Zach Hyman likes the look of Brantford Bulldogs

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Brantford Bulldogs president and governor Zach Hyman may be thousands of kilometres from the city but that doesn’t mean his focus won’t be on the team this weekend as it opens the OHL season.

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“I’ll be watching,” said the Edmonton Oilers forward, who is currently out west for the start of NHL training camp.

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“It’s a two-hour difference and it falls right at the kids’ bedtime. So I just pause the game and then I watch it.”

The Bulldogs were scheduled to play a pair of weekend games to open the OHL season, starting on Friday in Kitchener against the Rangers before playing on Saturday at the TD Civic Centre against the Peterborough Petes.

During the NHL off-season, it’s easy for Zach to stay in touch with the team. But once his season begins, Zach relies on his brother, Spencer, to keep him informed of what’s going on.

“We talk every day about the team, the players and the season,” Zach said of his conversations with Spencer, the team’s general manager.

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While Zach said he’s extremely excited about this year’s team and the fact it will be led by head coach Jay McKee – ‘the best coach in the OHL’ according to Zach – it will be a much different team from last season.

The biggest change is the loss of all three players from the team’s top line – Nick Lardis, Patrick Thomas and Cole Brown. Over the off-season, Spencer Hyman was wheeling and dealing, acquiring or signing key players such as Sam McCue, Cooper Dennis, Edison Engle, Adam Benak and Caleb Malhotra.

“To see him really come into his own in the (GM) role has been phenomenal,” Zach said of Spencer. “He has really, really excelled and has done everything the right way.”

In particular, Zach noted how well the import draft went for the team, saying it’s one thing to draft a player and quite another to get that player to come to the OHL. He credits Spencer with being a big part in getting both Adam Benak and Vladimir Dravecky to sign with the Bulldogs after being selected in the import draft.

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“He has, in a short period of time, put his fingerprints all over the roster,” Zach said.

“We’re extremely excited because we’ve watched video on these guys and know how good they are.”

It’s clear that Spencer sleeps, eats and breathes Bulldogs hockey.

“Spencer is somebody who wears his heart on his sleeve,” said Zach. “You could see it from the opening presser when we purchased the team, you could see the passion.

“He loves the Bulldogs, loves the City of Brantford and loves the fans.”

Just what the Bulldogs will do on the ice is yet to be seen, however, they will carry around huge expectations. Ranked first in the OHL pre-season power rankings and second in the CHL pre-season Top-10, there will definitely be some pressure.

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If they can follow through with a performance to match expectations, a Memorial Cup may be in their sights.

“It would be amazing to be able to do it,” Zach said of winning the Canadian Hockey League’s national championship. “And in our first year would be remarkable.

“But we’re not thinking too far ahead. We’re thinking about Game 1. Our ongoing goal is to develop great people and develop great NHL players. For us, that’s extremely important.

“The power rankings are great.  I think it’s a credit to the moves Spence has made but you’ve got to go out and play on the ice and play the games.”

Since purchasing the team from Michael Andlauer in January, Zach said the Hymans have experienced nothing but good vibes from the city.

“We couldn’t be more thankful for how open and welcoming the entire city has been, from the mayor to councillors to the fan base,” he said.

“We are just over the moon, thrilled with everything and we’re excited to put a great product on the ice and compete for a championship.”

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