The Journey Of Ryan Chyzowski

On a late April afternoon, before heading to Trois-Riverés, Quebec for Round Two of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, Norfolk Admirals player Ryan Chyzowski sat down with Olde City Sports network to talk about WHL, his professional career thus far, and more!

Before turning to the professional ranks of hockey, Chyzowski played six seasons in the Western Hockey League for the Medicine Hat Tigers. Chyzowski dressed in 280 games for the Hat Tigers and tallied 98 goals and 119 assists. Chyzowski assisted in three post-season runs and dressed in 19 post-season games and notching seven goals with five assists. The WHL prepares players for what comes in the professional game. Chyzowski spoke on how the WHL helped him become the player he is today. “I think the similarity of the league, the amount of games, and the longevity of the season. It taught me to kind of be prepared for the pro season and just endure that grind and get mentally and physically prepared for it.”

In the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 season, Chyzowski was awarded the “A” and in the 2020-2021 season, he was awarded the “C”. Chyzowski shows leaderships skills on and off the ice and earning those in the WHL, helped form the player and the role he plays today in the professional game. “A good group of leaders around me to help me learn to be in that role and feel comfortable with it. Just kind of naturally work on leadership qualities and try to continue that even without the letters.”

The summer of 2021 was life-changing for Chyzowski because that’s when he got the call. He was signed to his very first professional hockey contract with the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his first season with the Marlies, he cracked the lineup to play 23 games in the AHL. He played 29 games in the now-defunct ECHL affiliate, Newfoundland Growlers. During his first season collectively, he gathered 18 goals in the regular season with 15 assists. He assisted the Growlers on a Kelly Cup Run and played in 17 games that first post-season, and tallied three goals with six assists. During his second professional season with Toronto, he played in 36 games for the Marlies, tallying two goals and one assist. He dressed in seven postseason games, gathered two goals and one assist. He was reassigned to the Growlers for a total of five games throughout the regular season and dressed in three postseason games. “It was pretty sweet, it was a good start there. They’re a pretty prestigious organization, and a lot of good memories and fun times there. I had to get deep in Toronto and Newfoundland. It was always fun to go there in my first couple of years, and I have a lot of good memories there.” Chyzowski’s time in Toronto came to an end in the 2022-2023 season, and he was signed to an AHL contract with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and played in 44 games for their ECHL affiliate, Reading Royals. He tallied 17 goals with 13 assists before his season ended due to injury. In the 2024 off-season, Chyzowski was signed to an AHL contract with the Manitoba Moose. He played in 11 games, totaling one goal and one assist. He spent the majority of the season with the Norfolk Admirals, dressing in 35 games and notching 11 goals with 18 assists in the regular season. He played in 11 postseason games and had three goals with four assists.

As a rookie coming into the professional realm of hockey, players have the older guys and the veterans who are there along the way. Chyzowski credits a lot to ECHL player Todd Skirving and EIHL player Zach O’Brien for his transition into the professional world during his first year with the Toronto organization. “It was a big help. I felt like having a couple of experienced older guys who were very comfortable with us coming in and including us. They were always trying to bring us closer to the team and trying to help us feel more comfortable. I just remember them always being good leaders, and using that transition can help with everything we've ever had. As a young guy, letting you know and helping you figure out the league and just kind of find a way in it.”

Instead of being the rookie, Chyzowski is now the older player in the room with experience under his belt. With playoff experience and the knowledge to go with it, Chyzowski was valuable with the Norfolk Admirals and their playoff series this year. “Just helping them realize how hard it is and how every shift matters, and how little everything kind of seems, but it’s all really big at the end. You have to take it step by step, opportunity by opportunity, and keep winning little battles and getting little wins and just moving forward and never getting hung up on things.” Norfolk surpassed the Wheeling Nailers in the first round in five games and fell to the 2025 Kelly Cup Champions- Trois-Riverés Lions in Game Six of Round 2 of the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Playing the role of winger involves attacking in the offensive zone and contributing defensively, especially if the opposing team is rushing in. Chyzowski speaks on the challenge of being a winger and what he does for his team in that role. “Kind of staying in the playand just trying to balance and trying to get offense off and not leaving the team stranded. Just trying to produce at an efficient level.”

Every player has core memories throughout their career. Whether it be from their junior days, college days, or even their professional days. Being a rookie and having a core memory serves Chyzowski well. “I’d say, starting, just going pretty far in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, my first year going to the conference finals was a cool experience and something that I will continue to bring on every year, and build on it. I think starting out at that level was definitely helpful and pretty fun.”

The minor leagues of hockey are not easy by any stretch of the imagination. It is a constant grind for players, who work all season to work on skills and hope to move up to the next level with the hard work that is put in. Staying focused and motivated throughout a long season is key for the ECHL and AHL players. It is different when players are going back and forth throughout the season to the AHL and ECHL affiliate. “It is a grind in itself, kind of going back and forth and going back between different teams. I think just taking it week by week and day by day, It’s something that’s not gonna be easy. For me, it’s determination.”

Chyzowski is currently unsigned for the 2025-2026 season, but that could all change by October.

-Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network

-Photo Credit: Norfolk Admirals