From the moment Jonathon Pylypuik arrived in Trenton, he felt at home.
"It's been awesome. They invited me here with open arms. I couldn't be more grateful for that. It's been great so far," Pylypuik said. "I'm just super happy to be here. We've got a strong team."
That belief in the Golden Hawks' championship designs comes from more than just standings or statistics.
"You see standings and you see where they are every year," he said. "I think the biggest thing was when I walked through those doors and met all the guys, you felt the family that's here. It's unbelievable. I’ve never walked into a locker room and had the guys make me feel like part of the team from day one. It’s really a brotherhood here."
Pylypuik is grateful to be playing for Trenton head coach Derek Smith, a former NHL defenseman who understands the sacrifices needed to reach the next level.
"He believes in every single guy in that locker room, and he knows what it takes to get to the next level. He's been unbelievable," Pylypuik said. "He loves the grind, the crashing and banging. That's a big part of why he brought me in, and I'm so grateful for that."
Pylypuik understands the effort and determination needed to have success in junior hockey.
"It's been like this my entire life. Nothing is going to be handed to you, and you have to work for everything," he said. "It's a grind no matter what. Everything you do in life is a grind, and it depends on how bad you are willing to work for it."
Since arriving in Trenton, the high-energy forward has tallied three assists and 72 penalty minutes in 15 games.
Although he was raised south of the border, Jonathon always dreamed of playing in Canada like his father, Pat Pylypuik. His dad born in Saskatchewan suited up for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL before continuing his career professionally with the Toledo Storm in the ECHL.
That became a reality after he received an invite to the Oshawa Generals’ orientation camp and signed as a free agent. Last season, the Sylvania, Ohio native helped the club reach the OHL Finals.
"He showed me the pathway and what it takes to get to the next level," he said. "There's been some crazy car rides after games, but I'm so grateful that he knows what it takes to get to the next level. He's obviously been such a big mentor of mine."
"Just watching the old tapes of him and seeing the WHL, I loved the physical style. It was always a dream of mine to play Major Junior, and I had a great opportunity in Oshawa. It was awesome."
Living away from home can be challenging, but Pylypuik has found a welcoming family in Frankford with the Herberts. His experience living in a military household has given him a deeper appreciation for Quinte West, home to Canada’s largest air force base.
"They're a wonderful family," he said. "They cook us great food. I couldn't be more thankful for that."
"It's super cool to know that these people all work extremely hard for this great country, and they're awesome," Pylypuik said. "All the history here is unbelievable. The support they put behind us is incredible."
With a supportive community and an unshakable work ethic, Pylypuik is ready to help the Golden Hawks chase their ultimate goal of a championship.
"We're going to win it all this year," he said. "That's the goal."
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