The right stuff

Commentary by Chris Clegg

Growing up in High Prairie, this young boy was extremely gifted athletically. Put a hockey stick in his hands, he’d score lots goals. Put a bat in his hand, he’d hit a home run. Put a baseball in his hand, he was a pitcher. Put a golf club in his hand, it wasn’t long before he was firing par. As he grew older, it was evident his skills were something special. In hockey, he was High Prairie’s next Tom Lysiak. He was that good. He was the one to put High Prairie on the map. Today, he is still that good. Growing up, he faced his share of criticism and pressure. If people could criticize Wayne Gretzky for scoring a kazillion goals in minor hockey by calling him a puck hog who wouldn’t pass, this boy was prime bait. The young boy faced it and continued to excel athletically without missing a beat. He did try to pursue a career in pro hockey. He ripped the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and was named its most valuable player. He was offered many chances. Sadly, none of them panned out. The critics were quick to share their opinion and their wrath. However, what we do not know are the actual circumstances. The world of professional hockey is cut-throat and you need to get a break to succeed. Later, this man received the abuse of the High Prairie crowd when he chose to play for the rival Horse Lake Thunder of the North Peace Hockey League. This young man did get paid – anyone who says he didn’t is only fooling themselves – but he did what almost any one of us would do with his talent. Make the best of it. What this young man has is passion. He will stick up for his teammates to the end. A fierce competitor, a gifted athlete, now a father and family man. Throughout his life – as the truly gifted athletes are – they are painted with a brush. Many like to see the gifted ones fall. Many are viewed as selfish and arrogant, failing to see through the natural talent and admit he is simply that much better. There’s that word: selfish. Everything he does is only for himself. Throughout his days in minor sport, this boy was seen unfairly as a typical gifted athlete doing things only for himself and with thoughts of no one else in mind. But on July 11, 2008, there he was. Volunteering his time to teach young golfers at the High Prairie Golf Club the finer points of the game. He also vows to coach minor hockey in the near future if afforded the opportunity. We ask the public this. Are these the actions of a selfish individual, one willing to give back? Are all those critics of the past in the community giving their time helping our youth today? Today, this young man is giving back to our community that gave so much for him while trying to pursue a career in pro hockey. OK, it didn’t work out but today is another chapter. In the grand scheme of things, this may be his most crowning achievement. The willingness to help others. Looks good on you, Tyler Shantz! Really good!

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