Tyler Paquette’s Journey To The Pros
During a pre-season game for the Wheeling Nailers, Tyler Paquette sat down with Olde City Sports Network to talk Penn State and his style of game!
From the grind of the Big Ten to the expectations of professional hockey, each step of his journey has required consistency, maturity, and an understanding that success comes from more than just scoring goals. “I think, especially coming from the Big Ten, every single night is a challenge, a lot of good teams, a lot of good players,” Paquette said. “And then I definitely worked on my game a lot, like in the strength room, fewer games. So we'll see how that transition goes to pro playing 70 games instead of 35, but it taught me a lot of leadership skills, taught me what good culture is.”
- Photo Credit: Stacey Gramlich/Olde City Sports Network
That culture became especially evident during Paquette’s time at Penn State, where he was part of a historic run that helped elevate the program on a national stage. “It was definitely a great run,” he said. “We had a lot of great pieces, and I think it showed a lot about what our culture was at school, that we never gave up through the season. To kind of check that one off the list for Penn State as a program, being a part of the first Frozen Four is definitely very special. It's an awesome experience.”
Now transitioning to the professional level with the Indy Fuel, Paquette understands that forwards are judged by production — but that production starts far away from the offensive zone. “I think what makes it successful forward is obviously, compared to a defenseman, you're out there to score,” he said. “But also, to do that, you can't play in your own end. So you have to be a good 200-foot player so you can get the pucks out, be responsible so coach trusts you to play you more, and then obviously you have to put the puck in the net, that's what you're there to do.”
That trust — from coaches and teammates alike — is something Paquette prides himself on. His versatility allows him to slide up and down the lineup, adapting to whatever role is needed on a given night. “I am a 200-foot player and kind of thrive on that, being able to kind of play up and down the lineup, wherever the coach needs me, wherever the team needs me,” Paquette said. “As a power forward, I like taking the puck to the net, getting around the dirty areas, and I think I have a really good release, good shots, so that helps me a lot.”
Physical play, net-front presence, and finishing ability form the foundation of Paquette’s offensive identity — but his mental approach is just as important, especially in pressure situations that can define games and seasons. “Handling pressure situations, every player practices every day,” he said. “So just kind of try and emulate that in practice and then kind of be ready when the moment comes. Don't be too up or too down, try to stay even keel throughout games, or else your confidence will kind of go away if you get too low, and then kind of lay off the gas pedal if you get too high.”
That even-keeled mindset mirrors the way Paquette approaches his development as a pro: steady, intentional, and rooted in habits built long before he arrived in Indy. As he adjusts to the pace, physicality, and length of a professional season, the lessons learned in college — leadership, culture, and accountability — continue to shape his game.
For the Indy Fuel, Paquette brings more than just scoring potential. He brings reliability, adaptability, and a forward who understands that playing the game the right way is often what creates offense in the first place. Paquette dressed in 23 games for the Indy Fuel and has tallied two goals and five assists this season so far.
- Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network
- Photo Credit: Stacey Gramlich/Olde City Sports Network
