It’s no secret that hockey playing Canadians dream of the opportunity to one day be drafted and don a National Hockey League sweater. However, it is far more uncommon for a prospect to have his name called by his hometown team; one that he grew up idolizing as a child.

That dream became a reality for Edmonton Oilers prospect Tyler Bunz, who was drafted by the Oil in the fifth round, 121^st overall in 2010.  “It was a pretty cool experience”, said Bunz. “Words definitely couldn’t describe what I was feeling that day when they called my name at the draft.”

After being drafted, Bunz returned to the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers for two seasons in 2010-11 and 2011-12, where he led his team to the Eastern Conference Final and earned individual honours, winning the Del Wilson Trophy as the WHL goaltender of the year as a 19-year old in 2011-12, as well as a WHL First-Team All Star nod. 

He has spent parts of the last two seasons in the Oilers’ system between the American Hockey League and ECHL, primarily with the Stockton Thunder and Bakersfield Condors. Bunz participated in Edmonton’s training camp, and despite not playing in any exhibition action, he was happy with his showing.

“It was good. Kind of disappointing that I didn’t get into an exhibition game, but I felt really good during the camp and when I played in scrimmages.”

After boasting solid numbers as an ECHL starter, Bunz is determined to take over the reins as the Oklahoma City Barons’ starter this fall.

“Right now, I want to focus on making Oklahoma.  I know there are other goalies that are going to be there, but you can’t sell yourself short, so that’s the goal I’m looking towards right now.  No matter where I do play, no matter whether it’s in Oklahoma or in Bakersfield, I want to give my team a chance to win every night.”

Bunz worked extremely hard in the offseason, on both his physical and mental aspects of the game, in order to enter his third pro season with a positive outlook and the tools to prove his worth in the organization.

“My maturity level aspect of the game is a lot different than it has been the past two years”, said Bunz. “I felt a lot more comfortable and confident skating this summer.  I skated quite a bit which is something that I don’t usually do. I went to Australia, which got me back into some games.  I played 5 games over there and got me back into that game mindset.  It just kind of set the tone for the rest of the summer.  You have to play well to impress the right people so that’s what I am looking to do.”

Bunz was invited to represent Canada in the 2014 Douglas Webber Cup, a concussion awareness hockey tour promoted by StopConcussions.com.  He was thrilled to not only represent Canada, but also to be involved with a unique opportunity of travelling down under and playing in front of Australian fans.

“Going over there was an amazing experience.  The best part about it was going on the ice and competing.  We played in front of about 23,000 fans the last game.  We were pretty fired up to go out there.  The feedback we received was that the Australians loved it.  They were great people and great hockey fans, who welcomed us with open arms.  It was an amazing experience and something I was fortunate to be apart of.”

After suffering a severe injury in March and avoiding surgery for a fractured larynx and damaged vocal cord, Bunz was simply fortunate to be back on the ice in Australia merely a few months later. It was not only a potential career-ending injury, but also a potentially life-threatening injury.

“It was definitely a pretty scary situation. It something you never want to be apart of, but I knew it was part of the game”, said Bunz. “It was scary, but at the same time it’s opened my eyes to be safer with the game. Now I’m wearing one of those danglers and it actually makes you feel more comfortable in the net.”

Both doctors and specialists were surprised at the speed at which Bunz recovered and it also provided Tyler a fresh outlook on much more than hockey. He has a new outlook mentally in the way he lives he life. “The specialist was pretty amazed that I was breathing on my own after the game from the impact. To hear all that, its pretty surreal, especially when you’re laying in the hospital bed and you can’t really talk. It taught me that I’m lucky to be alive. It was a pretty rare occurrence that I walked away from.”

Bunz has learned to take his career one day-at-a-time, and despite the pressure that comes with the nature of the business, he is lighthearted as he looks to take the next step in his career playing the game that he has an undying passion for. “It opens your eyes up and you take things more light heartedly and you just kind of go along with the just happy to be here. I’m just going to take it day by day this year and enjoy the game I love to play, and not put too much pressure on myself. Sometimes you take this game for granted and this year I’m just going to go out there and have fun and see what happens.”

While he has come a long way since his junior days in Medicine Hat, through many ups and downs along the way, he likens this season to his third year in junior after being drafted by the Oilers. “I had this trend in junior where my first two years weren’t that great and then my last two were. Something that turned my whole hockey career around, so I’m looking to do that again this year. That’s keeping me pretty positive. I’m hoping my third year is kind of like my third year in junior, where I take off and prove some people wrong.”

Bunz has been with the Oilers organization for five years now and has seen his share of players coming through the organization, especially during the Oilers rebuilding process. While the NHL may seem like a long road ahead as he looks to elevate his status within the organization, a highly motivated and mentally strong goaltender is a powerful combination.

“I’m in a better place mentally and physically that I have been in the last two years. Last year was a better year. I just want to keep making strides and making sure that come the first game of the year, I’m ready to go and have a good year.”