Our 20’s: From Draft Day to A Playoff Run, Wyrostok’s Bronco Career Saw it All
Caleb Wyrostok spent his entire WHL Career with the Swift Current Broncos, from the tough times, to his first playoff run in 2024, Wyrostok has seen it all in a Broncos uniform.
With his career wrapping up, Wyrostok said there’s lots of emotions as things have wound down.
“It’s kind of in a whirlwind of emotions,” he said. “A lot of sadness, a lot of memories, remembering all the good times here and stuff. But, a lot of guys and, a lot of family and a lot of fans, they’ll be in my heart for forever.”
Photo: Ed Fonger
Out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Wyrostok is one of few players that get to play for one team until they are 20-years-old in their WHL career.
“It means a lot, there’s not a whole lot of guys in the WHL that can say that,” Wyrostok said. “So, when you’re putting on one jersey entire career in front of the same fan base and stuff, the same town, you see those people around, they recognize you, they talk to you and you kind of get that small town feel. So, it’s been pretty special this whole ride.”
Originally drafted back in 2018, a ninth-round pick of the Broncos in the WHL Draft, Wyrostok made his WHL debut as a 16-year-old on December 11, 2019, scoring a goal in Edmonton against the Oil Kings.
He capped off his WHL career with a goal in the final home game of the year, game four against Moose Jaw.
Photo: Ed Fonger
Wyrostok says lots has changed through his five seasons in the WHL, but at the same time, much has stayed the same in Swift Current.
“There’s been a lot of guys that have come through here, so I’ve had a a lot of guys to look up to, and learn stuff from,” he said. “And then I’m just trying to pass that on to the younger guys the past couple of years, but as for things that have changed here, they’ve kind of stayed the same and I’m all right with that.”
Through the years, the Broncos didn’t make the playoffs for a stretch of five seasons, until 2024, and Wyrostok said he thinks about the players that came through the dressing room that didn’t get the chance to play in the playoffs and make a run. He added that he’s going to remember the good times with all of his teammates through the years.
“I’ve learned a lot actually,” Wyrostok said. “I think just the fact that coming together with a group of guys and one common goal, it’s pretty special. You’re with these guys every day, for five hours a day, putting in the work, putting in the sweat and stuff. So, you become brothers with those guys and I think I didn’t fully understand the relationships you’re going to make with some of the guys until now, and there’s a lot of heartache that comes with saying goodbye to some special guys on this team.”
Wyrsotok said he hopes that the culture they have fostered over the last few years can help the younger players be successful in the coming seasons.
Photo: Ed Fonger
Wyrostok’s career concludes with 169 games played in a Broncos uniform, scoring 52 goals, and adding 51 assists for 103 points. Some of Wyrostoks 52 goals were big ones in his career, including the first goal in Lake Diefenbaker Slough Sharks history, a goal on Hockey Fights Cancer Night with his mom in attendance, and the first playoff goal at the InnovationPlex since 2018 when he opened the scoring against Lethbridge in the first period on March 29. Wyrostok also notched a hat-trick in his hometown of Medicine Hat on December 29.
Now that his WHL career is done, Wyrostok said he hopes to continue playing hockey in some capacity, hopefully with a pro contract somewhere.
