Hometown alumni Taryn Kotchorek played three seasons with the Battlefords North Stars, backstopping the team to a Canalta Cup championship in 2017. (File photo/battlefordsNOW)

By Martin Martinson

Living a Dream

Former North Star Kotchorek, ‘soaking it all in’ as Oilers emergency backup

Nov 24, 2021 | 8:00 AM

It’s not every day you get a call to the big leagues, but for former North Stars goalie, Taryn Kotchorek that is exactly what came his way this month.

Leaving class at Edmonton’s NAIT Polytechnic Institute, he picked up the phone on a call from Shawn May, manager of hockey communications and media relations with the Edmonton Oilers.

“He just called me up one day and asked if I’d be able to come in for that night’s [Oilers] game to be the emergency backup,” Kotchorek said. “I called my coach right away and he told me to go for it, and obviously it was a pretty cool experience that doesn’t come around that often.”

A look at Kotchorek’s view from the pressbox at Oilers’ home games this season. (Taryn Kotchorek)

So after practicing that day with his school team, the NAIT Ooks, Kotchorek packed up his equipment to make the drive to the rink at Rogers Place for that night’s game between the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators.

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However, it wasn’t without first spilling the beans to curious teammates, who were looking on inquisitively at their teammate packing his things.

“We were coming off the ice from practice and we were supposed to go work out after, so as I was packing up my gear they were all kind of like ‘what the heck’s going on?’” Kotchorek laughed. “As soon as I told them, they were all giving me high fives and making jokes [in jest] that hopefully there’s an injury so I’d get to play, as there were a couple of guys actually going to the game that night.”

Upon arriving at the arena, Kotchorek left his equipment in his vehicle in the parking garage, and headed in to his first game as an emergency backup goalie for the pros.

“I parked underground, kind of close to the entrance so incase anything happened I would be able to get to the vehicle to get my equipment quick,” Kotchorek said. “Then I met with Shawn and he showed me around a bit and took me up to the press box. I had a meal in the media room, and just kind of hung out after that and watched the game waiting, in case I’d be called upon.”

A North Battleford local, and Canalta Cup champion (2017) who played three years with the North Stars from 2015-18, Kotchorek posted a 61-15-5 record with the team in 86 career SJHL games, along with a 2.86 goals-against average and .925 save percentage.

A lifelong NHL fan, Kotchorek, who will continue to serve as an emergency backup for Oilers home games on nights when not suiting up for the Ooks the rest of the season, said just being able to go the games and see the action up close has made it a special experience.

“Just being able to go to the games and watch the Oilers has been great,” he said. “Rogers Place is only about a five minute drive from my place in Edmonton here, so just being able to sit up in the press box and enjoy the games and kind of just be a part of it all is something really cool to be able to experience.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1