Wes Myron has left the Boston University Terriers and signed his first professional contract, joining the Vancouver Canucks鈥� East Coast Hockey League affiliate in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The former Victoria Grizzlies forward cited lack of ice time for leaving the NCAA Division I school almost two weeks ago in favour of starting his pro hockey career.
鈥淚t was strictly hockey,鈥� said Myron, who joined the Kalamazoo Wings for three road games before heading back to Michigan with the club. 鈥淪chool was great, my grades were great. The town of Boston is amazing, it鈥檚 a good sports city.
鈥淭he atmosphere for hockey was good, but I was getting eight minutes a game for one game or two games on a weekend.
鈥淵ou work hard all week and practices were great, but for eight minutes or 16 minutes a weekend, it wasn鈥檛 much experience. With having my shoulder surgery last year, I wanted to get more games under my belt. I鈥檒l probably get a full college schedule in just by being in Kalamazoo for two months.鈥�
The 20-year-old 鈥� who had 17 goals and 25 assists in just 26 games last season with the Grizzlies before having shoulder surgery 鈥� was a sixth-round draft pick (177th overall) of the Canucks last summer.
He was held pointless in his first three outings with the K-Wings in Elmira, Trenton and Reading, but collected two goals and four assists in his last three games. At BU, Myron had two goals and an assist in 21 games in limited playing time.
鈥淥n-ice it鈥檚 more structured,鈥� Myron said of the difference. 鈥淗igh-strung, fast-paced hockey, with a lot of structure where guys play their positions well. It鈥檚 a lot different from what I was seeing.
鈥淭he guys are stronger and older. You have to make decisions quicker, but I wouldn鈥檛 say the speed of the game is different. It almost becomes easier because the game almost slows down for you a bit when you鈥檙e playing positional hockey.鈥�
Myron had contemplated the move for more than a month before he took the plunge.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had a lot of support from family back home. It鈥檚 good to get out here and get my feet wet and see what I have to do, getting ready for camp next year for the full year. I should get used to things.
鈥淚鈥檒l get two months in and get used to how things work so there are no unknowns where I can hit it hard and strive to make the highest level,鈥� he said of next year鈥檚 Canucks camp.
鈥淚 was taken out of the lineup once or twice. It just felt right. I鈥檓 just happy it all worked out. I have no regrets and I鈥檓 in a great position here with a great coaching staff and great teammates.鈥�
Having talked over the situation with his parents, Barry and Rozy, and his adviser, he opted to join the K-Wings who are 26-22-4-1 in the ECHL.
鈥淥nce I decided to go pro, they [the Canucks] set me up in Kalamazoo and got me here quickly so I didn鈥檛 take too much time off,鈥� Myron said. 鈥淔or me, I wanted to get the experience and play more games. I haven鈥檛 played a lot of hockey in the last year.鈥�
With Kalamazoo, he was immediately thrown into the mix.
鈥淚t felt comfortable,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e had three games on the road, so I got to know the guys right away.鈥�
Injuries allowed him to bounce among the lineup and there鈥檚 been plenty of ice time.
鈥淚鈥檓 not demanding anything, but I鈥檓 always going to be striving for more and wanting more,鈥� he said.
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