NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN Swift Current Broncos forward Caleb Wyrostok, of Medicine Hat, monitors the play during a pre-season Western Hockey League game against the Medicine Hat Tigers at Irvine Sports Complex on Sept. 4, 2019.
Caleb Wyrostok had a night to remember Wednesday.
Called up by the Swift Current Broncos for his first-ever WHL game, the 16-year-old from Medicine Hat produced a highlight-reel goal at Rogers Place in Edmonton against the league-leading Oil Kings.
Speaking via cellphone late after the big debut, Wyrostok was still sorting through dozens of congratulatory messages and enjoying every minute of it.
“It felt so great,” he said following the 3-1 loss. “Before the game, before warmups the nerves were crazy. But I got out on the ice, and slowly throughout the game after the first period I felt pretty comfortable, got my feet under me.”
And got others’ feet crossed up trying to catch him.
Midway through the second period, the right-winger spied a breakout pass from 19-year-old Oil Kings defenceman Wyatt McLeod. He intercepted it just inside the centre-ice line, and then… well, it’s best if he explains it.
“I saw that cross-ice pass coming, I saw him looking over there, he had his head up,” said the 2017 ninth-round draft pick. “He made that saucer pass so I kind of picked it out of the air with my glove, put it down on the ice and looked and saw I was by myself so I drove to the net.
“Beat the defender (Loeden Schaufler, another 19-year-old) wide, was able to tuck it in far side (past a third 19-year-old, goalie Todd Scott).”
A well-earned stick flip later and Wyrostok’s teammates joined in on the celebration. The WHL selected the goal as its highlight of the night.
Fortunately, because he found out Sunday he’d be getting the call-up, Wyrostok’s family also got to soak up the moment.
Caleb moved to play with the Northern Alberta X-Treme last year, and also did some public speaking as part of a tour organized by mental health coach Bob Wilkie.
He’s already got 11 goals and 10 assists in 13 games with the X-Treme this season, and they’re currently second in the 16-team midget prep division of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.
When will his next WHL game be? The Broncos rematch the Oil Kings in Edmonton Friday, but the X-Treme also have a league game. Swift Current hosts Medicine Hat Dec. 27 while high school is on break.
Wyrostok didn’t know so soon after Wednesday’s game but was equally glad to get some tips on how to improve, too.
“I got some feedback from coaches on how I played, some stuff I could do better but nothing touching on the future yet,” he said. “We had some lapses that cost us some goals against but other than that we played a good game against one of the top teams in the league.”
