Tyler Fiddler happily adjusting to WHL game

Hours before the game, Tyler Fiddler sits on a bench at the Art Hauser Centre.

The 18-year-old left-winger looks relaxed. Legs stretched out, his stick resting on the tip of his shoe, Fiddler jokes around with his Calgary Hitmen teammates and chats with a random rink worker.

From time to time the young man looks around the arena, seemingly taking it all in.

But it's not awe that Fiddler feels, nor is it nerves. Instead, it's a sense of familiarity.

This is Fiddler's old stomping ground.

In 2007, the Prince Albert product helped lead the midget AAA Mintos to their second consecutive Telus Cup national championship. And last season, as team captain, Fiddler finished second in Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League scoring with 88 points.

But his final midget campaign was cut short in the playoffs when he, along with four Minto teammates, were suspended after a brawl against the Regina Pat Canadians on home ice.

And before Tuesday's WHL contest against the Prince Albert Raiders - his first in the Art Hauser since that incident - Fiddler took a brief look back on that cold night in March.

"Hopefully that doesn't happen again," he joked. "Hopefully I won't get suspended and we can come in here and get the win."

So far this season, winning is something Fiddler has grown accustomed to. With a 13-3 record heading into Tuesday's game, the Hitmen sit atop the WHL standings with 26 points - good enough to warrant the No. 6 spot in current Canadian Hockey League rankings.

"Everything's been going pretty good so far," admitted Fiddler. "We have a really good record right now and hopefully we can keep it up."

Speaking of keeping up, in his first few games this season Fiddler was surprised at the just how fast WHL hockey is.

"The first couple of games were a lot tougher than I thought they would be," he said. "The speed and strength of the players was a lot different. I'm just starting to get into the swing of things now. I'm starting to feel a lot better."

Calgary coach and former NHLer Dave Lowry has noticed.

"He's becoming a very good player for us," said Lowry. "He's very smart out there and he sees the ice really well."

That ice-vision and hockey intelligence have landed Fiddler on Calgary's third line as well as on the Hitmen's potent penalty-killing unit - currently the best in the league.

And while his six points in 16 games this season are a far cry from his midget output, Fiddler understands his role on the team and, as always, is working hard to show his coaches what he's made of.

"Right now I'm just trying to become a better player," he said.

- HAWBOLDT