Tyson Helgesen

Tyson’s hockey journey has taken him from Fairview, Alberta, through four seasons in the WHL and four more at Mount Royal University, onto two years in the ECHL, and a recent stint in Hungary—soon to be followed by a season in the UK. Alongside competing, he’s coached kids aged 6–12, assisting with practice planning and on-ice instruction. Tyson’s philosophy centers on individual progress: he believes true development comes from getting a bit better every day, both in skill and character.

On the ice, Tyson structures sessions around mastering fundamentals—particularly passing drills that emphasize accuracy and vision—and layering in decision-making under pressure. Warm-ups include dynamic edgework and puck-retrieval races, followed by skill stations (stationary passing patterns evolving into moving-target drills) and small-area games that reinforce teamwork and quick reads. Each practice wraps with a group debrief where players set a “progress goal” for their next session, guided by Tyson’s mantra: “There’s only two things you can control: your attitude and how hard you work.”

Off the ice, Tyson fuels up with salmon, sweet potatoes, and broccoli, and dreams of drawing up power plays for his favorite team, the Edmonton Oilers. He draws inspiration from Wayne Gretzky’s storytelling and leadership, kicks off warm-ups to Nickelback’s “Burn It to the Ground,” and emphasizes the importance of proper warm-up and cool-down routines to prevent injury. Whether celebrating a provincial championship from his minor-hockey days or mentoring beginners through their first toe-drag, Coach Helgesen’s positive, helpful, and encouraging approach ensures every player builds confidence, sharpens their passing, and falls deeper in love with the game.