By Earl Seitz

A “Nick” of time, Blazers career ending for Captain Chyzowski

Mar 16, 2018 | 3:06 PM

KAMLOOPS — Nick Chyzowski came to the Blazers as a second round bantam draft pick in 2012.    He played four games as a 15-year old in the 2012-13 season, before joining the team full time a season later.

As it is for every player, it was a steep learning curve for Nick when he first joined the Blazers.    Even though his father had been through the same experience 25 years earlier, Dave and Cindy Chyzowski quickly found out there’s a learning curve for parents too, when a son first comes into the league.

‘You know, I remember the very first game here that he played,” says Dave, “his mother actually dropped him off at the rink.   Craig Bonner, our GM at the time, calls me and reemed me out — and says this isn’t minor hockey.   One of the players will pick him up.    He does not get his mother to drive him to the rink.”

It did’nt take long for Nick to mesh in and be one of the boys.    He had something most other players don’t have.     Most players live with billet parents.    Nick continued to live at home with Dave and Cindy.    During tough times, his own father, who had been through the same experience, was there to talk to —– and a shoulder his teammates could also lean on.

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“As a hockey player you’re always going to go through ups and downs.” says NIck.  “I’ve gone to my Dad for help.   I’ve gone to my Mom for help.   I’ve developed relationships with players — they’ve all helped me out when we’ve been at our lowest points.”

“We’re very fortunate.” says Dave, ” to have him at home.   I see the kids come over to the house and I see how challenging it is for a young kid to be away from his family.  Little sisters, dogs, pets everything —- we’ve had kids crying at the house, and Nick has probably cried in his room a few nights.    But at least he’s at home in the comfort of his own house.   It’s not easy —- junior hockey is extremely difficult.”

Every parent wants the best for their child.   Sometimes it put Dave in a catch 22 —- as an employee of the Blazers, while his son was playing for the team.

“I bit my tongue probably close to a million times.” says Dave, “I like to think I know a little bit about hockey, and we would’nt do things that I thought were in the best interests of my son, from a Dad’s standpoint, and a hockey players standpoint —- and I would have done things different.    And I know him as well as anybody, and it’s extremely frustrating when, it’s in a good way or a bad way, and they’re not dealing with him in a different way.   It’s hard.”

With young son 17 year old Ryan in his second season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, and Nick pursuing a university career after this season, the Chyzowski nest will soon be empty during hockey season.

Nick will play his final home game Friday night, and then the last game of his junior career Saturday in Prince George.    After five years it comes down to what is sure to be an emotional ending this weekend.

“Through better circumstances we wish we were in the playoffs.” says Nick. “It is what it is now, and we’ve talked about it and we’re all going to just make the most of it and keep competing and keep playing the games like any other games, and just have fun with it, and just enjoy the last couple of games here.”