MELFORT, TISDALE — While some might see playing for six different teams as a hassle, former Tisdale Trojan Rylan Freed said he would not change anything about his junior hockey journey.
The Melfort product suited up for squads based in five different leagues. He recently capped his junior career in Quebec by winning the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League North Division’s Most Valuable Player Award.
“I was lucky enough to play in four provinces over four years,” he said. “Not many guys get an opportunity like that just to play a game you love.
“The people I have met over the years playing junior are just incredible. You meet some of the closest friends playing junior hockey. Junior hockey is the best time of your life. Many people say that and living it firsthand, I definitely believe. I had the time of my life.”
Freed left home to play for the Trojans in 2011-12. He played two years for then head coach Trevor Blevins and finished his midget AAA career under the leadership of current bench boss Darrell Mann. He praised them both and their assistant coaches for helping him develop.
“Playing in Tisdale was incredible,” Freed said. “It’s such a tight-knit community. Everyone knew everyone.”
The friendships were the best part of the Trojans experience, Freed said. He pointed to relationships with teammates and classmates and meeting his girlfriend while playing for the Trojans.
“When I moved there at 15, I thought I was just moving to play hockey, go to school and live out my dream,” Freed said. “Looking back at it now, the only thing I remember is the nights we all hung out, the drives we took, and the bus rides as a group of brothers. It’s really just one big family in Tisdale. There were memories made there that will never be forgotten. No one will ever be able to take them away from me.”
He expressed appreciation for all the Tisdale volunteers who took time out of their lives to ensure the off ice things were taken care of for the team. Freed also loved playing for the Trojans fans, who he said are the best in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.
“Everyone knows in the league and around Saskatchewan about the Trojans fans. I really enjoyed my time in Tisdale and would love to redo it all if could.”
In Tisdale, Freed also had his first experience with billet families.
“I was welcomed to Tisdale with open arms when I moved there as a 15 year old. My billets were all such incredible families that don’t realize how much of an impact they have on us as young kids,” he said. “They’re our second family for eight months of the year and you spend lots of time with them. I’m very thankful for the billets I had from the day I moved to Tisdale to the last year of my junior career. They were all amazing in different ways and all had an impact on me to this day.”
While with the Trojans, Freed played three games as an affiliated player with his hometown Mustangs in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. He started his junior career with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Dauphin Kings. The next season he played the Drumheller Dragons in Alberta and Battlefords and Melfort in Saskatchewan. He helped the Mustangs win the 2016 SJHL championship.
“Winning the SJHL Championship was an amazing accomplishment in my junior career, especially having done it in my hometown,” Freed said. “We had such a good team that year. It was almost surreal at times. Growing up going to so many Mustang games as a young kid then being able to be a part of it. Not many guys in junior hockey get that opportunity.”
Freed split 2016-17, his 20-year-old season, between Melfort and the Saskatoon Quakers of the Junior B Prairie Junior Hockey League.
While he had used up his Junior A eligibility, Freed was recruited by the Temiscaming Titans. The Quebec-based team plays in the GMHL. The league is not associated with the Canadian Junior Hockey League and allows 21-year-old players. Freed had an immediate impact.
“He drove from Saskatchewan and he fit right in,” said Denis Lacourse, the Titans’ director of hockey operations, who noted the team featured a number of European players.
In 35 games, Freed racked up 44 goals and 56 assists for 100 points. The assistant captain was counted on to quarterback the power play.
“He was a player who had a very, very good hockey sense,” Lacourse said. “He was never out of position.”
Freed was a finalist for the GMHL’s North Division Best Forward and won the division’s MVP award.
“There’s so many cliches about what people say after winning an award like that but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, linemates and coaches,” he said.
“I believe there’s a bit of luck playing the game of hockey and being in the right place at the right time has an effect and I believe that played a bit of a factor into the success I had this season.”
Last winter Freed suited up for a game with the Kingsville, Ont.-based North Shore Knights of the minor pro Federal Hockey League. Freed is not sure yet what next winter has in store for him.
“I would love to keep playing the game I have loved my entire life if I could.”
