By Scott Roblin

AUDIO: Chyzowski, Owre earn Vegas Golden Knights rookie camp invites

Jun 24, 2018 | 6:19 PM

LAS VEGAS, NV – One day after being passed over in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Ryan Chyzowski will have a shot at impressing Vegas Golden Knights brass.

The Medicine Hat Tigers forward has earned an invite to Vegas’ rookie development camp after a successful sophomore season in the WHL.

Playing second-line minutes with Tyler Preziuso and Ryan Jevne, Chyzowski had his best season as a major junior player with 21 goals and 52 points in 72 games.

Compiling most of his points in the second half of the season, the Kamloops product shot up NHL Central Scouting’s draft rankings from 160th to 95th overall.

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Despite the jump, Chyzowski was shut out by all 31 teams at the 2018 NHL Draft over the weekend in Dallas, Texas.

According to Chyzowski, the Golden Knights had approached him a few months ago and offered an invite if he wasn’t selected at the draft.

“We talked a little bit to them a few months ago,” said Chyzowski. “I knew they were pretty interested in having me come to camp if I didn’t get picked. So, that was kind of what we talked about.”

He is the second member of this past year’s Tigers team to earn an NHL rookie camp invite, as defenceman Dylan MacPherson will be attending camp with the Florida Panthers.

Chyzowski won’t be the only player with Medicine Hat connections to attend camp with the Golden Knights however, as former Tigers forward Steven Owre has also received an invite.

After scoring 221 points in five seasons with the Tigers organization, Owre was a point per game player with the U Sports champion University of Alberta Golden Bears this past year.

Chyzowski was teammates with Owre during his rookie season and said it will be a treat skating beside a Tigers alum in Las Vegas.

“That’s pretty cool that me and Stevie will get to go there together,” he said. “It will be nice to have a familiar face to be there too, and I’ll hang out with him a bit. So, it will be good to experience that with him.”

Knowing that he had a backup plan if no NHL teams came calling, Chyzowski said he’s using this camp as extra motivation after being passed over by 31 clubs.

“Obviously, it’s a little bit disappointing,” he said. “I want to use it as a little bit of fuel to work harder and get that much more better, prove some people wrong, and prove that I do belong to be here and belong to be at that NHL level.”

Fourty-two players looking to make an impact on Golden Knights management will assemble in Las Vegas for the five-day camp, which will get underway on Tuesday.

CHAT Sports spoke to Chyzowski about his draft experience and what he’s planning to showcase at rookie camp with the Golden Knights.