Joey Payeur
If Cole Tymkin makes the cut this fall, he won’t be starting the next stage of his hockey career on the ground floor but rather in the penthouse suite.
The 17-year-old Fort Frances resident signed an OHL Standard Players Agreement last Wednesday with the newly-crowned Memorial Cup champion London Knights for the upcoming season.
“It’s pretty exciting,” enthused Tymkin, who captured the SIJHL rookie-of-the-year award after his first season with the Fort Frances Lakers.
“I had a good feeling after the year I had with the Lakers,” added Tymkin, London’s fifth-round draft pick (91st overall) in last year’s OHL draft.
“I put up the numbers not only in points, but in penalty minutes,” he noted.
“I wanted to show my grit and that I could deal with the physicality.”
Grit is the calling card of the man behind the Knights’ bench.
Head coach Dale Hunter played 19 seasons and scored 1,020 points in 1,407 NHL games with the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals, and Colorado Avalanche from 1980-99.
His feistiness and willingness to battle also earned him 3,565 penalty minutes—second all-time behind only Dave “Tiger” Williams (3,966).
That’s why Tymkin, while happy with his 48 points in 49 games that led all SIJHL freshmen this past season, also is pleased with the hard edge to his game that garnered him a team-leading 97 penalty minutes.
“I want to impress [Hunter] with my style of play, whether that be finishing checks or even fighting if I have to,” said the forward, who added six points in nine playoff games.
“I’m going to play as hard as I can to hopefully get on his good side and get him to keep me around longer,” he stressed.
Given Hunter’s vast wealth of experience, Tymkin—named to the inaugural CJHL All-Academic All-Canadian Champions Team last month—will be a keen student.
“He’ll teach me what it means to be a pro hockey player, how to carry myself, and have the mindset that someone is always watching you,” Tymkin remarked.
“He’ll show me how to get involved with making the game a lifestyle; that it’s a job and you really have to work towards what you want.”
Tymkin made a few friends with Knights’ players when he tried out for the team last fall and was a fervent supporter of London’s trek to the Memorial Cup title last month in Red Deer, Alta.
But he doesn’t think the Knights being kings of the mountain makes his task of cracking the team—and contributing to it—any more difficult.
“There’s no extra pressure there,” he said.
“I just have to work hard and go in confident because I know what to expect from last year.”
Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan outlined the team’s pride in being part of Tymkin’s development.
“It’s a goal Cole had for this season and he worked hard to improve his game all year,” Strachan said in an e-mail.
“With a solid summer of preparation, he will definitely have to go in and battle for a position on the Knights’ team,” he added.
Strachan said Tymkin helped the Lakers capture their third-straight SIJHL crown.
“He was a big part of our team for a young guy,” Strachan noted.
“On many nights, he played like a seasoned veteran and helped our team have success.
“He is a tough kid who plays a power game,” added Strachan.
“It’s hard to teach players about going to the dirty areas, but he relishes in those zones and helps his teammates get pucks,” he said.
”We want to see our hockey players move on and when they have opportunities, whether the major junior route or NCAA, we have accomplished our goals as a staff to help develop and further their careers as young men,” Strachan reasoned.
“We wish Cole the best of luck next season.”
Tymkin, a native of Rainy River, played his Grade 9 season with the Muskie boys’ hockey team in 2013-14.
He helped the black-and-gold win a NorWOSSA title before moving to the Thunder Bay Minor Midget ‘AAA’ Kings the following season.
But the opportunity to play in front of family and friends again last season with the Lakers is something for which Tymkin always will be grateful.
“I definitely learned a lot this year and it boosted my confidence to move from Minor Midget to playing against a bunch of men,” he remarked.
“It’s a year I won’t forget.
“I have to move on to bigger things but it was a solid year . . . and I thank [Strachan] and everyone for that.
“I was glad to be at home and it was too great having the community behind me,” Tymkin added.
“I’m glad I had them for me in my first year of junior.”
As to where he thinks he fits into the Knights’ plans this coming season, Tymkin isn’t about to get picky.
“I’m hoping the depth chart looks good for me to play this year,” he noted.
“Third line, fourth line spot, I’ll be happy with wherever they put me.”
The Knights will hold their main training camp Aug. 26-28.
