Chyzowski buoyed by CHL series stop

By RYAN MCCRACKEN on November 19, 2019.

NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Medicine Hat Tigers centre Ryan Chyzowski passes the puck back to the blue line while Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Ethan Capp pressures during a Western Hockey League game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 at the Canalta Centre.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken 1

Ryan Chyzowski made the most of his time with Team WHL at the CHL Canada/Russia Series, and now he’s poised to carry that energy over into a critically important stretch with the Medicine Hat Tigers.2

Chyzowski potted a goal in Game 6 of the series to help his team force overtime on the final night of the showcase. While they lost the game in a shootout to even the series, Chyzowski’s WHL squad held on to clinch the title in a second shootout tiebreaker later Wednesday evening.3

“It was a pretty awesome experience,” said Chyzowski, adding he was proud of how he performed on the stage, which featured no shortage of scouts in the stands. “I think it was huge for me just to go out there and focus on myself. Play my game and play as hard and smart as I can. I think that was the one thing I told myself I wanted to do, just play that 200-foot game and be a reliable forward. I think it was important to me that I stuck to that and it made me successful.”4

Chyzowski was the only Tabby selected to compete at the event, giving the 19-year-old centre a chance to compete alongside some of the WHL’s top-tier talent – players Chyzowski has spent his entire 215-game career going to battle against.5

“It’s a little bit weird cheering them on when they make plays and seeing them in the same jersey as you,” said Chyzowski. “I really liked it, there were some pretty special players there. It’s something where you can kind of learn from them as well. They’re all high-end players.”6

Tigers assistant coach Ryan Smith says it was a treat to watch Chyzowski fare so well on the international stage with Team WHL, and when he returned to the Tabbies he was champing at the bit to get back on the ice in orange and black.7

“Those two games were huge and he played really well in those,” said Smith. “I know he wanted to play (Friday) but unfortunately rules don’t allow you to play four in a row. He was real good for us (Saturday), he makes our team better every time he’s on the ice.”8

Chyzowski made his return to the Tigers for Saturday’s 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings at the Canalta Centre. It was Medicine Hat’s first trip back to their home building since Oct. 15, and Chyzowski’s first chance to play alongside linemates Cole Sillinger and Brett Kemp since Sillinger departed to compete with Canada White at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.9

“It was fun to get back with the boys, get back with Sillinger and Kemp,” said Chyzowski, who finished Saturday’s game with an assist and three shots on goal. “It’s been a while since we’ve played together so I think that will take a little bit to get used to fitting in with each other again, but it was awesome to get back in the Canalta and everything.”10

The victory served as a crucial one for Medicine Hat, as they find themselves in a wild race for the top of the Central Division. Following Saturday’s victory, one point separated the Oil Kings from the Tigers and Lethbridge Hurricanes for the top of the division.11

“It’s really tight right now. I think there are three of us in the top four of five in the league,” said Chyzowski. “It’s making it a lot more fun. Every game is just as important as the others. It’s very competitive this year and we’re one of the top teams so it’s exciting for us that we’re in that battle.”12