Greatness All-Around: Tyler Brandtonies is a hardworking defenseman on the ice with a knack for team camaraderie

In the sport of hockey, it is very difficult to respect your opponents and referees as much as your coaches and teammates, but that is one of the many reasons why Keystone Kraken senior and Captain Tyler Brandtonies is one of the three finalists for the 2024 CPIHL Justin Yingling Award.

Brandtonies has been playing travel hockey since he was 5, and he has garnered a lot of respect from coaches, teammates and opponents throughout the years. In much the same way, he respects everyone he shares the ice and the arena with, and he certainly respects the game of hockey as a whole.

“To say Tyler is dedicated to the sport of ice hockey would be an understatement to his commitment to the game,” Kraken Head Coach Wayne Cerzullo said. “Whether he is playing with Keystone Kraken, York Devils or the Palmyra Black Knights, Tyler prioritizes school and his ice hockey teams in his life. He is a role model teammate; if only every player exemplified his sportsmanship and teamwork!”

Cerzullo is a firm believer that the high school hockey world could use more Tyler Brandtonies, and rightfully so. He shows up for his team and he works hard day in and day out, and he puts in the work in the classroom as well.

His leadership skills are unmatched too, which is why he is a two-year captain.

Being that the Kraken is a team consisting of players from various CPIHL schools, that makes wearing the “C” that much more special and noteworthy. He is not just representing his team, but the CPIHL as a whole, and Brandtonies has represented both well every time he has put on that sweater.

“Tyler was named an assistant captain in his sophomore year for Kraken! He earned this through his actions and silent behavior both on and off the ice,” Cerzullo said. “He was named team captain by his teammates as a junior, leading the team to the Viola Cup Championship in ‘22/’23! He shows his dedication through mentoring younger players, playing in every game, and being at every practice. Tyler puts in the work at school and at practice, and he shows that you can balance both and be there for his team every single time!”

Brandtonies makes his presence felt each and every day. He is not one to slack off, and he is not one to miss practice or a game either. If there is a game on the schedule or a practice at an inconvenient time, it does not matter, as Brandtonies will make it work.

Brandtonies is a mentor and a leader, and a role model who the younger players in particular look up to. They all can tell how much he actually cares about them and about the game of hockey, and that is why they are drawn to him.

Because of this and because of a plethora of other reasons, Brandtonies’ coaches made the all-too-easy decision to keep the “C” on his chest for a second and final time.

“This is not an easy job, as the season would prove harder as the team faced tougher players and more competition,” Cerzullo said. “He has risen to the challenge yet again! Tyler’s work ethic permeates the rest of the team. He can be counted on during the game to keep a level head, stay out of the penalty box, and get the job done on the ice. He makes his teammates better through working together on the ice and doing what his coaches are asking him to do.”

Brandtonies is the type of player who leads by example. He keeps himself on the ice, and he works hard every time he is on that ice. He is not a player who gets lackadaisical, and he is not the type of player who gets frustrated or fed up with emotions.

Brandtonies is, however, the type of player who takes his coaches’ advice. He is willing to listen and take constructive criticism, and he is also willing to make changes where necessary.

“Tyler’s excellence is shown through his actions,” Cerzullo said. “He is the first to demonstrate the drills in practice; lead the team in off-ice activities and on the bench during games. He always does what he is asked to do and can be counted on every time. He is a top defenseman on Kraken’s Bears team and leads the team in points this season.”

While Brandtonies is a great player on the ice with the stats to back that up, he is just as much a solid teammate on the bench and during practice. He wants to see his teammates succeed and the team succeed, and he does not have to be involved in the play for them to do so.

He does this all while being the type of person who is very devoted to his schooling as well. Brandtonies has aspirations of getting his biomedical engineering degree in college and becoming a doctor, and he is always setting huge goals for himself… and achieving them.

“Being able to balance school, grades, ice hockey, family and friends as a teenager is extremely tough, and we could not be prouder of him and all he has accomplished,” Cerzullo said. “He will truly be missed, not only as a player, but as a person. Tyler’s dedication is unmatched, he is a top-level performer on all metrics, and his excellence is demonstrated through all his actions.”

Brandtonies is a great hockey player and a great human being, and he is certainly deserving of being the finalist that he is for the 2024 CPIHL Justin Yingling Award.