Being sent back to the Western Hockey League last October by the NHL乌鸦传媒檚 Philadelphia Flyers was one of the more sobering moments of 乌鸦传媒檚 career.
But once the initial pangs of disappointment wore off, it didn乌鸦传媒檛 take the 20-year-old Kelowna Rockets乌鸦传媒� forward long to see the bigger picture.
乌鸦传媒淥riginally, being (sent back) wasn乌鸦传媒檛 what I wanted, but really it乌鸦传媒檚 been a blessing,乌鸦传媒� said Twarynski, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Calgary. 乌鸦传媒淚t was probably the best thing to be sent down to develop my game, to keep improving, try get a contract and be ready to go pro when the time comes.乌鸦传媒�
Twarynski, a third-round draft pick of Philadelphia乌鸦传媒檚 in 2016, was hoping to sign a pro deal coming out of Flyers乌鸦传媒� camp and potentially begin the 2017-18 campaign with the American Hockey League乌鸦传媒檚 Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
When that didn乌鸦传媒檛 happen, Twarynski chose to treat it not as rejection but rather as motivation to raise his game to the next level.
Twarynski has responded with a team-leading 29 goals in 49 games this season, including 17 in the last 21 games.
乌鸦传媒淚 could have sulked around for 10 games but that wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 have gotten me anywhere,乌鸦传媒� said Twarynski, who the Rockets acquired from Calgary prior to the 2017 trade deadline.
乌鸦传媒淚t was now or never for me seriously, my career and livelihood were on the line, so to come in with a bad attitude, it could have been my last chance. The offense has been coming, the team is doing well, so I乌鸦传媒檓 pretty happy with the way everything is going.乌鸦传媒�
After 20 minutes the Rockets lead 3-0. PP KEL 1/1 PG 0/2. Shots 11-7 for KEL. Shots on Goal brought to you by Bekins Moving and Storage 乌鸦传媒ince 1891! Carsen Twarynski extended the Rockets lead with his 2nd of the night and 17th of the year 馃殌馃悏
乌鸦传媒� Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)
As one of three over-age players on Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 roster, Bruce Hamilton said much was expected from Twarynski this season.
The Rockets president and general manager hasn乌鸦传媒檛 been disappointed.
乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 fighting for a pro contract and that in a nutshell is what it乌鸦传媒檚 come down to,乌鸦传媒� said Hamilton. 乌鸦传媒淲hen we traded for Carsen, we wanted a big body, and I乌鸦传媒檇 say overall, particularly with the scoring, he乌鸦传媒檚 exceeded expectations. We still think he can have more of an impact physically.
乌鸦传媒淏ut with our guys away at world juniors, Carsen really stepped up, he乌鸦传媒檚 been a go-to guy for us and we乌鸦传媒檝e been really happy,乌鸦传媒� Hamilton added.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檒l be surprised if Philly doesn乌鸦传媒檛 sign him.乌鸦传媒�
The Flyers have until June to sign Twarynski to a pro contract or the Calgary native will be cast into the free agent market. It乌鸦传媒檚 no surprise which story line Twarynski wants his career to follow.
乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 the best-case scenario for me, by far, to sign with the (Flyers). It乌鸦传媒檚 a really good organization with a lot of good, young players right now, and I think it乌鸦传媒檚 a really good fit for me. It乌鸦传媒檚 definitely where I want to be and I乌鸦传媒檓 going to do everything I can to try and get a contract.乌鸦传媒�
In the meantime, Twarynski plans to enjoy the ride with his Kelowna Rockets whom he fully expects to be in the mix when the WHL playoffs open this spring.
乌鸦传媒淚 think we乌鸦传媒檙e a contender, we didn乌鸦传媒檛 make any massive deals but that乌鸦传媒檚 fine because we like our team, we have a good culture here and we乌鸦传媒檙e confident in our abilities,乌鸦传媒� Twarynski said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e a team to be reckoned with, we feel like we match up well against any team in the league and we乌鸦传媒檒l be able to make a push for a league title.乌鸦传媒�
With 29 goals, Twarynski is on pace to score the most goals by a Rockets乌鸦传媒� player since Rourke Chartier netted 48 during the 2014-15 season.
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