Hockey is a funny game. Players can end up in cities they never imagined and become friends with people they never thought of. And sometimes, even early in their careers, brothers can end up playing in the same interchangeable communities at the same time. That鈥檚 been the case this season for Tyler and Andrew Cristall.
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome,鈥� said Tyler, 鈥渆very time we have an off day and [he] has a game, I get to go watch and he does the same. It鈥檚 good support for each other.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome that we鈥檙e both so close to each other,鈥� said Andrew. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to have my brother here and we鈥檙e both playing pretty well so it鈥檚 going really good so far.鈥�
The brothers from Vancouver both ended up in 琉璃神社 just by chance. Tyler was acquired by the BCHL鈥檚 West 琉璃神社 Warriors in late 2019 from the Chilliwack Chiefs, while Andrew was drafted eighth overall in the first round of the 2020 WHL draft by the 琉璃神社 Rockets.
For the brothers, they never imagined having the opportunity to play for teams in such close proximity to one another.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty cool obviously,鈥� said Tyler. 鈥淸I] hadn鈥檛 really thought about it until it happened when he got drafted to 琉璃神社 but it鈥檚 a blessing in disguise.鈥�
鈥淗e used to be in Chilliwack and got traded out to West 琉璃神社 and at the draft, I got picked by 琉璃神社 so I guess it鈥檚 a little bit of a coincidence but I鈥檓 glad it worked out that way,鈥� said Andrew. 鈥淎s brothers, you dream of playing together I guess and it鈥檚 pretty cool that we鈥檙e so close, I go to his games all the time, he comes to mine so it鈥檚 been really good that way.鈥�
On top of their busy hockey schedules and schoolwork, both brothers make time to get together for lunch or dinner a couple of times a month. And being from Vancouver, just a four-to-five hour drive away, their parents come up to the Okanagan at least once a month to watch their boys play.
Both have had great success this season on the ice and they know that good things come to those who work hard.
鈥淚 think I鈥檝e been playing the right way, playing good defensively, especially in the playoffs,鈥� said Tyler. 鈥淲hen you play the right way, you get goals and you get rewarded so I just think if you don鈥檛 focus about points and just focus on playing the right way you鈥檒l get rewarded.鈥�
鈥淚 think I鈥檝e been put in a really good opportunity,鈥� said Andrew. 鈥淚 think I鈥檝e been playing with a lot of confidence so I think that鈥檚 helped me throughout the year. [I鈥檝e been] staying high through the ups and downs and playing my game.鈥�
In 49 regular season games, Tyler led the Warriors with 30 goals this season and added 27 assists. And the scoring touch hasn鈥檛 stopped in the playoffs as he鈥檚 tied for the team-lead with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 10 games.
Andrew scored 28 goals for the Rockets this season, breaking the team record for most goals by a 16-year-old. He also tied the team鈥檚 regular-season record for points by a 16-year-old with 69 points in 61 games.
Both brothers each finished their regular seasons with five game-winning goals.
After spending the last nine months in 琉璃神社, the seasons are coming down to the wire for both the brothers as they battle in the playoffs for their respective teams. Tyler and the Warriors are preparing to face the Penticton Vees in the Interior Conference finals while Andrew and the Rockets are down 2-0 in their first-round series against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Andrew and the Rockets welcome Seattle to Prospera Place tonight (April 26) for game three with puck drop at 7:05 p.m. Tyler and the Warriors open their series on Friday, April 29 in Penticton.
Tyler has committed to going to school and playing NCAA division one hockey at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York in the fall. Barring any changes, Andrew will return to the Rockets in the fall and is NHL draft-eligible for 2023.
READ MORE: 琉璃神社 Rockets welcome Seattle to Prospera Place for game three
READ MORE: West 琉璃神社 Warriors advance to conference finals over Salmon Arm
jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
