LIVING THE DREAM

Tyler Bertuzzi is thrilled to be playing professional hockey, but you can bet he won’t sleep until he reaches the next level by earning a job with the Detroit Red Wings.

Story and photo by Mark Newman

Tyler Bertuzzi is loving every minute. His grin is as wide as McCharles Lake is long.

There are 330 lakes within the city limits of his hometown, Greater Sudbury in northern Ontario, but there is only one – McCharles Lake, where his family still lives – that gave birth to Bertuzzi’s dream of someday playing professional hockey.

As an avid fisherman, Bertuzzi has spent countless hours on the lake, fishing for bass. But it’s the countless hours skating, stickhandling around real and imaginary defenders, and firing thousands of pucks into the net that have made all the difference in overcoming the odds and making his dream a reality.

Now in his first full season in Grand Rapids, he is looking to build his resume in hopes of someday earning a job in Detroit, where his uncle Todd Bertuzzi toiled for the better part of six seasons late in his career after he had established himself as one of the game’s top power forwards.

It’s been Tyler’s dream for as long as he can remember.

He started skating when he was four, playing throughout his childhood on the outdoor rinks of his hometown. He was undeterred by sub-zero winter temperatures that are all too common to an area upwind of the chilly waters of Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay.

Nothing – not even strep throat or bumps and bruises – could stop the little engine that could. Often one of the smallest players on the ice, Bertuzzi warmed to the words of wisdom imparted by his coach, the man he called “papa” – Albert Bertuzzi, a tough, window-washing Italian-American who was only too happy to make sure his grandson followed in his formidable footsteps. Little Tyler wasn’t going to be afraid of anyone or anything.

“I loved going to practice every night and games even more,” Tyler said. “I’d be the first one on and the last one off. We had practice three times a week, and in between I’d be playing road hockey or be out on the lake practicing all the time.”

His NHL dreams blossomed with occasional trips to Vancouver to watch his uncle play. “When I was young, I would go see him a couple of times a year,” he recalled. “He was a big deal then. I remember skating with him on the ice and getting to meet guys like (Mark) Messier and (Eric) Lindros. Just being able to grow up and have him behind me, tell me what it is like to go through it all, was a big help.”

By his own admission, Bertuzzi was an average student at best. He’d rather hit an opponent on the ice than hit the books. “I liked fooling around,” he said. “It seemed like I was always getting into trouble for doing something.”

Frankly, he was a ball of energy. Sitting still in a classroom was not his idea of fun. Playing hockey morning, noon and night was. “My goal was to play hockey, so I guess I let school slide a little bit,” said Bertuzzi, who played minor midget hockey in Sudbury before he was drafted by the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League in anticipation of the 2011-12 season.

Guelph just happened to be the same city where his uncle had played his junior hockey. “When I was drafted by Guelph, it was a big day for me,” Bertuzzi said. “I knew my uncle had played there, but I didn’t know all the history and what he had done there. He called me and told me it was a great organization and that it would be awesome for me.”

An underdog to make the team as a 16-year-old, Bertuzzi scored six goals with 11 assists in 61 games during his first junior season in Guelph. He also had 18 fighting majors, underscoring his reputation as an agitator who was willing to forecheck hard or drop the gloves when necessary. Bertuzzi, according to Guelph general manager Mike Kelly, was fearless, describing him as having “the heart of a lion.”

During his second season in Guelph, Bertuzzi missed more than two months after suffering a neck injury with concussion-like symptoms. The injury slowed his progress, but not his drive or determination. Bertuzzi was ranked 207th among North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings.

Many observers were surprised when the Red Wings selected Bertuzzi in the second round (58th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. “I think it surprised me more than anyone,” said Bertuzzi, who stayed home because he wasn’t sure anyone would take him. “But I knew I had it in me to prove everyone wrong.”

Being chosen by the Red Wings was simply icing on the cake. “It was an honor to be selected by them in the second round,” he said, noting that “there is a lot of history there.”

Again, Uncle Todd called to congratulate his nephew (Todd and Tyler’s mom, Angela, are siblings). “He gave me the inside (scoop) on everything,” Bertuzzi said. “He told me things like ‘Don’t be late. Always be respectful. Say thank you, yes please,’ all those little things that I already knew but needed to be reminded about. I took what he told me to heart.”

Bertuzzi got off to a fast start for eventual OHL champion Guelph in his third season before he was sidelined with the same head and neck issues that shortened his 2012-13 season. He returned for the playoffs, scoring 10 goals with seven assists in 18 games, including five goals in four Memorial Cup games.

The injuries began to take a toll on Bertuzzi’s psyche.

