Tigers captain Ryan Chyzowski (middle) signed an AHL contact with the Toronto Marlies on June 15, 2021 (Photo courtesy of Randy Feere / Medicine Hat Tigers)

By Scott Roblin

Two-Year Contract

Chyzowski signs pro deal with Marlies, WHL releases 2021-22 start date

Jun 15, 2021 | 8:20 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Ryan Chyzowski’s next stop on his hockey journey will take him to the bright lights of Toronto to reunite with an old friend.

After five years of wearing the stripes of the Medicine Hat Tigers, Chyzowski was signed to a two-year professional contract with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.

“It was a pretty big honour,” said Chyzowski. “I was just really excited to get that opportunity to keep playing hockey and to start a career out of it. I was grateful that the Marlies were interested in me and I’m super excited to start my journey with them.”

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Chyzowski leaves Medicine Hat as one of the organization’s most consistent players, recording 98 goals and 217 points in 280 games, the latter of which puts him 18^th all time in franchise history.

The Kamloops, B.C. product became one of Medicine Hat’s most well respected leaders over his time in the ‘Gas City’ as well, serving as captain for the pandemic shortened 2020-21 WHL season.

“I always tell myself it’s going to pay off eventually one day,” said Chyzowski. “Just for that day to come, it’s just kind of a dream come true for me to get that pro opportunity and basically start that career.”

While leading the club with the ‘C’ on his chest, Chyzowski finished third in team scoring with 11 goals and 29 points in 23 games with the Tigers.

“I always tell myself it’s going to pay off eventually one day,” said Chyzowski. “Just for that day to come, it’s just kind of a dream come true for me to get that pro opportunity and basically start that career.”

He’ll join former Tigers defenceman Kristians Rubins with the Marlies, who has spent the last two years playing in the AHL and has already inked his NHL entry-level contract.

“He actually texted me today so that was good to talk to him after not seeing him for a few years,” said Chyzowski. “It’s at least one familiar face to step in with and somebody that will ease the transition from junior hockey to pro hockey, and ease the transition from Kamloops to quite a big city.”

This is the third time that Chyzowski has garnered pro attention, as he previously attended rookie camps for both the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights.

2021-22 WHL schedule

Looking ahead, the Western Hockey League has announced an October 1, 2021 start date for the 2021-22 WHL season.

As public health restrictions continue to be lifted across western Canada and the United States, the WHL expects a 68-game schedule to be played for all 22 clubs with full fan capacity.

Medicine Hat won’t be seeing any British Columbia or American teams however, as the entirety of their 2021-22 season will be played within the Eastern Conference.

The 2021-22 pre-season schedule will be released on June 21, while the Eastern Conference regular season schedule will be released at a later date.

Another change will come in the WHL’s playoff format, with the league reverting to a conference-based format for the first time since 2014.

This will include the divisional winners earning a top-two position in the playoff seeding, followed by the next six conference opponents based on points which are seeded third through eighth.

Playoffs for the 2021-22 season are scheduled to begin on April 8, 2022.