankful for that. I mean, a lot of good minds that are around here. But for this year especially to have Matthew come back. from the AHL and to have all our additions and the whole lineup in general. It's looking really good and we're really excited. Is this the best team you've ever played on? Like, even better than that brick team?

Yeah, I'd say so. Tell us a little bit about Brad Flynn as well. Yeah, he's a great guy. I mean, obviously, a great coach, but a great guy in general. I can't tell you how many times we just talked about life, way more than hockey itself. He comes from an elite background with his dad being a coach. it's just an amazing thing

and he's such a good modern coach and the way he sees the game nowadays like we do as players and it really helps you out a lot. You know, it's interesting you talked about you talk about Brad Flynn and talking about things not related to hockey. I remember having a conversation

with Rick Bonas, who's now coaching Columbus and he's coached like every team in the NHL. When he was an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he was the first coach to really get through to Victor Headman.

I remember asking, like, how did you get through to him? Because he was sort of always naturally suspicious of coaches. And he said, it took a long time, but I would always talk to him about everything, but never hockey. Like how much as a player having a coach that's invested in you not just at hockey, but away from the game? How much does that inevitably help your game? Yeah, I think it makes you feel good. And when you're on the ice, especially, it makes you feel light on your feet. You know, you're not thinking too much.

and to know Flynn or Brad has your back and just wants the best for you in general. I think that can make everything a lot easier. Who is, okay, here's one for you. Over your course of play here with the Kitchen of Rangers, who's the one forward or maybe a couple of forwards, we're like, oh, this guy again. That we're playing against? Yeah.

Definitely Connor Clattenberg. We played them in the playoffs last year. And, you know, he's a great hockey player. I mean, hockey player overall where he has an impact in any way possible. And he's super hard to play against. Another guy that rings a bell is kind of the dual of Denver Barking and Easton Cowan. I mean, whenever they were on the ice together, everyone knows what happens. It was dangerous.

So those are some guys that just come to my mind right away. But, yeah, it was pretty hard to play against. Easy to get up for games against the Knights, right? They were tough. They were tough. drafted by the Nashville Predators in the first round. Like Nashville, as you well know, have a strong history of drafting

and developing high-end defenders. Did you know it was going to be Nashville? Did you have a sense? Yeah, no, I kind of had a sense that they were interested, but going into that day, you have no clue. Yeah. What about afterwards? Like, who spoke to you, like, who, like,

do you remember any, actually, do you remember any interviews that you had with Nashville before, either, you know, Combine or phone calls or anything like that? Yeah, I remember at the Combine, 100%. There was a whole bunch of people, like all their scouts that I now know. But I remember kind of halfway through,

Barry Trots walked in and everyone knows Barry. And, you know, he kind of just walked in right behind me and I looked back and there he is. And he's just walking forward. Doesn't say a word. I have to continue talking. And that was something that always stayed at me. I thought that was really cool.

Defenseman from the Regina Pats a million years ago, Barry Trots. I mean, look, like this is, as I mentioned, like Nashville's, Nashville's a really interesting organization and they've always had like a strong focus on defenders. Like, does it feel like a natural fit

to you? Like, I remember when they made the pick, I'm like, that makes a lot of sense when I saw you get drafted by them. Yeah, I like to think that especially now, but especially after a training camp, meeting everyone. Yeah.

Especially Roman Yose. I think that was a guy that I always tried to keep my eye on, just learn from him every single. single step of the way. And after talking with him, it's just everything you you learn.

What did he say to you? Like, what are you conversations with Roman Yosi like? It's just awesome to talk with him. I think I talked, I know I talked to him, but his young career

kind of coming into the league and how fast it went by. I think that was the biggest thing for him. It's like, man, he just told me it goes by quick. Yeah. That was, yeah,

something I'm not going to ignore when he says that. So it's pretty special. Does it feel like junior hockey's going by quick? Yeah, 100%. already in my third year and it feels like I just got through my first. Yeah.

Was there a moment here in Kitchener where, I mean, everybody has the have finally figured it out time? Because when you join OHL as a younger player, it's different. It's faster. Like, everything's that much quicker. It's a tough league to figure out. Do you remember like a specific time where all of a sudden it's like, okay, I got this? And it became, it's never easy, but it becomes more comfortable. Yeah.

I think there's a bunch of times. but one that probably stands out is when I score my first goal. I think we were here at the odd, and every game leading up to that, it's always nerve-wracking. You're kind of new to everything, especially in this crowd, too. Like, they're unreal, so it's such a big jump. But I think once I scored my first goal, which was ironically against the Eerie Otters where my grandpa worked, it was everything.

