Witala and Warriors find common ground

Tyson Witala is taking his talents out of town.

Next season, Witala will step into the lineup of the Kelowna-based Westside Warriors. The B.C. Hockey League club and the player reached an agreement late last week.

Witala, a 17-year-old centreman, appeared in nine BCHL games this season with his hometown Spruce Kings, who had been trying to add him to their roster on a full-time basis for 2011-12. But, to Witala, joining the Warriors was the more appealing option.

"[The Kings] really helped me to see what I had to do in the league and I appreciate the chance they gave me to play games this year," said Witala, who is currently skating in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League with the Cariboo Cougars. "I've always wanted to play down in Kelowna. I've got family down there and I wanted to go away and play hockey and try something new. I haven't been away from home playing hockey so it just seemed like a good fit for me."

In those nine games with the Kings, Witala posted four points (one goal, three assists) and showed he already has the ability to compete at the junior A level.

"I feel like I can play there," said Witala, a five-foot-10, 160-pounder. "I just have to take this summer to get stronger and put on some weight and I definitely think I can help out Westside next year."

Other BCHL teams that were interested in his services included the Langley Chiefs and Victoria Grizzlies.

Witala picked Westside for another reason. One of his best friends, defenceman Mike King, already wears a Warriors uniform.

"It's going to make the adjustment easier, going down somewhere where I know somebody," Witala said. "It will definitely help out."

In the MML this season, Witala has 14 goals and 39 points in 35 games with the Cougars. He has also piled up a team-leading 107 penalty minutes. Trevor Sprague, head coach of the Cats, said Witala has worked hard to get his opportunity with the Warriors.

"He did a great job when he was playing as an [affiliated player] for the Spruce Kings and kind of showcased what type of player he could be in the B.C. Hockey League," Sprague said. "There are a lot of teams that took notice of that. He's a tenacious type of player."

Witala, who started playing organized hockey at the age of five, hopes to parlay the Westside phase of his career into a college scholarship.

"I talked to one school this year but I'm really not too sure about what school I'd want to go to," Witala said. "My first goal is just to play in Westside and hopefully gain some attention."