Dylan Willick is getting ready to play this season in the Polska Hokej Liga (Image Credit: Rob Blanchard, UNB)

By Chad Klassen

DYLAN WILLICK

Former Blazers captain Willick skating in Kamloops before first pro hockey stint in Europe

Sep 4, 2019 | 4:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — Dylan Willick was part of a Blazers core that, for a short time, brought a little hope back to a franchise that lost its way.

As captain in his 20-year-old season, he helped the team reach the Western Conference Final before falling to Portland in 2013.

Willick is back in Kamloops, skating in an arena he called home for four seasons.

“Most of it started with Colin “Toledo” Robinson. Him and I go way back. I saw him at the [Blazers alumni] golf tournament, mentioned I would probably be delayed in getting out of here, and he was the one who reminded me that I’d probably be allowed to come out and skate,” said Willick.

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The 26-year-old still has roots in Kamloops, two years ago marrying his wife who’s from the city. He’s currently waiting for his visa to go through, so he can join his new teammates in the Polish national hockey league, the Polska Hokej Liga.

“We were a little bit late putting it through. Training camp’s already started over there, which is why these ice times are really important, so I can stay in shape and be ready,” said Willick. “As soon as it goes through, I’ll be on a flight and my wife and I will be over to Europe.”

Willick will be one of the first Canadians to join Podhale Nowy Targ. Nowy Targ is a town of 34,000 people in the south of Poland. It’s less than 400 kilometres from the country’s capital, Warsaw.

A former teammate of Willick’s at the University of New Brunswick, where he spent five seasons and won two national championships, forwarded his name to the team’s head coach.

Willick admits, though, he doesn’t know much about the league.

“I only just discovered it this summer,” he said. “They have their own league. It’s the Polish national league. There’s 10 teams that play out of Poland. It looks like a pretty interesting league. There’s ex-ECHL players there. It’s more your mid-tier European league for sure, but it’s a good way for myself to get over there, experience Europe, and hopefully open up some doors for the coming seasons.”

Willick spent last season in the East Coast Hockey League with the Worcester Railers, tallying eight goals and 15 points in 68 games. He’s looking forward to the next chapter of his hockey career in Europe.

“The point is to experience, get a feel for what being in Europe is. It’s going to be a bit of a culture shock. A lot of experiences coming my way, but I’m excited for it,” said Willick.