Ryan Chyzowski celebrates after scoring a goal with the Medicine Hat Tigers in this March 2020 file photo. The former Tigers captain has signed a professional contract with the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Former Tigers captain, Ryan Chyzowski, was washing windows in Kamloops working his summer job when he got the phone call he was waiting for. Chyzowski signed his first professional hockey contract on Friday with the Toronto Marlies, the Toronto Maple Leafs affiliate team.
“Obviously with them affiliated with the Leafs, it all in all is just a really prestigious organization and I think it’s somewhere they’ve been very known for developing players and developing NHL players,” said Chyzowski.
“I’m just really happy and excited to kind of be a part of that and take advantage of all their coaches and staff they have there, they have so much knowledge and so much experience with bringing guys up in pro hockey.”
Chyzowski says the process started with a little bit of talk after the season about some interested teams. He says he got the call one day last week that Toronto was interested and had offered him a deal.
“It was something I was pretty excited about and couldn’t turn down. It happened pretty quick, but I’m definitely happy with how everything has gone,” he said.
Heading into his first professional season, Chyzowski says his goal is to start with training, getting stronger, faster and more prepared for pro hockey. He adds he’s looking forward to trying to crack the lineup and become a full-time player for the team.
“I’m looking forward to try and crack the lineup … and set myself up as someone who wants to be there, wants to move up in the organization and I just want to help any team that I’m playing on, win,” said Chyzowski. “That would be the main goal – win the championship and to start my pro career off that way.”
Chyzowski entered the 2020-21 23-game season with the Medicine Hat Tigers with the goal of earning a pro contract and says it feels great to know the hard work paid off.
The 21-year-old scored 11 goals and tallied 18 assists for a total of 29 points in 23 games this season – leading the Tabbies to a second-place finish in the Central Division.
“It’s just unreal. I’m so excited for the opportunity and I’m so excited to keep playing hockey for the rest of my life and for as long as I can. It was the best feeling ever finding out I got a contract,” he said.
Chyzowski is closing his five-year chapter in the Hat to move to Ontario to join the Marlies. He says he will always be thankful and remember his years in the city.
“I just want to say thank-you to the city, to the fans, to the organization for the best five years ever and just preparing me for the future and preparing me to become a man and just how much I matured over those five years in Medicine Hat and how much the organization helped me to get to where I am and prepare me to take this next step going into pro hockey,” he said.
