Ty Gibson’s time in Regina was short, but memorable
Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats have been highlighting the impact that each of their overage players made on the team and community this past season. We began by highlighting Keagan Slaney on Wednesday, and continued with Carson Haynes on Thursday. Today, we end with defenceman Ty Gibson as we thank him for his time and contributions to the Pats organization this season.
Gibson, 20, completed his fourth and final season in the Western Hockey League on March 22, playing his final game at the Brandt Centre against the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Victoria, B.C. product compiled 71 career points (10G-61A) in 215 career games as well as just 46 penalty minutes and 285 shots on net split between the Everett Silvertips and Pats.
“I thought [my career in the WHL] was special,” said Ty Gibson. “It’s a privilege to play in this league. I grew both on and off the ice. I had some great mentors I got to learn from. I loved my time in Everett but I’m really happy I got to finish my time in Regina.”
This past season, the 5-foot-9, 185 lb. defender tallied a career-high 31 points (2G-29A) as well as just 10 penalty minutes in 65 games between both the Pats and Silvertips. Gibson took home the 2024 Hub Bishop Most Sportsmanlike Player Award after winning the Most Dedicated Silvertip’ last season.
The right shot defenceman played 187 career games with the Silvertips from 2019-2023 before being dealt to the Pats along with a second-round pick for Parker Berge on December 31, 2023. Prior to the move, Gibson had 16 points (2G-14A) in 37 games and then produced 14 assists in 28 games with the Pats as well as just six penalty minutes.
“It was a little bit before the trade deadline and you know there’s only three 20-year-olds allowed,” he said. “You never really know what could happen but it was a bit of a shock when it did happen. I got called into the rink about 30 minutes before the rest of the guys showed up. It was an emotional day but it ended up working out pretty well as I enjoyed my time in Regina.”
Although most of Gibson’s career was spent with the Silvertips, Gibson fit in nicely during his short time with the Pats. With the departure of steady defenceman Parker Berge who was manning the point on the power play and providing a lot of offence, Gibson was asked to slot into Berge’s spot and take his place on the power play and be that puck moving defenceman.
10 of Gibson’s 16 assists with the Pats came on the power play, as he did a admirable job setting up the likes of Braxton Whitehead, Tanner Howe and Tye Spencer with his vision, playmaking ability and skating. Gibson was never afraid to skate the puck up the ice when asked, but was also steady in his own end, becoming a very reliable defenceman for head coach Brad Herauf.
Gibson said his favourite part about playing for the Pats was the atmosphere created by the coaching staff and the opportunities he was given.
“It was a bit different moving out east to the prairies compared to what I was used to but just being able to play for a first-class franchise with the history behind the team was pretty cool,” he said.
Through Gibson’s time cutting his teeth as a younger player in Everett, he leaned on the likes of Cole Fonstad, Gianni Fairbrother, Ronan Seeley and Olen Zellweger. His two closest bonds built over the years were with Austin Roest and Ben Hemmerling as they started together in the bubble during the 2020-21 season, and grew up in the Silvertips organization.
Known as a hard worker, Gibson was always one of the first players at the rink for games and practices, and always kept his body in mint condition, eating properly and preparing for games like a pro. That’s something he learned from his time in Everett.
“That’s a model you see in Everett and I learned from guys when I was younger,” he explained. “I think it’s known across the league that they [Everett] work hard. I learned from the guys in front of me. How important it is to take care of your body, doing extra video. Daily life things like eating well, drinking water, stretching or shooting 20 extra pucks at the end of practice. It goes a long way. My parents raised me that way. I have to give kudos to them, that’s just the way I was brought up.”
Gibson made close friends on the Pats during his three months in Regina, developing relationships with Carson Haynes and Keagan Slaney after they immediately reached out to him following the trade. He also became close friends with the Vaughan twins, and took it upon himself to be a leader for the defensive core, becoming a mentor for Pats Rookie of the Year winner, Kolten Bridgeman.
Gibson played his minor hockey for Juan de Fuca from age 5 to 13 before moving on to the Pacific Coast Academy 2017 where he tallied 24 points (8G-16A) in 30 games before being drafted by the Silvertips in the third round of the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft. After the draft, Gibson played for the South Island Royals U18 AAA club in 2018-19 as a 15-year-old, producing 12 points (5G-7A) in 35 games while playing close to home, with their rink located in Langford, B.C.
He later moved to the lower mainland where he dressed for the Burnaby Winter Club in the CSSHL for his 16-year-old season in 2019-20 after beginning the season with the Silvertips where he played in two contests, making his WHL debut on September 21, 2019 facing off against his hometown Victoria Royals in Everett. The Silvertips reassigned him in late October of 2019 where he billeted with Thomas Milec.
Growing up on Vancouver Island, Gibson was an outdoorsmen, spending lots of time around the ocean and in the mountains, hiking, fishing and camping. He also tried every sport when he was younger, playing baseball until he was 14-years-old before sticking with hockey full-time once he was drafted.
As a baseball player, Gibson was a natural athlete so he played catcher and center field and says baseball was his second favourite sport growing up, being a big Toronto Blue Jays fan. He still enjoys playing when not on the ice, playing pick up from time-to-time.
For hockey, it was the Vancouver Canucks that really made him gravitate to the ice.
“There’s a lot of sports on the Island, and I would say hockey is probably the most popular,” he explained. “It’s not as popular as in Alberta and Saskatchewan. I rolled with hockey and baseball until I was 14-years-old and then ended up quitting baseball for hockey. I got started by watching the Canucks, and became a big Roberto Luongo fan. I just grew to the game and loved it. I knew it was my sport I wanted to play and I stuck with it, and my parents were supportive of me.”
Gibson’s parents put countless hours into helping Ty get to where he is today. Every hockey player who reaches this point has to have the support of their families, and the Gibson’s were that. His father Ryan, who hails from Victoria, and mother Willana worked tirelessly to put Gibson into the best position to succeed and were a great support system.
“My mom and my dad, and even my grandparents and the rest of my family were very supportive over the years,” he said. “They were always there for me, even if it was just to watch a game. My mom and my dad put in countless hours. The side jobs my dad worked, and the very short sleep nights for my mom getting me to hockey for those 6 or 7 a.m. practices.”
