Rookie goalie shines early
IceDogs rookie goalie Tucker Tynan. Photo by: VIVID EYE PHOTOGRAPHY
Tucker Tynan’s Ontario Hockey League debut was baptism by fire.
The 17-year-old rookie was on the bench as backup goaltender, as the Niagara IceDogs opened the 2019/20 season last week.
Unexpectedly, though, he was called in to relieve starter Christian Sbaraglia, who had to leave the game with a leg cramp.
Tucker took over for the final seven minutes — and kicked out all 11 shots fired his way — as the IceDogs held on for a 3-2 win over the visiting Sudbury Wolves.
“For sure it was unexpected, but it worked out good,” Tynan said. “It (was) hard.”
He said he will never forget the experience.
“It was awesome. I was just waiting for the last couple of minutes to just to die down,” he said.
Tynan followed that effort with a 38-save performance the next night in a win at Mississauga.
Not a bad way to break into the league.
“It helped. It shows I can do good at this level and keep working hard and keep growing,” he said. “It’s 60 minutes of hockey and the same-sized rink, and you are all here to play and you have to be ready for that chance.”
Tynan spent last season with the New Jersey Rockets of the National Collegiate Development League, after being selected by the IceDogs in the 10th round of the 2018 OHL draft.
He came into camp with a chance to win a job, with Stephen Dhillon having moved on to pro.
And Tynan rose to the challenge, after a couple of early hiccups.
“We certainly had very high hopes for Tucker,” IceDogs head coach Billy Burke said.
“He was very impressive last year at camp. To be honest, at the start of the intersquad we didn’t see quite the same Tucker that we saw last year, but by the time the exhibition games came around he really started to get comfortable and really was that goalie we hoped he would be when we signed him.
“Since then, he’s gone to another level.”
Burke said Tynan’s demeanour is perfect for a goaltender.
“He’s calm and he looks big and confident and the guys really feed off it,” he said. “He’s very calm and he has a quiet confidence.
“He’s extremely athletic. He has very fast legs and very good rebound control. He really does check all the boxes.
“He has a great base for Bob (goalie coach Bob Janosz) to continue to work with him and get him to even another level.”
Tynan feels calmness is essential for a netminder.
“It’s definitely so important, because if you let in an early goal there are still 58 minutes left in the game,” he said.
Tynan and Sbaraglia give the IceDogs a talented young duo between the pipes.
“Goaltending was probably my biggest question mark going into the season, but between Christian and Tucker, they’ve made me feel a lot better,” Burke said.
“They both want to be pros and they push each other.
“Even though Tucker is only 17, he plays older than that. He carries himself well and spends a ton of time in the gym. He’s very focused. He wants to be in the NHL and he wants to work as hard as he can to make that a reality.”
Tucker, a native of Chicago, grew up a Blackhawks fan and cited Antii Niemi as his favourite goalie.
“I’ve always wanted to play at the highest level of hockey possible,” he said.
Sbaraglia is expected to start Thursday when the IceDogs host the Oshawa Generals. Tucker should see action on the weekend when Niagara visits Flint on Saturday and Saginaw Sunday.
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