HUMBOLDT — Humboldt’s Dylan Lindal capped his hockey season off in style.
The son of Fern and Kelsey Lindal was called up to the Tisdale Trojans midget AAA team after his Humboldt Broncos AA squad’s season was over. Lindal helped the Trojans win the bronze medal at the Telus Cup national midget AAA championship. Tisdale beat the Calgary Buffaloes, 3-2, in the bronze medal game in Thunder Bay.
“It felt amazing,” Lindal said. “Beating Calgary in the bronze final and placing third in all of Canada, it’s a pretty special feeling.”
The Trojans called upon Lindal to play on a forward line in their semifinal and bronze medal games. Tisdale fell 4-2 in a hard-fought contest to Magog, Que. on Saturday, but rebounded to defeat Calgary on Sunday.
“We played so hard today,” Tisdale head coach Darrell Mann said. “We left everything out there. We were able to shut down their speed in the neutral zone and I think that was the difference.”
Lindal, 17, appreciated his experience at the Telus Cup, which ran April 22 to 28.
“I have enjoyed hanging out with the guys at the hotel, at the rink, and on the bus - just enjoying the moment here in Thunder Bay,” he said partway through the event.
Mann was pleased to have Lindal with the team.
“Dylan brings a ton of energy to the game,” Mann said. “He is a great skater, which makes him very good on the forecheck. He is a player that is a great complement to the systems and style we play.”
With the Humboldt Broncos midget AA team this past season, Lindal had three goals and 13 points in 32 games for his hometown squad. He also played in four regular season contests for the Trojans as an affiliated player.
“I enjoy playing at a higher level with a great organization with a great group of guys,” Lindal said.
He got into one playoff game with the Trojans. After the Broncos’ postseason campaign finished, Lindal moved to Tisdale and billeted as the team prepared for and hosted the Telus Cup Western Regional. He played in two games at the Western Regional – including the championship tilt in which the team won to guarantee its spot in the Telus Cup. Lindal said being with team during the postseason has “helped me out because it has given me the experience at a higher level to help me in junior next year.”
He does not know yet where he will play junior hockey. No matter where he ends up, Lindal certainly will have the support of his parents.
“They have helped me throughout my career by giving me tips to become a better player and they have supported me by driving me all over the province to play the game I love no matter what the conditions are,” he said.