So, yeah, I think that moment itself, and everything kind of just went by really smooth from then. Are you, some kids are, some kids aren't. Are you an equipment freak? Are you one of those guys? It's like really particular about sticks, skates, anything, shoulder pads. Yeah. Is there anything like if we went to your hockey bag right now, you'd be like, man, if there was a fire here and I could only grab one thing out of a hockey bag, it would be this. Oh, boy.

And probably my skates, if I were to say, I think I have some wonky feet. So it's hard to get into new skates, honestly. But that's really the only thing for me. I'm not super freak with all that stuff. You know, when we think about skating now, we think about the Hudson's in the NHL and your dad, a longtime pep trainer, their father, Rob,

to help strengthen their ankles, never tied up their laces. Yeah. Or took the laces out. Have you ever tried that as a defender? I haven't. I mean... You've heard the stories, though, right?

Oh, yeah. I've heard all of them. And for me, honestly, it wasn't... I didn't really have any issues with it. I just loved skating as a kid, so I think it came kind of easy for me. Yeah, anything we should know about, because I'm always fascinated with the equipment too,

whether it's your sharpening, whether it's the kind of skate to use, the blades, anything, anything specific that you're like, this is non-negotiable, this is my cut, this is my blade, anything like that? No, not for me. I mean, yeah, I don't think I'm really too picky on anything. It's, uh,

so I'm reaching for something that's not, Not there. Essentially, it's what you're saying. Yeah, I'll find a way to get through no matter what. But I think it's my skates. I just go 5-8s sharpening. And it's really, I know I have some sort of profile, but I kind of try out new ones here and there, too. You can't.

During a season, you'll try out different profiles? Yeah, at the start of the year, they come in and then we try out some profiles, see which ones are better for different types of players. And, yeah, I forget which one I went with, but it's not a big deal. Not a big deal for me. What works, works. What works, works? What's going to work for you to get to the next level?

Like, what do you need to still do to your game to make it to Nashville? I think, obviously, just get a little bit bigger and stronger. I mean, I'm not the tallest guy on the ice, so I think that's a big part. I mean, just continuing to be in good shape. It's my game's type of game where I just keep on going. I have a motor on me, and the bigger the motor, the better I play. so uh fitness freak safe to say yeah i like it yeah so give us give us like an average day for you um i don't i usually uh wake up here um 7 30 maybe come to the ranky to bagel keep it light uh we practice workout

then after it's uh that's kind of the game on for me where yeah you make sure to eat some good foods my bill's are really good at making dinner and having good food on the table but getting a good sleep. It's all important. And it's nothing too special for me. I think it's just the basics. Favorite food? I like pasta in general. So are you the kind of person that times when they have to eat pasta so you get like the most out of the carbs?

Are you like to that, to that level? No, I think it's all a feeling and I think it's kind of experience for me. Knowing my body, what's best for me on game day. That's what it would be. I mean, I know when I eat, it's all feeling. but around the time I eat a couple hours before the game. It's just something I know my body can handle and what's best for me. Favorite player growing up?

Oh, geez. Hit me with those. I've always watched Morgan Riley, just being near Toronto. I think that was a big thing. He's been there for years, and he's someone I always had my eye on. Besides that, even though they're forwards, I've always loved, like, Connor McDavid and Sydney Crosby. I mean, Sydney Crosby, you know, I was really young, but, well, how do you not like them? You know, they're just amazing players.

Who, which NHL is have you shared ice with? I mean, obviously like the Nashville guys, but like anyone like we'd look at and go like, oh, didn't know he skated with him? Yeah. Trying to think. I mean, this summer a couple times has been just some games with like Easton Cowan, Lawson Crouse.

Yeah. So many games like that, practicing and games. Those are some guys that just ring a bell recently. Even the summer, just I had a, here in Stratford, he got to skate with Ryan O'Reilly, one-on-one. So that was pretty special. I know he's skated with him in Nashville,

but that was before everything. So once I was drafted, kind of got a hold, he got a hold of me and, you know, just kind of set it up. It was really cool. Was that at the William Allman?

Was that at that legendary old barn there? I don't, I forget where the place is called, but it wasn't too old. Is that with Joey Hishin? Yeah. Was Hish on that year? Joy Hitchin skates?

Yeah, well, I try. I tried them out, and, yeah, Ryan was out. So Barry, Barry Trots got that kind of set it up. So that was really special. Hisham was an awesome junior player, man. Hishen was really good. Still is.

Still is. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Hands never go away. When you think, let's close on this, when I say Kitchen Arangers, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? Memorial Cup champions. Yeah.

It's the first thing. I mean, it's our year. And this is, it's been a long, time, but it's only been, this is my third year, it still feels long, but we have to do it for the fans, for the people who have been here for much more than that. So that's what comes in my mind. We just want to be Memorial Cup champions.