WHL Stars & NHL Debuts: Bauer lays the boom in first flight with Jets
Winnipeg, Man. — As the old saying goes, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
Tyrel Bauer has both.
The 6-foot-3, 207-pound rearguard has toiled for four long seasons in the AHL, becoming a fan favourite among the Manitoba Moose faithful, but on Friday night, he was cleared for takeoff in his NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets.
“A lot of gratitude,” Bauer told reporters ahead of his rookie lap. “The last few days have been some time for reflection and just where you come from, where you’ve been. You know, your minor hockey rinks and just the stories and people you met along the way. So it’s pretty cool. It’s a special feeling. Pressure and nerves can be up, but just to do your best to really soak it in. It’s been a long ride, and there’s a lot more to go.”
Peppered among the 15,209 fans inside the Canada Life Centre were Bauer’s support team — parents, extended family, friends who made the 13-hour drive from his hometown of Cochrane, Alta., and his billet family from his Seattle Thunderbirds days.
“Knowing that they’re coming, you know, just means the world to me,” Bauer added. “There’s been times when you know you’ve needed a lot of support, and those are the people that have always been there for you to support you, no matter what. Even sometimes when you don’t believe in yourself, they do.”
The 24-year-old may have only logged 5:58 of ice time in a season-opening 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins, but he more than made his presence felt with three hits and his first NHL fight against none other than another WHL graduate in Mark Kastelic.
Bauer and the former Hitmen shed the gloves less than 10 minutes into the opening frame.
“Surreal,” Bauer said during a walk-off interview. “It goes a lot more than just the actual physical act of fighting. You know, I’ve been fighting a long time to get here. I’ve stayed in that fight. That was for my teammates. That was for my family. That was for this city for keeping faith in me, so super grateful.”
The heavyweight defender has put together four seasons at the AHL level, most recently collecting five points (1G-4A) and a +11 rating to go along with a team-leading 110 penalty minutes in 2025-26.
It was enough to earn a two-year contract extension with the organization, but Bauer has also garnered a reputation in Winnipeg for his work off the ice.
Bauer was also honoured as the AHL Man of the Year in recognition of his numerous volunteer efforts.
As a teen, he spent his entire WHL career with the Seattle Thunderbirds, serving as captain for two of his four seasons, highlighted by a comeback from a major knee injury to reach the 2022 WHL Championship Series.
Bauer netted 48 points (12G-36A) and 256 penalty minutes over 181 career regular-season games and was selected by the Jets with the 164th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
He’s one of 27 sixth-round picks currently playing in the NHL.
“Coming up through the ranks, I’ve never really worried about it,” Bauer mused about his unlikely rise. “You know, it’s been about development. It’s been about growth. It’s been about learning. So, where you went, where you’re going… I mean, it’s just about today and what you can do today to be your best tomorrow.”
Bauer and the Jets will try to earn their first win of the season when they visit the 0-1-0 Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, October 4, for an 11:00 a.m. ET tilt.