“My skills kept evolving and, due to injuries, I stopped fighting,” he said. “I’ll still fight here and there, lay the big hit or block shots, but I had to change my game. I didn’t want to get hurt anymore, so I just focused a lot on my skill and how to contribute offensively, and it paid off.”

Bertuzzi had a breakout season a year ago, starting with his final season in Guelph and finishing in Grand Rapids, where he joined the Griffins right before the Calder Cup Playoffs. He recorded 98 points (43 goals and 55 assists) in 68 games with the Storm, then tallied seven goals in 14 games with the Griffins.

Four of his playoff goals were game-winners, underscoring then-Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill’s contention that Bertuzzi was a playoff-type player. “He’s hard on the puck, he goes to the net hard and he is good in front of the goalie,” Blashill said. “He is a guy who can really complement a couple of skilled players because he’s got a real high offensive ability.”

Bertuzzi draws comparisons to Abdelkader, another player with high-level offensive ability who is willing to work in the hard areas of the ice.

For his part, Bertuzzi won’t object to such comparisons. “I think I can be a good playoff performer because I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win,” he said. “It’s about blocking shots, getting the puck out when you have to, forechecking hard. You do all the little things you need to do to win. I felt like I was a contributor offensively, but I think my game is going to get better.”

He is quick to give credit to his playoff linemates, Andy Miele and Mark Zengerle, for giving him opportunities to display his playmaking abilities. “Coming up, I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I was hoping to play a few games, maybe play a fourth line role, and there I was on the first line, playing with Miele and Zengerle, scoring goals and making assists and doing everything I could to help us win.”

After a short two-week break to vacation in Cuba with his girlfriend, Bertuzzi got back to business this summer. He worked with his father, Adrian Gedye, on sprints and squats to strengthen his lower body. “My dad was a swimmer and triathlete who never played (hockey), but he understands the game. We worked a lot on foot speed this summer.” Of course, they also found time to go fishing, along with Tyler’s younger brothers, Evan and Matthew.

At age 20, Bertuzzi might not become any taller – he’s now 6-foot-1 – but he recognizes that he still has plenty of room to grow. “I want to be a two-way forward who can contribute offensively and defensively,” he said. “I’m always going 100 percent every shift, working my butt off. I want to build on what I did last year. So far it’s been a pretty good ride.”

Tyler Bertuzzi is thrilled to be playing professional hockey, but you can bet he won’t sleep until he reaches the next level by earning a job with the Detroit Red Wings.

Story and photo by Mark Newman

Tyler Bertuzzi is loving every minute. His grin is as wide as McCharles Lake is long.

There are 330 lakes within the city limits of his hometown, Greater Sudbury in northern Ontario, but there is only one – McCharles Lake, where his family still lives – that gave birth to Bertuzzi’s dream of someday playing professional hockey.

As an avid fisherman, Bertuzzi has spent countless hours on the lake, fishing for bass. But it’s the countless hours skating, stickhandling around real and imaginary defenders, and firing thousands of pucks into the net that have made all the difference in overcoming the odds and making his dream a reality.

Now in his first full season in Grand Rapids, he is looking to build his resume in hopes of someday earning a job in Detroit, where his uncle Todd Bertuzzi toiled for the better part of six seasons late in his career after he had established himself as one of the game’s top power forwards.

It’s been Tyler’s dream for as long as he can remember.

He started skating when he was four, playing throughout his childhood on the outdoor rinks of his hometown. He was undeterred by sub-zero winter temperatures that are all too common to an area upwind of the chilly waters of Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay.

Nothing – not even strep throat or bumps and bruises – could stop the little engine that could. Often one of the smallest players on the ice, Bertuzzi warmed to the words of wisdom imparted by his coach, the man he called “papa” – Albert Bertuzzi, a tough, window-washing Italian-American who was only too happy to make sure his grandson followed in his formidable footsteps. Little Tyler wasn’t going to be afraid of anyone or anything.

“I loved going to practice every night and games even more,” Tyler said. “I’d be the first one on and the last one off. We had practice three times a week, and in between I’d be playing road hockey or be out on the lake practicing all the time.”

His NHL dreams blossomed with occasional trips to Vancouver to watch his uncle play. “When I was young, I would go see him a couple of times a year,” he recalled. “He was a big deal then. I remember skating with him on the ice and getting to meet guys like (Mark) Messier and (Eric) Lindros. Just being able to grow up and have him behind me, tell me what it is like to go through it all, was a big help.”

By his own admission, Bertuzzi was an average student at best. He’d rather hit an opponent on the ice than hit the books. “I liked fooling around,” he said. “It seemed like I was always getting into trouble for doing something.”

