Injury Didn’t End the Season — It Changed the Playbook

Hockey has always been part of Tyler Blocha’s life — but it didn’t define his future alone. When injury changed his NCAA path, family, education, and perseverance helped him carve a new one.

Hockey Started at Home

Tyler grew up at the rink. From the age of two, his dad was there tying skates, cheering from the stands, and eventually stepping behind the bench. For more than 14 years, his father coached him and never missed a game. Hockey wasn’t just a sport — it was family.

When Plans Changed

An injury brought Tyler’s NCAA opportunity to an abrupt end, forcing him to rethink what came next. Looking for direction, he turned to his family. His father, a graduate of NAIT’s Telecommunications Engineering Technology program, pointed him toward an education that would support a future beyond the rink.

Tyler enrolled in NAIT’s Petroleum Engineering Technology program, stepping into a demanding schedule that tested him both academically and physically.

Balancing Class, Practice, and Pressure

In his first year, Tyler juggled eight-hour school days with late-night practices. The pressure showed most on the ice. But then came a turning point — a hat trick that flipped the season and his confidence.

By year’s end, Tyler was named ACAC Men’s Player of the Year, a testament to resilience, discipline, and hard work.

 

Recognition Beyond the Ice

Tyler was later surprised, honoured, and humbled to receive the Garry and Pat Meadus Award — a moment that carried meaning far beyond athletics.

“As a student, you’re not working while you’re paying tuition, bills, expenses, and a lot of that piles up,” Tyler says. “That award helped relieve stress, gave some peace of mind, and allowed me to focus on my studies. I want to say a huge thank you to all the donors for supporting students through these awards.”

More Than an Award

For Tyler, the recognition represented support at the exact moment it was needed — proof that education, community, and opportunity can intersect in powerful ways.

Read more about the Garry and Pat Meadus Award here:

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