Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots June 29th Edition

By Hartley Miller

“I'm really excited and I can't think of a better place to go.”  These are the words of Prince George Cougars forward Dana Tyrell shortly after he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Okay, the “really excited” part is a standard answer from most NHL draft picks.  However, Tyrell’s next response caught my attention. "Even before the draft I wanted to go to a States team over Canada. I don't know why. I'd rather play away from home. There's less pressure and I think it would be a lot more fun. Probably the top teams I wanted to go to were somewhere like Florida, Tampa Bay or Atlanta.”

Now, this response was certainly against the norm. Here's an 18-year-old from Airdrie, Alberta, and he says he wants to play in the southern U.S.  One would think he wanted to play on a Canadian team, or an American City rich in hockey tradition, like Detroit, or Boston, but that's not the case. I don't recall another prairie boy having those Southern destinations at the top of his list.

Tyrell, at #47 overall in the second round, was one of many players picked lower than his ranking. Central Scouting ranked him 15th among North American skaters, and the Hockey News listed him at #34 overall, although he was Tampa’s first pick (they traded their first rounder to Minnesota).

"When their pick came I had a good feeling they were going to take me. I'm sure there were lots of players that were ranked low and went high and some that were ranked high and went low but I knew I was going to go somewhere in the top three rounds. I'm just glad the selection is over with and no more stress,” said Tyrell.

Having slipped to the middle of the second round may have cost him financially, especially when it comes time for contract negotiations. However, this isn't a concern for Tyrell. “I mean I don't think it makes that big a difference. I was Tampa Bay's first pick. I know I will prove myself as time goes on. They spoke pretty highly of me at the interviews, and once I got drafted and went up to their suite box they had nothing but good things to say and that made me really excited and really looking forward going to their camp."

The 5-foot-10, 185 pound Tyrell realizes that fitness is his first priority this summer. “They told me if I'm in shape now I better think again because they have one of the hardest training camps in the NHL.”

Tyrell is the envy of many teenage Canadian hockey players. He became just the second PG Cougar in franchise history to score 30 goals as a 17 year old. Then, he and teammate Ty Wishart  were among 26 players picked to represent Canada at the Canada/Russia U-20 Eight Game Super Series that begins August 27 th .  Furthermore, he was selected by the 2004 Stanley Cup champions.

"The week has been unbelievable. Getting into Team Canada was very exciting and same with the draft but I think getting drafted tops it all. It sets up my future and it’s just the starting of my career. I want to continue to develop and hopefully one day make that hockey team."

If Tyrell fulfills his goals of #1 making the NHL, and #2 playing in his warm weather dream city of Tampa, then this would clearly be a case of “Lightning strikes twice.”

From the quote rack:

“I guess you've heard by now -- there's a video of Kobe Bryant trashing his fellow Lakers. The good news? This is the first evidence that Kobe's even aware there's other members on the team."  NBC's Jay Leno

“Tom Brady has bought Gisele Bundchen a $3,000 bracelet 'for being so accepting of his fathering a child with Briget Moynahan'. The bracelet reportedly weighs 1 1/2 kobes."  Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

“Barry Bonds now says, regarding No. 756, that all he wants is the shoes, the bat, the jersey, and the pants---that the Hall of Fame can have everything else. Which means that the Hall will have to add an extra wing to display Barry's hat"  Littlejohn

“His asking price reportedly is 30 million bucks a year and a buxom blond to be named later."   Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post, on speculation that Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez will opt out of his contract after this season.

“Several inmates vowed to turn their lives around and return to the Cincinnati Bengals' active roster."   Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel after New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees visited a prison in Utah to give a motivational talk.

“The most important things in life are the things that are least important."  Yogi Berra, with another of his Yogisms, this one as quoted by the St.Louis Post-Dispatch to the Saint Louis University Class of 2007.

And in case you missed it:

Point guard Ryan Boatwright has been recruited by the USC Trojans men's basketball team for the 2011-12 NCAA season. Boatwright is an eighth-grader from Illinois.

And how was your week?

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com

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