Frankly, he was a ball of energy. Sitting still in a classroom was not his idea of fun. Playing hockey morning, noon and night was. “My goal was to play hockey, so I guess I let school slide a little bit,” said Bertuzzi, who played minor midget hockey in Sudbury before he was drafted by the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League in anticipation of the 2011-12 season.

Guelph just happened to be the same city where his uncle had played his junior hockey. “When I was drafted by Guelph, it was a big day for me,” Bertuzzi said. “I knew my uncle had played there, but I didn’t know all the history and what he had done there. He called me and told me it was a great organization and that it would be awesome for me.”

An underdog to make the team as a 16-year-old, Bertuzzi scored six goals with 11 assists in 61 games during his first junior season in Guelph. He also had 18 fighting majors, underscoring his reputation as an agitator who was willing to forecheck hard or drop the gloves when necessary. Bertuzzi, according to Guelph general manager Mike Kelly, was fearless, describing him as having “the heart of a lion.”

During his second season in Guelph, Bertuzzi missed more than two months after suffering a neck injury with concussion-like symptoms. The injury slowed his progress, but not his drive or determination. Bertuzzi was ranked 207th among North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings.

Many observers were surprised when the Red Wings selected Bertuzzi in the second round (58th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. “I think it surprised me more than anyone,” said Bertuzzi, who stayed home because he wasn’t sure anyone would take him. “But I knew I had it in me to prove everyone wrong.”

Being chosen by the Red Wings was simply icing on the cake. “It was an honor to be selected by them in the second round,” he said, noting that “there is a lot of history there.”

Again, Uncle Todd called to congratulate his nephew (Todd and Tyler’s mom, Angela, are siblings). “He gave me the inside (scoop) on everything,” Bertuzzi said. “He told me things like ‘Don’t be late. Always be respectful. Say thank you, yes please,’ all those little things that I already knew but needed to be reminded about. I took what he told me to heart.”

Bertuzzi got off to a fast start for eventual OHL champion Guelph in his third season before he was sidelined with the same head and neck issues that shortened his 2012-13 season. He returned for the playoffs, scoring 10 goals with seven assists in 18 games, including five goals in four Memorial Cup games.

The injuries began to take a toll on Bertuzzi’s psyche.

“My skills kept evolving and, due to injuries, I stopped fighting,” he said. “I’ll still fight here and there, lay the big hit or block shots, but I had to change my game. I didn’t want to get hurt anymore, so I just focused a lot on my skill and how to contribute offensively, and it paid off.”

Bertuzzi had a breakout season a year ago, starting with his final season in Guelph and finishing in Grand Rapids, where he joined the Griffins right before the Calder Cup Playoffs. He recorded 98 points (43 goals and 55 assists) in 68 games with the Storm, then tallied seven goals in 14 games with the Griffins.

Four of his playoff goals were game-winners, underscoring then-Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill’s contention that Bertuzzi was a playoff-type player. “He’s hard on the puck, he goes to the net hard and he is good in front of the goalie,” Blashill said. “He is a guy who can really complement a couple of skilled players because he’s got a real high offensive ability.”

Bertuzzi draws comparisons to Abdelkader, another player with high-level offensive ability who is willing to work in the hard areas of the ice.

For his part, Bertuzzi won’t object to such comparisons. “I think I can be a good playoff performer because I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win,” he said. “It’s about blocking shots, getting the puck out when you have to, forechecking hard. You do all the little things you need to do to win. I felt like I was a contributor offensively, but I think my game is going to get better.”

He is quick to give credit to his playoff linemates, Andy Miele and Mark Zengerle, for giving him opportunities to display his playmaking abilities. “Coming up, I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I was hoping to play a few games, maybe play a fourth line role, and there I was on the first line, playing with Miele and Zengerle, scoring goals and making assists and doing everything I could to help us win.”

After a short two-week break to vacation in Cuba with his girlfriend, Bertuzzi got back to business this summer. He worked with his father, Adrian Gedye, on sprints and squats to strengthen his lower body. “My dad was a swimmer and triathlete who never played (hockey), but he understands the game. We worked a lot on foot speed this summer.” Of course, they also found time to go fishing, along with Tyler’s younger brothers, Evan and Matthew.

At age 20, Bertuzzi might not become any taller – he’s now 6-foot-1 – but he recognizes that he still has plenty of room to grow. “I want to be a two-way forward who can contribute offensively and defensively,” he said. “I’m always going 100 percent every shift, working my butt off. I want to build on what I did last year. So far it’s been a pretty good ride.”