Brulotte commits to ‘Pack, completes SKSS trifecta

KAMLOOPS – The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men’s volleyball team and head coach Pat Hennelly are pleased to announce the commitment of a talented middle with the signing of Keenan Brulotte for the 2024-25 season.
 
“Keenan is the type of athlete we always are looking for in the middle blocking position, he is tall with good movement skills,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “I believe Keenan will really shine at TRU with another season of club volleyball and some training once he arrives.”
 
 A product of South Kamloops Secondary School, Brulotte becomes the third member of that program to commit to TRU this recruiting cycle.
 
“I’ve always been a fan of university sports, and as I grew up in Kamloops I loved the energy and excitement a local game could bring,” said Brulotte. “To be part of that now is an incredible feeling. I was always a sports fan as a kid but now there are kids that will be watching me and it’s an amazing opportunity to have.”
 
Brulotte, a 6-8 middle, joins fellow SKSS teammates Brandon Johnson and Alex Howard in committing to play for TRU.
 
“I’m very excited to have two of my high school teammates on the team with me which is something you don’t commonly see,” said Brulotte. “Both Brandon and Alex are amazing players, very highly skilled at the game of volleyball but also able to take on a leadership role on and off the court, and the three of us work well and get along very well together. I think having local players like us join the team is a great opportunity, and it’s going to show Kamloops just how good our volleyball scene is.”
 
SKSS head coach Graham MacGregor, who tried to convince Brulotte to join the volleyball team since Grade 9, has seen tremendous growth in Brulotte’s game.
 
“He started playing volleyball really in Grade 11 so he’s a very tall, rangy kid that is just starting to learn the game – how to read the game and the footwork to it,” said MacGregor. “His improvement over the last two years has just been fantastic, he’s been getting better and better every practice.”
 
A five-year starter for the SKSS basketball team and player of the game winner at the 2023 Provincial Championships, Brulotte has hit the ground running since joining the volleyball team.
 
“What we are starting to see now is that he’s really starting to fine-tune his game in the block but also attacking and getting that timing with the setter, so he’s just becoming faster and more explosive,” said MacGregor. “It should be super exciting in the future to watch where he can take it just by developing and playing more.”
 
The Titans finished fifth at the 2022 Provincial Championships and have claimed a couple tournament titles already this season.
 
“It was a little overwhelming to be put onto such a good team as a brand-new player, but thanks to my height and athleticism from basketball I was able to adjust and soon I started to fit in well with the team, and I came to love the sport of volleyball,” said Brulotte. “I’ve been thankful to get the opportunity to play with some amazing players, and it’s greatly helped my improvement over the last two years.”
 
A talented musician, Brulotte is an Academic and Effort Honour Roll Student that plans to study sciences at TRU.
 
“Keenan has solid character, great grades and will fit into the culture we have already established here,” said Hennelly. “It is awesome to see what Graham has achieved with SKSS volleyball and to get three local varsity athletes in one year is exceptional for our program. I am looking forward to seeing where Keenan can go on the volleyball court.”
 
For Brulotte, the decision to stay home was an easy one.
 
“I chose to join the ‘Pack because of their excellent volleyball program and coaching. I can see myself becoming the best version of myself with them.”
 
Name: Keenan Brulotte
Pos: Middle
Height: 6’8″
Hometown: Kamloops BC
Club team: KVA
High School: South Kamloops Secondary