Tver, Russia- Former New Tecumseth Civics Goalie, Igor Tyalo, has signed with Dynamo Tver, a professional team that plays in the VHL, the KHL’s affiliate league.

Tyalo joined the GMHL for the New Tecumseth Civics (then the Alliston Coyotes) in 2014-2015, where he split the starting duties for the Civics. The Civics were a dark horse in the GMHL that year, and although they weren’t at the top of the standings, they were a team that no one took lightly. Tyalo stood between the pipes for 12 Regular Season Games for the New Tecumseth Civics where his overall stat line for the Civics for the 2014-2015 Season was: 2^nd Overall in Wins (5), 2^nd Overall in Saves (342), 1^st Overall in GAA (3.93), and 2^nd Overall in S% (0.891). Without Tyalo, the Civics might not have made it to the playoffs that year, where they stunned the powerhouse Tottenham Steam, taking them to 5 Games in a 5 Game series before bowing out. Tyalo’s efforts for the Civics were noted back home in Russia, and he signed a contract with Yunior-Sputnik Nizhny Tagil, a VHL-B team, the third tier professional league in Russia.

Tyalo immediately took over the starting role for Yunior-Sputnik Nizhny Tagil, and started 41 Games for the team, posting a 3.70 GAA in his first year of professional hockey. The following season Tyalo was signed to HK Cheboksary of the VHL-B where he started 11 Regular Season Games for the team, posting a 2.99 GAA and .887 S%. His efforts with HK Cheboksary earned him a call up to the VHL, the KHL’s affiliate league, where he would start 1 Game, where he earned a shutout for the team, before being sent back to HK Cheboksary for the playoffs where he posted a 3.18 GAA and .883 S% in 3 Playoff Games for the team. With two years of professional hockey under his belt, and a call up to the VHL, Tyalo moved up the ranks in 2017-2018, and signed a contract in the VHL for the Tsen Tou Jilin joining former West Nipissing Lynx defenceman Mikhail Patrikeyev. Tyalo would go on to play 26 Games for Tsen Tou Jilin, where he would post a 2.97 GAA and .909 S%, a huge improvement, showing Tyalo could play at the VHL level. Tyalo then signed a contract for the 2018-2019 Season with the VHL team that called him up in 2016-2017 Rubin Tyumen. Tyalo ended up being an impact piece for Rubin Tyumen last season, posting an incredible stat line of 1.83 GAA and .938 S%, helping Rubin Tymen reach the VHL Finals. Unfortunately, his team came up just short of winning the VHL Championship, however, other teams noticed Tyalo's great play for Rubin Tyumen, and Dynamo Tver picked Tyalo up in the Free-Agency, signing him to a one-year deal.

The VHL is the second league in Russia, and one of the top leagues in Europe. The league is affiliated with the KHL, which is arguably the second best league in the world. Specifically, Rubin Tyumen is affiliated with HC Yugra of the KHL. The VHL not only advances players to the KHL, but has sent players to the AHL and NHL as well, such as Nikita Zaitsev (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Valeri Nichuskin (Dallas Stars). It is great to see a former GMHL player at this high level of hockey, and we wish Tyalo and Dynamo Tver the best of luck next season.