Washington Capitals prospect Brett Hyland has had a long, winding road as he chases his dreams of playing pro hockey, and he took a big step toward making that dream a reality as he signed with the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Friday.

For Hyland, it’s a big opportunity and a testament to the work he’s put in, but it wasn’t easy to get to this point — or necessarily expected.

Just a year and a half ago, Hyland was skating in the offensive zone, making the most of his pre-draft year, when he tripped over a stick and suffered a hyperflexion of his knee. He’d tried to play through it, but it only got worse, and ultimately would require surgery and end his year with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings.

“It definitely wasn’t an ideal situation,” Hyland reflected, adding, “It was pretty disappointing.”

Because of the injury, the 21-year-old didn’t expect to be drafted. But in the seventh round, with the 200th selection, the Capitals decided to roll the dice on the 5-foot-11, 194-pound forward. At the time, Hyland was in the gym, finishing up a workout with no idea of what happened.

“I had about 100 notifications on my phone… I thought to myself, ‘Oh, what did I do this time?’ I didn’t know,” Hyland said, adding, “For Washington to take a chance on me, I’m really grateful for them. It’s really, really more motivating for me to sort of put my head down and give them what they deserve.”

That’s when the work started for Hyland. After rehabilitating, he returned to the ice for the team’s rookie and main camps before returning for his fourth and final year with the Wheat Kings. He knew he’d have to make the most of it, and did just that with 32 goals and 27 assists for 59 points in 66 games while becoming team captain in February.

Hyland’s known for his high-energy game and grit, and he has great speed and hockey sense that makes him a threat at both ends of the ice. He doesn’t shy away from battles, and his play without the puck is just as impactful as his play with it.

“(Speed) is a huge part of the game. I think in order to have success, you need to be a little quicker nowadays, and it’s just important to keep progressing,” Hyland said, adding, “I’m hard-working, not afraid to go to the dirty areas. I also think I have good hockey IQ, I can make plays and score goals and take care of my own end, first of all, before anything else.”