A long line of appreciative fans snaked around the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge last week to say thank you – and goodbye – to their beloved Cochrane captain.
“To see all the support I had … it’s definitely very bittersweet to have all these fans that have supported me through five years that come up and are sad,” said Tyler Wong. “It’s been pretty emotional and very tough to say goodbye and move on.”
The Lethbridge Hurricanes were forced out of the Western Hockey League eastern conference final earlier this month in Game 6 of the series against the Regina Pats. The 7-4 loss capped off a sensational season for the team and for Wong, their longtime leader – who aged out of the system after the game ended.
That night, an appreciative crowd of more than 5,000 fans rose up to honour the popular captain with a standing ovation for his five years at the helm.
“When the game ended I was kind of in shock, just to realize it was all over,” said Wong, who has been on the Cane Train since he was a teenager. “Our whole team shed a few tears in the dressing room. I’m extremely proud – it was a lot of fun and it was pretty crazy to be a part of.”
Although the standing O was a start, Lethbridge wasn’t quite ready to let Wong go, however, without handing over a few more honours still. The autograph and goodbye session at Enmax Centre gave fans a chance to pose for photographs, get jersey signed and get up close with their captain one more time; a petition to retire his number – something that has never happened before in franchise history – already has more than 225 signatures; and this week, Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman handed Wong the coveted key to the city.
The city hall citation is the last loop in a wild roller coaster of a ride for the Cochranite, who made Lethbridge his home at just 16 years old after being picked by the Hurricanes in the fifth round of the 2011 WHL draft.
“When I first got here it really hit me how friendly people were … the community is very welcoming and it’s a city that can really get behind their team,” said Wong. “They supported us in such an amazing way that made our rink so loud and great to play in.”
He settled into the captain’s chair soon after, and in total earned 143 goals and 298 points over 317 games – including 25 playoff matchups – during his seasons with the team.
“He was a fan favourite, instantly,” said longtime fan and Lethbridge resident Zachary Hampton, who is leading the charge to have Wong’s No. 5 retired by the ‘Canes. “We’ve had a lot of great players play in Lethbridge over the last few years ... But the thing that a lot of those players didn’t have, and that Tyler has in spades, is his determination.
“When you have this sort of a guy that not only leads on, but off the ice as well … You could call it a lot of things: you could call it heart, you could call it character – it’s just something that goes beyond talent.”
While Wong’s influence on the ice was a wonder to watch for hockey fans, it was his consistent commitment to charitable work outside the Enmax Centre that earned him the lasting impression.
He delivered hampers to food banks, visited seniors’ homes and raised money for Kidsport in the community during his five years in the southern Alberta city. Among many more awards and honours, the WHL named him league Humanitarian of the Year, a similar accolade he had earned in the eastern conference for three years running.
“I think it’s very important for hockey players to get into the community and make a difference and make a positive impact,” said Wong. “A lot of younger kids, they look up to WHL players, and that’s a very big platform and opportunity and junior players need to make the most of … It’s not all about hockey – it’s about being a good person and being a good role model for people.”
Wong credits his family and his faith for propelling him through the wild ride that hockey has taken him on so far – and he knows that his journey in the sport, while finished in Lethbridge, is far from over.
Last summer, Wong was invited to participate in an NHL Toronto Maple Leafs rookie development camp, and was called back to attend Leafs training camp in the fall. He also previously took to the ice in three games with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies after being signed to an amateur tryout with the team.
While he wasn’t able to elaborate fully this week on his plans to play pro hockey, Wong hinted there would hopefully be more to share soon about where the next chapter will be written.
“I’m just going home and going to make a decision,” he said. “Hockey is in my future.”
