From Tanenbaum CHAT to the National Hockey League

As the school enters its 50th year, Tanenbaum CHAT certainly has plenty to celebrate. After a half century of growing and developing Jewish teenagers into young professional adults, CHAT has a new success story to boast- this one in the sports world. On June 26, the Florida Panthers chose CHAT grad Zach Hyman with their fifth-round selection at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, California.

“I’m very excited and honoured to be drafted,” said Hyman in a conversation with Shalom Life. “It’s a huge honour, and especially being a graduate from CHAT, it doesn’t happen that often, so it’s great.” Hyman, 18, had only graduated from high school a few weeks prior to the draft. “I couldn’t be happier being drafted by the Panthers. It’s a great city, great place. It’s amazing.”

The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder always had his eye on the NHL. He started both skating and playing hockey around the young age of four, and knew he had found his passion. “Right when I started, when I was little I knew, and I still do now.” As he grew older, Hyman excelled for the Triple ‘A’ Toronto Red Wings, and eventually the Junior ‘A’ Hamilton Red Wings, where he is now the team’s captain.

This past season, Hyman scored 35 goals and 40 assists in 49 games for the Red Wings, at the same time that he was dealing with the gruelling eight-hour, double curriculum schedule of CHAT. “I had long days because the drive to Hamilton is 45 minutes to an hour. The CHAT days are pretty long. You have a lot of work, but I had three spares this year, so I did a lot of the work in my spares and on the way to Hamilton.”

By the end of the year, not only did Hyman’s NHL dreams come true, but he had managed to achieve an overall academic average of over 90 per cent. The humble person that he is, Hyman gives credit to his educators. “If I ever needed help or if I was really jammed one week, my teachers were always helpful. They were very supportive. If I ever needed an extension I could talk to them beforehand and it was a great environment. It’s very helpful. You’re not by yourself there, everyone’s helping you out.”

Others would have changed schools to accommodate the challenge of making the NHL, but not Hyman. For him, the 90 per cent average had to be obtained at CHAT, and nowhere else. “Jewish education is very important to me. I went to USDS (United Synagogue Day School, now called Robbins Hebrew Academy) before and I wasn’t just going to throw away the Jewish education just because it got a little tough. I got through all of it. I never really had that much trouble.”

“I did really well in my Hebrew courses. Nothing held me back, so I didn’t really need to switch to public school. It was worth it to get the Jewish education and to be in that kind of community where everybody’s so helpful and supportive.”

Staying at CHAT was so important to Hyman, that it affected his decision to forego playing in the Ontario Hockey League of the CHL, a powerhouse for junior hockey development. Had Hyman played in the OHL, he feels he might have been drafted even higher in the NHL draft, but it would not have been worth it. “I wanted my education also. If you go to the OHL, you only have your hockey. I always wanted to go to an Ivey league school in the United States. That’s why I chose that rather than just playing hockey. I can play hockey and go to a great school.”

Hyman’s hard work has paid off, as starting in the fall of 2011 he will be attending Princeton University, and playing for their hockey team. “CHAT teaches a lot of things,” said Hyman, who says he favoured classes such as Jewish history, math and politics in high school. “I had to learn how to manage my time. It was a lot of hard work and dedication. You just have to learn how to manage your time and I’ll take that to university too. I’m going to have hockey and school work there also. It was a great learning experience for me and I can take that throughout the rest of my life, just hard work and to be able to manage your time so you don’t get too stressed or overworked.”

This upcoming year, Hyman will be focusing on hockey and taking a break from school. “When I originally decided [to attend Princeton], I committed earlier, a couple of years ago. I wanted to take the year off so I can get stronger and build up. One extra year can make a big difference from when you’re 18 than you’re 19. Your body develops a lot so I want to be stronger next year. When I go to Princeton, I want to make an impact. I don’t want to just be on the bench. I want to develop my game a lot and go Princeton and be a force.”

Growing up, Hyman says he admired Steve Yzerman and Mark Messier. Now, as he looks for inspiration in the hockey world, it is easy to find a connection between him and another Jewish NHLer. “Jeff Halpern, who also went to Princeton. That’s interesting, he’s also Jewish. I always liked him, he’s a great hockey player.”

However, despite admiring certain players, Hyman says he does not model his game after anyone in particular. “I’m like a power forward. I like to score a lot and I go to the net hard. I play a two-way game. I don’t really model myself after one player, really.” Moving forward, he says he is very flexible. “I think I can play both [a top six or bottom six role] but wherever the coach needs me to play, I’ll play. Whichever role I’m given, I’m going to take on. I’m not going to choose. Whatever they say to do, I’ll do.”

Hyman will likely be back with the Red Wings this upcoming season. There, he hopes to net 50 goals and 100 points, and also lead his team to an RBC cup championship. First, however, he will be attending the Florida Panthers rookie camp in September. “That’s going to be great because I’ll get to experience what the NHL guys experience. I’ll be in Florida at the Bank Atlantic Centre.”

For Hyman, the Panthers camp is very important, as he feels he has plenty of skill to show the coaches. “I can compete with anybody. I’ve been working out all summer long every day, twice or even three times sometimes. [I want] to show them that my hard work’s paid off and how much I’ve improved from last year and show them my strength and all my abilities.”

The Panthers’ prospect feels that family has always been important to him. He is the oldest of five brothers, all of which he says are fine hockey players. Hyman says to watch out for his brother Spence, whose NHL draft is two years away.

When asked who Hyman would like to thank, he did not hold back.

“Obviously both my parents. When I was little they both drove me around everywhere. They actually got me into this. I know my grandparents have always been supportive. My close family really and all my coaches who gave me support over the years. I wouldn’t be where I am without any of them.”