Page 21 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 65

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Tyler Fitzgerald Returns from Sweden and Accepts a
Hockey Scholarship to East Texas University
By Molly Kett
ocal Athlete Tyler Fitzgerald has
Lreturned from his year away from
home, playing hockey in Sweden.
For Fitzgerald, the experience is
something he will never forget.
“I had the opportunity to play
for two different organizations. For
Kungalv hockey and Stenungsund
HF. I started off in Kungalv and had
an amazing two months there before
getting a better opportunity with
Stenungsund,” says Fitzgerald. “I
was able to play men’s hockey with
both clubs, experiencing a totally new
way to prepare and play the game.”
At first, Fitzgerald was able to stay
with friend, but eventually was given
a house to live in with other North
Americans playing in Sweden.
“To play over there gives me such a
different approach to how to prepare
and play the game,” says Fitzgerald.
“You would show up two to three
hours before the game and you could
feel the intensity and preparation of
every single person when you came to
the rink. Whether it was management
or a player everyone had a thought on
their mind and that was the game.”
Fitzgerald says that Kungalv was a
strong and well-organized team with
only Swedish players on the roster
except for himself. Stenungsund was
a bit different.
“There were four or five North
Americans and a couple different
guys from across Europe. On both
teams, guys had different experiences
playing either in the SHL, AHL,
drafted to the NHL, and other
various pro leagues in Europe,” says
Fitzgerald.
When asked what his favourite
memory from his year away would
be, Fitzgerald has a tough time
narrowing it down.
“To tell you my favourite memory
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“I never felt homesick, I felt like I best for me to go back to school
was with my family every day being and play in Europe after school,”
with the boys,” says Fitzgerald. “I says Fitzgerald. “I’ve decided to
loved the food in Sweden, so natural accept my scholarship to East Texas
and flavourful…everyone was so University for human kinetics and to
welcoming and I totally suggest it play hockey. It was a hard decision
to anyone looking to further their to make when I could have continued
hockey careers.” to play hockey in Europe in Sweden
At the beginning of his time in or another country even. But I just
Sweden, Fitzgerald was hoping for didn’t want to be thirty and going
an extension so he could continue to school then. I hope to go back to
playing and living in Europe. Come Europe after school to continue to
play and maybe get to the top league
January, though, he began to have
talks with his family and decided that in Europe, The Champions League,
it was time for him to get a degree one day.”
and go to school. We can’t wait to see what the
“I had many offers to play college future holds for Fitzgerald and his
hockey and decided it would be hockey career.
Brought to you by Cakes & More...
Hustler of the Month
Adam Castillo
Hometown: Cornwall
School: Saint Joseph’s Catholic
Secondary School
Grade: 10 Age: 16
Graeson Van Putten has lived near Martintown
Adam Castillo and his family came to Cornwall
by way of Toronto and Montreal. His parents
were born in the Philippines. This grade 10
student takes academics very seriously and is a
Photo Submitted regular on the honour roll.
Adam is a multi-sport athlete who trains 5 days
would be so hard because I loved a week in addition to attending regular rugby practices. In the fall, he plays football for
every minute I was there,” says the Panthers (where he’s a running back) and the Wildcats. He’s also a track and field
runner. “I like the sprints,” he says. “I compete in the 100, 200, and 400. I also run
Fitzgerald. “The travelling, training,
hanging out with the guys, there cross-country.”
was never one moment that I loved Adam is looking forward to April, when he will travel to Washington with the Panthers
to play rugby with an American club. This will be his first crack at the rugby pitch, and
more than the other. But, maybe one he is enthusiastic about the opportunity. “Rugby is really helping me with my endurance
would be my first shutout. It took me and footwork,” he says. “This will improve my football skills.”
twelve starts but I had gotten it in a
four-nothing win and had 28 saves
that game. Just how the boys and Cakes & MORE ...Simply Delicious!
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really will stay with me forever.” • Sandwich & Dessert Platters
Fitzgerald’s time away was so • Don’t forget our lunches to go!
enjoyable, in fact, that he says he EASTCOURT MALL
barely even had time to think about
home. 2nd Street, Cornwall • 613-936-6069