After the Pittsburgh Penguins won it all in 2016, Cole Harbour, N.S. native Sidney Crosby brought the Stanley Cup home for a celebration.
"I was like eight years old, but it was an unreal experience," said Fredericton native Tynan Lawrence with a big smile. "I still remember it to this day."
More than any one moment, it was the feeling that resonated. "Just how much the East Coast is behind him and supports him, and just how everyone is so happy for him," the 17-year-old Boston University centre recalled. "It's a big thing."
Admiring Crosby: Lawrence grew up idolizing Crosby and continues to cheer for the Penguins. It's easy to understand why Pittsburgh's captain is so beloved, especially in Atlantic Canada.
"Just how he carries himself off the ice and around people," Lawrence said. "He's an unreal guy, it seems."
On the ice, Crosby is also the ultimate role model. "He thinks the game the right way," Lawrence noted. "He's always in the right spot. He does the right things and, no matter who you play him with, he always finds a way to make them better."
Draft Day Honour: Lawrence, who came in No. 7 on NHL Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters, is now hoping to help inspire the next generation of hockey players from the Maritimes.
He will proudly carry the New Brunswick flag into next month's draft in Buffalo. "It means a lot," he said. "There's not a lot of NHL players that come out of here all the time, so being able to kind of represent your native province is always a great experience... It's one big community that supports each other and I'm very lucky to have that with me."
TSN Interview: Tynan Lawrence Reflects on His Journey
During a conversation with TSN, Lawrence reflected on a roller-coaster season that saw him make the jump from the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL to the NCAA in January. He also shared why Macklin Celebrini and Nick Suzuki are players he seeks to emulate.
Inspirations
TSN: Who inspired you growing up in New Brunswick?
Lawrence: Jake Allen. He is a big name. He always did camps. I always used to go to his hockey schools or whatever around town. He was the main guy from the same town I am who is playing in the NHL.
TSN: What did you take away from talking with him?
Lawrence: He's one of those guys where you can't really tell he's an NHL player if you just met him on the street with how humble he is and what a great guy he is. Just kind of being able to talk to him like that, it's always great.
Community Support
TSN: How much do you feel the pride from back home as you've pursued your hockey career?
Lawrence: Every step of the way it grows and grows with more people reaching out and supporting you. When you come back home, every time you skate or practice or you do mini skates with kids or something like that, you keep building your community and feel that getting bigger and bigger behind you.
Draft Possibilities
TSN: In his post-lottery mock draft, our TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button had you going No. 8 to the Winnipeg Jets. What do you think about the idea of playing for a Canadian team?
Lawrence: Being a Canadian-born player, a Canadian kid, I think that'd be an unreal experience. Getting to stay in Canada, play in your home country and being able to have that support and build on that would be awesome.
TSN: How do you think you'd handle all the attention in a Canadian market?
Lawrence: It'd be fine. I feel like I do a pretty good job of staying level-headed with the spotlight and stuff like that. Being able to stay with my game on the ice won't be a big issue.
Playing Style
TSN: What type of player are you?
Lawrence: A fast, 200-foot centre that has great habits and details and doesn't cheat the game. A guy that plays the right way and is one of the leaders that can drive a line and make their teammates better.
TSN: Crosby was your role model growing up, but is there a player that you find plays your style in the NHL?
Lawrence: I like to watch guys like Nic