Edmonton Oilers call on Golden Bear Tyler Palmer
"It was kind of weird at first, obviously. I grew up watching a lot of these guys," Palmer says.
supplied If Tyler Palmer was looking for a way to stand out on the Golden Bears‘ roster, then good job, he found it.
As it were, Palmer served as the backup for Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard on January 27, just one week after sitting in the press box as the emergency backup (EBUG).
Don’t get it twisted, EBUGs are a dime a dozen in the National Hockey League (NHL). But the absence of Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner meant that the rookie Bear got to pair the classic green and gold helmet with the dream Oilers logo.
“There’s definitely that kind of ‘Holy crap, I’m going to be out on the ice with all these NHL guys that I’ve watched forever.’ But after thinking about it and talking with everybody, there’s just no point in being all uptight about it. Just go have fun,” Palmer said.
Was it fun or did the ‘oh my god, this is happening moment’ never wear off?
“I definitely was able to calm myself down, but it still felt different,” according to Palmer.
Understandable. Playing alongside your fellow Western Hockey League graduates is a bit different from warming up with Connor McDavid or having sideline chats with Corey Perry.
“It was kind of weird at first, obviously. I grew up watching a lot of these guys. I guess you almost expect them to be superhuman or something, but they’re just normal people at the end of the day. So once you get past that, then it gets a little easier. But definitely a little nerve-wracking at first,” Palmer said.
His new-old tandem partner was “awesome” though.
“[Pickard] was great. He made it pretty enjoyable for me,” Palmer said.
Even better than an enjoyable experience was Pickard making it clear to the media where he stands with Palmer and his future NHL potential.
“I wouldn’t rule it out. I saw him in warmups today, he was dialed in. He looked really good. But great kid, awesome to have him. He’s one to know,” Pickard said post-game.
He’s one to keep an eye on too after his second Oilers stint in just as many weeks. Makes you wonder if we’ll see him again at Rogers Place, maybe as a practice goalie?
What’s next for the Oiler Bear?
“They did mention that maybe after our season [was over] they would bring me up for a couple practices,” Palmer said.
NAIT and Grant MacEwan’s goalies already partake in Oilers practices, repping the logo while also rotating as the EBUG, but none have served as the backup — a role that tends to be reserved for the University of Alberta.
“There’s quite a bit of U of A Alumni with that organization, so there’s a lot of guys who keep up with us, and they were asking about how we’re doing this year. You know how other teams are, especially Saskatchewan, they always want to know that rivalry,” Palmer said.
Oilers goalie coach, Dustin Schwartz, played five years with the Bears, won some national championships alongside Oilers head coach, Kris Knoblauch, and now looks out for who’s next. But that’s just Bears looking out for Bears.
