Hitmen forward Hoilett chasing dreams on the ice and in the studio
Most Western Hockey League fans know London Hoilett as a hard-working forward with the Calgary Hitmen. With one WHL season under his belt, the 18-year-old product of Winnipeg quickly became a fan favourite at the Saddledome, bringing energy and enthusiasm to the ice on a nightly basis.
What many WHL fans might not know, is that when Hoilett isn’t working on improving his game on the ice, he is fine tuning his game off the ice – in the recording studio.
What started as recording raps onto his cellphone has turned into a passionate pursuit. With the support of his billet family in Calgary, Hoilett converted the family garage into a makeshift recording studio, setting up his equipment, laying down vocals and mixing tracks.
While he authored the 2022-23 Calgary Hitmen Teddy Bear Toss goal under the name London Hoilett, he authored his debut album Can’t Sit Still under the moniker Ty Kiddo and released the record independently on streaming services in January 2023.
“Vibe 2 Night” is the first track off Can’t Sit Still. With a catchy groove and lyrics like “It’s gon’ be a whole vibe tonight, me and my bros gon’ fly tonight” it served as the perfect blend of hip-hop / pop punch to launch the 2023-24 Western Hockey League season.
Hoilett – or Ty Kiddo – dropped his newest single, “All I Got” in August 2023. He also showed up to camp with the Calgary Hitmen, skated in two pre-season contests and is set to hit the ice for his second WHL campaign.
Undrafted into the WHL, Hoilett’s work ethic landed him an opportunity with the Hitmen. As he grinds away at home or in his billets garage, tinkering with new sounds and music, there’s no question that same energy and emotion will help him excel with his art.
For more information on Ty Kiddo, visit his Instagram or listen on Spotify.