The Kerrobert Tigers senior hockey team saw an unfortunate end to their season on the ice over the weekend, dropping their playoff series to the Macklin Mohawks in a sweep. However, their lone home game's result was overshadowed by a special ceremony before puck-drop that will be remembered for years to come, as longtime senior player from the area Tyson Wuttunee announced his retirement after more than 20 years playing in the region.

Wuttunee would play most of his local seasons in the Sask West Hockey League, but he is also a two time Sask Valley player, with appearances for Kerrobert, Biggar, Eston, and Unity across his time playing senior hockey in west central Saskatchewan. We will get to more of his accolades below, as he finished in the SWHL specifically as one of the leagues most prolific point-getters, collecting 294 in 197 games across 18 years in the SWHL alone. 

The game Saturday night turned out to be the Tigers closest of the series, as the squad fought to a hard 5-3 defeat against the favourites in Macklin. Kerrobert fans likely knew the Tigers didn’t stand much of a chance, but they still showed up big time to support their Tigers in the final game of the season.

Wuttunee shared with us his perspective of the special night in his honour.

“Brad Murphy and all of the executives had something planned,” he explained, as eventually his family would make it onto the ice to celebrate with Wuttunee, “It was pretty awesome what they ended up doing, honouring me there. Retiring my number is something very special, and I hold it near to my heart for sure.”

Wuttunee family Kerrobert TigersThe Wuttunee family was on hand to see Tyson's jersey retired in front of a packed house at the Kerrobert Arena over the weekend (Photo via Wuttunee on Facebook)

Wuttunee is a big fan of the level of hockey the Sask West Hockey League brings. He says he has played some high level hockey, but he has no regrets when it comes to sinking so much of his time into the league and committing to the Tigers so many years ago. Wuttunee grew up and played all of his hockey coming up in Saskatoon, and ended up in the Sask West after a run at junior eventually led to him committing to his work, while still seeking the proper outlet for hockey that he would find quickly.

“Kerrobert really took me in. I was one of their own community members, and I do my best to give back with minor hockey, and fundraising and stuff like that for the town. I help out as much as I can at the school as well doing indigenous stuff, to bring my culture to share with the school.”

Wuttunee wouldn’t directly admit it, but his tone did certainly give off the vibes that he has been around some good teams in the game of hockey. Again he bounced around a little bit playing junior, before committing to his work and first signing on to play hockey near his home in North Battleford where his team there would make it to the Allan Cup. The next year as a 20 year old Wuttunee would be recruited by the Kerrobert Tigers where he spent most of his career, but also spend time with the other mentioned teams until returning to the Tigers the last several years. He credits his move to Kerrobert to a meeting whilst chasing cattle, with Kerrobert area natives Bill and Doug Flahr.

As for Wuttunee’s future in the game of hockey, he doesn’t seem too eager to let it stray that far away from him. 

“Something I grew up really wanting to do was to open my garage into a skate shop. I always remember going to this guys house where he had a skate sharpener, and a bunch of pictures of pro guy, and little things. I’d like to do something like that.”

Wuttunee has already dipped his toe into coaching his kids team, the currently undefeated U13 Western Prairie Stars out of Kindersley. He has plans to expand his coaching repertoire, and apparently already has an offer on the table from his old team.

“The Tigers already asked me to coach next year, but that’s something where I will maybe take a break for a little bit before getting in that role for sure.”

Wuttunee finished his SWHL career as a former champion, scoring leader, and captain. That experience will more than come in handy behind the bench should the time come for Wuttunee to take the job. For now he will focus on family and friends, along with the game of hockey, even though he is now officially taking a backseat after the special ceremony put on by his Tigers family last weekend.