Joey Payeur
Cole Tymkin is living in limbo these days.
The 17-year-old Fort Frances resident and Rainy River native survived the initial round of cuts for the Memorial Cup champion London Knights at the end of their first week of training camp.
He played in his first pre-season game with the Knights on Saturday in a 5-3 loss to the Sarnia Sting, and likely will be back on ice tomorrow night in Clinton, Pa. against the Erie Otters.
It’s a waiting game to see if the former Muskie, who was the SIJHL’s top rookie last season with 48 points in 49 games for the Fort Frances Lakers, can do enough to earn a full-time spot on the Knights’ roster.
“It was eye-opening and a real big step up,” admitted Tymkin, who was drafted in the fifth round (91st overall) by the Knights in last year’s OHL entry draft.
“[But] I think I adjusted well.
“I didn’t get any points [Saturday], but there were no goals scored against my line when I was out there, either,” he noted.
Tymkin had his evening end early in the third period when he fought Sting forward Jacob Stos—winding up with a fighting major and game misconduct.
“I got him with a good hit in the second and, later on, he slashed me in the foot,” recounted Tymkin, who sat out London’s 5-1 win at home to open the pre-season as the Knights used a veteran-heavy lineup the first night and then a rookie-laden crew for the second.
“He got out of the box but I was at the end of my shift,” Tymkin added. “I was gassed but I said I’d catch him next time.
“I got out there early in the third and saw him on the bench and asked him if we were going to go, and he said, ‘Yeah.’
“So I told [Knights’ head coach] Dale Hunter I was going to start things because we were getting outshot 30-15 after two periods, and I wanted to give a spark to our guys.
“The ref warned us if we had a staged fight, it was going to be a two-game suspension. So we got in the play for two seconds and then we got to it,” Tymkin chuckled.
“I got him in the face twice, and I hit my hand on his helmet and messed it up a little, but I won the fight.”
Hunter mixed and matched his lines throughout the game, but the two players Tymkin spent the most time skating beside weren’t as lucky.
“One of them got sent down to the Junior ‘B’ team and one got cut,” noted Tymkin, who had shown well in the Knights’ five intrasquad scrimmages in the days leading up to the exhibition opener.
Tymkin had six points in five games for Team White, which went 5-0 during the scrimmages.
His performance included a “Gordie Howe hat trick” in his first game with a goal, an assist, and a scrap with a challenger Tymkin threw to the ice in short order.
“He wouldn’t leave me alone,” shrugged Tymkin.
Tymkin feels confident in his game so far at the OHL level, but will have to wait and see if London likes what they have seen out of him to either sign him to the main roster or at least card him to remain Knights’ property.
“There’s 25 guys with the team right now and they already have 12 forwards signed, so I’m probably up against two or three other guys for a spot,” he reasoned.
“It depends a lot, too, on what guys might make it onto NHL teams that would otherwise be playing here,” Tymkin added, referring to 2015 No. 4 overall draft pick Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs) and this year’s No. 6 overall pick, Matthew Tkachuk (Calgary Flames).
With the Knights certain to play mostly veterans in their final pre-season game next Tuesday at home against Erie, tomorrow night may be Tymkin’s last chance to show what he can do.
“I really look forward to the games,” he remarked.
“You can’t really nail guys in practice full out like you can in games, although I do like practice to be able to show my shooting and skating skills.”
Throughout the process, his family has helped his cause with their encouragement.
“I had my Dad [Rick] down here all week and through the weekend, and my sisters [Ericka and Shelby] have come to see me play, too,” Tymkin said.
“They’re going to school down here so I’ll get to see them more often.
“It’s a good feeling to know they’re there to support me,” he added.
