Although it was Tyler Myers’ 1,000th game in the National Hockey League last Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Vancouver Canucks honoured the defenceman tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
There was a brief ceremony before puck drop, as Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin awarded Myers with a silver stick on the ice with his family, with captain Quinn Hughes handing out mini silver sticks to each of his three children. Afterwards, the long-tenured Canucks (Thatcher Demko, JT Miller, Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson and Hughes) joined his family and GM for a picture.
During the ceremony, it was revealed that Myers would be sporting an ‘A’ on his jersey, and Miller was not. Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet touched on what transpired before the game with Myers wearing Miller’s ‘A.’
“Millsy went to the trainers and the trainers asked me if it was okay and I said yeah. I thought it was a great gesture by Millsy to give it to his buddy.”
Myers and Miller both joined the Canucks in the 2019 offseasons and have grown a close bond since.
“You saw the player and the message and stuff,” Tocchet continued about Myers. “He’s a well-liked guy in the room. He’s a guy that wants to play good every game and after a game, if he has a tough night, he’s the first guy the next day in the room. He’s in Footy’s [Adam Foote] office or my office. He’ll ask questions. He’s the voice of reason, too. He’s a guy that can run the room when we leave and the guys respect that. It was nice to see his family out there.”
The 6’8″ defenceman has logged 367 games in a Canucks uniform, scoring 19 goals and 89 assists for 108 points. He’s been a crucial defenceman for the team, logging over 20 minutes per night in four of his five seasons with the club. Myers’ efforts earned him a three-year, $9 million extension with the club this past offseason.
