Originally posted Mar 15, 2019.
Some players know when they hang up the skates that coaching is on their horizon. For former Kamloops Blazers captain Tyler Shattock it was a case of being in the right place at the right time that allowed him to be back where it all started, in the cosy confines of the Shaw Centre (Sunwave Centre at the time). However this time he’s behind the bench.
As a young 15-year-old Tyler Shattock, was selected 14 years ago 5th overall in the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft by the Kamloops Blazers. Being such a high pick comes with high expectations. Shattock was never able to win the big prize with Kamloops; something he looks back on as a disappointment to this day.
Shattock ended up playing 248 games in the Western Hockey League, including 218 for the Blazers where he scored 68 goals and tallied 158 points.
Despite not winning, even a playoff series with the Blazers, Shattock was drafted to the NHL’s St. Louis Blues while a member of the Blazers organization. He still remembers Kamloops fondly and considers it far more than just a place he played.
“I really enjoyed my time in Kamloops, I got to be a big part of the community and I have a lot of friends there. I wish we could have done better things there, I have some regrets about not being able to win there.” Shattock continued “I definitely consider Kamloops a second home.”
For the majority of junior hockey players, playing in or close to your home town is a dream that is never realised. With childhood friends and family only a short 100 kilometres away, Shattock relished playing in Kamloops.
“It was nice for my family, I’m an only child, so it was easy for my parents to come watch me, who I think were probably at every game. Close friends could come and I could go home at anytime. If you ever got homesick I could go home and see my friends, it was blessing.”
While winning in Kamloops never materialized for him, Shattock always expected to finish out his WHL career with the team from the River City. However, on January 10th, 2010 the unexpected happened. Shattock was traded, along with teammates Jimmy Bubnik, and Zak Stebner to the Calgary Hitmen for youngsters Chase Schaber and Austin Madaisky.
“It was definitely a shock. I wasn’t expecting it, but anytime you get a chance to win or win something you only really get five years to do, it’s a special thing. We ended up winning the Western Hockey League. Looking back on it now, it was all good experiences for me and I think it really enabled me to sign my contract with St.Louis and further my career.”
After the trade was consummated, there was some worry inside the Blazers fan-base about whether it was worthwhile. After all, they did just trade their captain who was on over a point-per-game pace.
Little did fans know that Schaber and Madaisky would be key cogs in what would turn out to be two of Kamloops most prolific teams in over a decade.
Even after the trade, Shattock followed the Blazers from afar and was pleased to see them do well.
“I always follow them and wish them the most success and I always want to see them win because I think their fan-base deserves it. They are pretty passionate about their team. They had a run in the ’90s where they were so good that they are just dying for that to happen again. It was good to see they had some success with the guys that were traded.”
After Shattock finished up his WHL career, like many junior players, he had aspirations to play in the NHL. He had his contract in his back pocket already and was ready to show the Blues what he had but other than a few exhibition games, Shattock never saw any NHL action.
That isn’t to say he isn’t proud of what he accomplished in North America. Seven pro seasons is nothing to scoff at.
“Getting to experience the whole pro culture and being on your own, being responsible for your whole progress, it’s definitely a different experience from junior.”
During those seven years, Shattock played in places like Peoria, Illinois; Evansville, Indiana; and Kalamazoo, Michigan. But nothing in North America quite compared to playing in Alaska.
Shattock suited up for 35 games with the Aces, who are now defunct, and he remembers his time up north fondly.
“Alaska actually is really nice, you have to be very outdoorsy to really have a good time up there. It’s always snowing, and dark in the winter. You gotta enjoy snowmobiling, hunting and fishing, different things like that, it was actually a really cool experience and I enjoyed it.”
Through seven seasons in the North American pro ranks, Tyler decided it was time for something new. He packed his bags and left his family to join the Glasgow Clan (they were called Braehead Clan at the time) in the UK.
He collected 28 points in 39 games for the Clan who play in the Elite Ice Hockey League.
While playing in Glasgow, Shattock was joined by other WHL alumni including Jacob Doty (Seattle, Medicine Hat, 2010 – 2014) and Landon Oslanski (Spokane, Lethbridge, Everett, 2009 – 2013).
“I wanted to try something different, I had kinda been doing the same thing in North America for the past few years and I wanted to broaden my horizons.” Shattock continued: “The fans are very passionate, and I think the league is going to become very popular in the near future just with how many imports [14 are permitted to be dressed in any game for a team] they allow to play over there and the style of play”
Tyler enjoyed his time overseas, so much so, that he was going to go back and play another season, until he was hurt in a training injury in the offseason.
As hockey players do, Tyler was hanging around the rink when the chance to be part of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks coaching staff came around.
“I was around the rink with Scott Atkinson and Tanner Cochrane skating with them and when they found out I couldn’t go back they asked if I wanted to do it [become an assistant coach].” Shattock continued: “I have really enjoyed it so far, it’s nice to help other guys pursue what I had pursued my whole life.”
Tyler would like to consider himself a player’s coach but he still knows where to draw the line.
“I definitely want to be a players coach. I want the guys to know they can talk to me and ask me any questions they have. But I think there is also a time where you gotta draw the line and make sure they are accountable for their work ethic. I definitely want the guys to feel comfortable to talk to me about whatever and talk to be about playing pro hockey, I have no troubles answering those questions for those guys at any time.”
When players transition to coaching, it’s often because their playing days are done and they are looking for ways to stay involved with the game they love. For the ex-Blazer captain, he knows that it’s tough to find your way back into playing hockey after taking a year off but he isn’t closing any doors just yet.
“I would say the door is still a little bit open but it’s hard when you get hurt and then you have to stop playing because you just can’t do it anymore.” Shattock continued “I definitely want to pursue the coaching thing and I’m really enjoying working with the Silverbacks here.”
As any good coach would tell you, you are only as good as the advice you give. When asked about any advice he had for any young and upcoming players Tyler was quick to answer.
“Continual improvement. You may be good at where you are now but there are a lot of other kids out there doing the exact same thing you are. You need to improve all the time because if you’re not, there are other people out there and they are doing things to improve.”
There is no doubt Tyler Shattock left some regrets behind in some of the places he played but those memories are overshadowed by the good ones he’s had in his career. As for what’s next, It’s clear the one-time leader of the Kamloops Blazers is headed in a direction to once again lead a team, but this time, from behind the bench.
