One of the new players in the Lloydminster Bobcats’ mix brings Border City heritage — along with elite talent — to the Alberta Junior Hockey League team.
Ty Hynes, a 17-year-old forward from the South Alberta Hockey Academy (SAHA) U18 prep program, signed with the junior A Bobcats after attending their spring prospects camp in April. He’s planning to be back in town for development camp on the June 6-8 weekend.
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The Medicine Hat-born Hynes already has strong familiarity with Lloyd.
“His mother actually grew up here in Lloydminster,” said Bobcats general manager Nigel Dube. “So, it was a bit of a homecoming for him in a sense, signing where his mom grew up, and having the ability to play hockey here as well.”
Hynes spoke with Bobcats management for about three weeks before the spring camp, after which he was keen to sign with the AJHL team.
“We had talked a bit before, and I was pretty excited about it,” he said from his home in Dunmore, just outside of Medicine Hat.
“I’ve got family in Lloyd. My whole mom’s side is there.”
His mother Corrina’s maiden name is Whitlaw. Her parents, brother, niece and nephew live in the Lloyd area. Their presence made it that much more of an easier decision for Hynes to sign with the Bobcats.
“I think I definitely looked into it a little bit more, seeing as my mom was from there,” said Hynes, a Grade 11 student at Eagle Butte High School in Dunmore.
“I was just really attracted by how the Bobcats talked to me, and they had lots of interest, and I felt it was a really good spot to continue my hockey career. That’s kind of why I chose Lloyd.”
As he adapts to living far from home, he welcomes the opportunity to visit with his grandparents and other family members on occasion.
“I think they’ll provide a lot of support, for sure, and help me out throughout my little journey there,” Hynes said. “I’ll billet somewhere in the city, because my family lives a little bit outside the city, but I’ll definitely go see them and have suppers with them and things like that.”
Hynes still has a year of U18 eligibility, but he and the Bobcats believe he’s ready for junior hockey now.
HITMEN PROSPECT, TOO
The WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, who listed Hynes two seasons ago, are also bullish about his prospects of playing major junior with them as early as the coming season.
He might even skate with both junior teams — the Bobcats and Hitmen — during the 2025-26 campaign.
“He comes to us with high-end skill,” Dube said of Hynes, who scored 13 goals and 34 points in 36 games with his South Alberta prep team last winter.
“He’s protected by the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League. Just with the change in the landscape there, he’s a higher-profile player that we’re going to work with Calgary and develop him here. He could see time between both clubs next year, just with the changes that have gone on with the overall hockey scene now.”
Hynes is well-schooled at the prep level. After one season at Edge School in Calgary, he’s played two years at SAHA, the same school that was Medicine Hat Tigers wunderkind Gavin McKenna’s stepping-stone into the WHL. Hynes’ ties to SAHA go back five seasons, including his three years in the Irvine High Performance Academy.
“His stick is the big thing,” Dube said in detailing Hynes’ skills. “His ability to shoot pucks, get shots off, create offence in tight spaces. He brings a dynamic — excitement to our forward group and offensive group.
“He’ll have to work on rounding out that 200-foot game, but we had him here at spring camp and (saw that he’s) just a super, exciting hockey player. He’s one of those that the fans come up and say, ‘Who’s that kid? I hope he’s a Bobcat.’ ”
It’s no wonder both the Bobcats and Hitmen are closely watching the progression of Hynes, who’s about six feet and 180 pounds.
“He’ll have a good opportunity (in Calgary),” said Hitmen director of scouting Gary Michalick. “We have some openings at forward and Ty is certainly one of the guys who would be in the running for one of those spots.
“He had a really good year at SAHA. He was their second-leading scorer. He plays the game the right way and has some hockey sense and skill. We’re excited to see, after his year, where he is (in terms of development).”
The Hitmen listed Hynes early in 2024.
“I went to their main camp last year and then ended up spending an extra week with them as well to practise,” he said. “We kept in touch a little bit over the this (past) year.
“I’ll definitely try and make it in Calgary, but I’m also really excited about being in Lloyd, with all the community stuff that they do and all that kind of stuff. So, either place, I’m pretty excited to be.”
One of Hynes’ SAHA teammates was goaltender Kannen Kirkwood, brother of recent Bobcats netminder Kaiden Kirkwood, who’s set to begin his freshman season with the Dalhousie Tigers of the Atlantic University Sport conference.
The 2007-born Kannen Kirkwood and two of Hynes’ other SAHA teammates, 2008-born forwards Kingston Chisholm and Garrison Peck, are also coming to Lloydminster for the June development camp.
“Which is pretty exciting,” Hynes said of his buddies auditioning for the Bobcats. “Hopefully, we’ll see them do well, as well.”
Chisholm and Peck also joined Hynes in Lloyd for the April camp.
Hynes’ cousin Sammy Hynes, a forward who turns 19 in November, has played the past two years with the Cranbrook Bucks of the BCHL. He’s also a SAHA graduate.
McKenna and five other SAHA alumni are part of the Medicine Hat team that won the WHL title and now is participating in the Memorial Cup national championship at Rimouski, Que.
SAHA senior advisor Willie Desjardins is the longtime coach and general manager of the Tigers’ major junior franchise.
HABS FAN
Hynes, a product of Desjardins’ academy programs, is a big fan of the Montreal Canadiens, just like his father Darryl.
“A hockey role model, for sure,” Hynes said of his dad. “He’s helped me a lot throughout my whole career and I wouldn’t be where I am without him.
“NHL-wise, I’d say Sebastian Aho (of the Carolina Hurricanes) is probably one of my favourite players to watch, and the up-and-coming Ivan Demidov (of the Montreal Canadiens), I like to watch him as well.
“We actually have a (Demidov) jersey hanging down in the basement for when we watch the games.”
The Hynes family will likely soon add a junior jersey or two to their collection of hockey sweaters. Whatever jerseys he pulls on next season, Hynes is prepared to dress to impress.
“I think I bring some skill and some poise with the puck, high hockey IQ to make plays,” he said. “I love being with the guys in the dressing room and having fun with the guys. I just love being a part of a team.”
A central part of his hockey routine in the morning is a protein shake and one of his father’s special omelettes.
Ten members of Hynes’ SAHA U18 prep team were affiliated with WHL teams during this past season. One of them, 16-year-old defenceman Riley Scott, is now with Medicine Hat at the Memorial Cup.
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