From understudy to leader.
Tyler Wong’s role with the Western Hockey League’s Lethbridge Hurricanes is changing.
Learning the ropes in his first two ’Canes seasons, Cochrane’s Wong will be asked to lead when the puck drops on Lethbridge’s 2014-15 season.
He skated with the NXT Level P3 training camp, joining collegiate, minor pro and other junior players at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre last month prior to leaving for Lethbridge.
“We’re fully expecting to make the playoffs,” said the 18-year-old forward who scored 17 goals and 14 assists in a concussion-shortened 51-game campaign with Lethbridge last season. The young squad finished with 12 wins in 72 games.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound right-winger has bulked up, adding 15 pounds over the summer to better impose himself on opposing defenders.
“I’m a lot faster. It’s been a big summer for me. Hopefully, going into this season, I can do even more.”
From a leadership perspective, Wong understands younger players like to hear upbeat dressing-room chatter. Yet he knows it’s more important to lead on the ice.
“I really want to be one of the leaders on the team. One of the go-to guys. I want to be a team-first guy. I want to be on the penalty-kill and playing in the last minute of play.”
As a smaller, skill player, Wong will also be asked to score.
“I have my own goals for myself. As a top-six guy, helping the team win is scoring goals and putting pucks in the net. I have to step up there. I want to be relied on to score goals. That’s been my game all growing up.”
But it’s a two-way game.
“I also want to be relied upon for my defensive game as well. I can’t be one-dimensional. It has to be a well-rounded game.”
He took a month off before lacing up the skates. He’s been on the ice since June, preparing for this season.
“You have to love it. I love hockey. It’s one of my passions in life. If I didn’t love it I wouldn’t be out here. I put in a lot of time and effort.”
Having been passed over in his first year of National Hockey League draft eligibility, he goes back into the pool and will be available for next year’s spring draft.
“That’s every one of our dreams. You do whatever it takes to make the NHL,” he said of a potential pro career. “I’m not going to sacrifice the team for my goals. So you have to balance that out.
“I think I have what it takes. I just want to show everyone I can do it.”
He starts showing everyone when the puck drops on Lethbridge’s season Sept. 19 against the Medicine Hat Tigers.
