The Okotoks Bisons’ homegrown starting goaltender is eager for a smoother ride in his second trip through the Junior B provincials.
Okotokian goalie Tyler Hughes was thrust into the starting role as a Heritage Junior Hockey League rookie at the 2011 provincials when starter Christian Chivilo was sidelined with a shoulder separation. Losing two of three starts in a failed bid to move on to westerns last season, Hughes said he’s better for the experience as he looks ahead to his second shot at provincial glory, this time on home ice, April 5-9 at Murray Arena in Okotoks, as the main man in between the pipes for the host Bisons.
“It was a big stepping stone for me,” Hughes said of his first taste of provincials. “I didn’t know how to cope with all the pressure and I learned pretty quick that I’m going to have to get my confidence right up to the top if I want to be number one because I didn’t have (Chivilo) this year and last year he helped me out a lot just keeping me calm.”
Hughes found out there are no guarantees in the provincial setting.
“I learned that you have to show up to every game no matter where you win or how you win because every team wants to beat you whether you’ve never played them or if you play them all year,” he said.
The injury to Chivilo last season meant Hughes had to play every minute of action for the Bisons at the tournament in Leduc.
Emergency backup Devon Dell was only allowed to be used in relief if Hughes succumbed to an injury. The Bisons took steps to avoid a repeat of the onerous situation in 2012 with the acquisition of University of Southern California goalie Alex Caravaggio in January.
“Ever since he came to the team we’ve just hit it off, we don’t care who plays,” Hughes said of the goaltenders’ relationship.
“Our team didn’t show up that great (last year) and I was taking a lot of shots, but this year it’s going to be a different story because we have me and (Caravaggio) competing for the number one spot.” The 19-year-old said he’s embracing his role as the starting goalie after apprenticing for the role in year one.
“I got my games in and proved that I can play with the best of the best and the coaches are really showing me everything by giving me almost all the games in the playoffs,” Hughes said. “I’m the number one right now and it’s a good feeling.”
Bisons’ general manager Jay McFarlane said Hughes has grown in leaps in bounds since his rookie year.
“He had a lot of weight on his shoulders and I think that made him ready for this year, he’s a lot more mature and composed and confident,” McFarlane said.
“It’s just a maturing level. He certainly credits Christian Chivilo as a mentor, he taught him a lot about composure and the highs and the lows of that,” McFarlane said. “Being a goaltender is a lot of pressure, you can win and lose games singlehandedly and (Hughes) seems to handle that pressure well.”
If the regular season is any indication Hughes should be an invaluable last line of defence at provincials.
Hughes was the top dog amongst caged warriors in the Heritage League in 2011-12. The Okotokian finished with a league best 18 wins, .929 save percentage and the lowest goals against average in the HJHL at 2.44.
Hughes said he’s excited to maintain his strong play in front of his hometown.
“It’s not every day you get to host provincials in your hometown, let alone play in it in front of all your fans, all your family,” Hughes said. “It’s going to be a great time.”
McFarlane expects Hughes to be comfortable in front of the Okotoks crowd.
“He’s been there, done that and it’s fresh in his mind, he’s had a summer to think about it and we’ve been talking about it all year,” McFarlane said. “I think he’s more than ready.”
