Being sent back to the Western Hockey League last October by the NHL鈥檚 Philadelphia Flyers was one of the more sobering moments of 鈥檚 career.
But once the initial pangs of disappointment wore off, it didn鈥檛 take the 20-year-old 琉璃神社 Rockets鈥� forward long to see the bigger picture.
鈥淥riginally, being (sent back) wasn鈥檛 what I wanted, but really it鈥檚 been a blessing,鈥� said Twarynski, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Calgary. 鈥淚t was probably the best thing to be sent down to develop my game, to keep improving, try get a contract and be ready to go pro when the time comes.鈥�
Twarynski, a third-round draft pick of Philadelphia鈥檚 in 2016, was hoping to sign a pro deal coming out of Flyers鈥� camp and potentially begin the 2017-18 campaign with the American Hockey League鈥檚 Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
When that didn鈥檛 happen, Twarynski chose to treat it not as rejection but rather as motivation to raise his game to the next level.
Twarynski has responded with a team-leading 29 goals in 49 games this season, including 17 in the last 21 games.
鈥淚 could have sulked around for 10 games but that wouldn鈥檛 have gotten me anywhere,鈥� said Twarynski, who the Rockets acquired from Calgary prior to the 2017 trade deadline.
鈥淚t was now or never for me seriously, my career and livelihood were on the line, so to come in with a bad attitude, it could have been my last chance. The offense has been coming, the team is doing well, so I鈥檓 pretty happy with the way everything is going.鈥�
After 20 minutes the Rockets lead 3-0. PP KEL 1/1 PG 0/2. Shots 11-7 for KEL. Shots on Goal brought to you by Bekins Moving and Storage 鈥ince 1891! Carsen Twarynski extended the Rockets lead with his 2nd of the night and 17th of the year 馃殌馃悏
鈥� 琉璃神社 Rockets (@琉璃神社_Rockets)
As one of three over-age players on 琉璃神社鈥檚 roster, Bruce Hamilton said much was expected from Twarynski this season.
The Rockets president and general manager hasn鈥檛 been disappointed.
鈥淗e鈥檚 fighting for a pro contract and that in a nutshell is what it鈥檚 come down to,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淲hen we traded for Carsen, we wanted a big body, and I鈥檇 say overall, particularly with the scoring, he鈥檚 exceeded expectations. We still think he can have more of an impact physically.
鈥淏ut with our guys away at world juniors, Carsen really stepped up, he鈥檚 been a go-to guy for us and we鈥檝e been really happy,鈥� Hamilton added.
鈥淚鈥檒l be surprised if Philly doesn鈥檛 sign him.鈥�
The Flyers have until June to sign Twarynski to a pro contract or the Calgary native will be cast into the free agent market. It鈥檚 no surprise which story line Twarynski wants his career to follow.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the best-case scenario for me, by far, to sign with the (Flyers). It鈥檚 a really good organization with a lot of good, young players right now, and I think it鈥檚 a really good fit for me. It鈥檚 definitely where I want to be and I鈥檓 going to do everything I can to try and get a contract.鈥�
In the meantime, Twarynski plans to enjoy the ride with his 琉璃神社 Rockets whom he fully expects to be in the mix when the WHL playoffs open this spring.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e a contender, we didn鈥檛 make any massive deals but that鈥檚 fine because we like our team, we have a good culture here and we鈥檙e confident in our abilities,鈥� Twarynski said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a team to be reckoned with, we feel like we match up well against any team in the league and we鈥檒l be able to make a push for a league title.鈥�
With 29 goals, Twarynski is on pace to score the most goals by a Rockets鈥� player since Rourke Chartier netted 48 during the 2014-15 season.
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