John MacNeil
Daily Herald
Tyrone Sobry has seen the storied rivalry from both sides.
Now a 20-year-old defenceman with his hometown Saskatoon Blades, Sobry spent the majority of his Western Hockey League career as a member of the rival Prince Albert Raiders.
“Oh yeah, it’s always a big deal when we’re playing each other,” Sobry said before the Blades and Raiders renewed acquaintances this weekend, with games Friday night in Prince Albert and Saturday night in Saskatoon.
“For sure, I’ve had the opportunity to play for both, so it’s been good. I just know how big these games are, when we’re playing each other. I know what to expect, kind of thing. It’s always a huge rivalry between the two teams. It’s fun to play, for sure.”
Sobry’s read on Saskatoon-Prince Albert battles goes all the way back to his minor hockey days.
“Yeah, always playing against P.A. ever since when I was young, until now,” he said. “But especially with the (WHL) rivalry and all the fans, it just brings a different atmosphere to the game.”
While they saw each other in the pre-season, this weekend’s head-to-head meetings mark the first time the Raiders and Blades have faced each other this regular season, which began a week ago. Saturday’s game at SaskTel Centre is the Blades’ home-opener.
From players to fans, the Raiders-Blades clashes seem to take on a life of their own, even if it’s still September.
“No, you can’t beat that,” Prince Albert third-year forward Riley Boychuk said before Friday’s game at the Art Hauser Centre. “Usually it’s the first weekend (when we face each other), so we usually get it going right away.
“It’s always fun. I think the Raiders’ fans, they’re always going to be excited for that. It’ll be bumpin’ on Friday at the Hauser. That’s obviously going to be fun. We know what (the Blades) are like. We played them in pre-season and already got a taste of it. It’s the best rivalry in the Dub.”
That’s why this weekend’s Highway 11 series almost seems like the opening of the regular season, even though it’s Week 2. It’s the first opportunity for both the Raiders and Blades to play at full strength, after their remaining NHL training camp participants returned to their respective junior teams this week.
Saskatoon regained the services of goaltender Martin Psohlavec (Philadelphia Flyers), while Prince Albert welcomed the return of forwards Brandon Gorzynski (Dallas Stars) and Jonah Sivertson (Vegas Golden Knights).
“You know they’re great players,” Sobry said about facing NHL draft choices like Gorzynski and Sivertson. “You’ve just got to take all your stuff you’ve learned throughout the years, and just play hockey at the end of the day, no matter who’s in front of you. They’re great players, but you can’t play them differently than any other guy in this league.”
It’s an interesting dynamic between Sobry and multiple Raiders who were his teammates during his two-plus years in Prince Albert. Most notably, he resided at the same billet house as his buddies Sivertson and goaltender Steele Bass.
“With the Raiders, I lived with Sivertson and Bass, and they were great,” Sobry said. “Those were my two brothers. I still keep in touch with them today. Obviously, it’s a different time when we’re standing across from each other on the ice.”
Sobry has had varied perspectives on junior hockey life, especially during the past year. Last October, the Raiders assigned him to the junior A Humboldt Broncos. After a short stint with that SJHL team, he returned to the WHL as a member of the Blades. At mid-season, he was traded to the Prince George Cougars and played with that major junior club for the rest of the year.
His journey continued this summer when the Blades re-acquired the six-foot-two, 193-pound Sobry in an August trade to fill one of their overage roster spots.
“Last year was definitely a roller-coaster,” he said. “Going from being sent down by P.A. to Humboldt, I really enjoyed myself in Humboldt. I think that was the best thing for me at the time. Coming to Saskatoon, I just kept growing. Then, in P.G., I grew some more, seeing my game evolve, and gaining a little bit more confidence. Now, I’m lucky to be back with the Blades.
“I love it here, playing in my hometown. It’s awesome. I’m excited to see our group go. I think we have a really strong group, a really tight group. We should be pretty competitive. I’m excited, for sure.”
On and off the ice, Sobry provides the calming presence of an experienced 20-year-old junior.
Saskatoon named its leadership group Thursday with the appointment of Brayden Klimpke as captain and Hunter Laing, Kazden Mathies and Cooper Williams as his assistants.
“We have lots of leaders on our team,” Sobry said in endorsing those selections. “There’s a lot more leaders than they can hand out letters.”
Last season, Sobry scored four goals and 12 points in 61 games combined with Prince George, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. He also netted three goals and six points in five SJHL games with Humboldt.
Last weekend, Sobry recorded two assists as Saskatoon opened its WHL season with a 5-4 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings and a 7-6 overtime defeat against the Moose Jaw Warriors.
