Hockey runs in the family for Bisons centre Dylan Thiessen. His grandpa played, as did his three uncles, including Mike Ford, who played alongside Bobby Hull, Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg during the Winnipeg Jets' WHA days. 

"When I was growing up, I heard a lot about it. When I was younger I didn't realize how big that was. Now that I'm older, he's done a bunch of Jets alumni stuff since the Jets have come back, and actually learning about those players that he played with, and the level he was at, it's actually so much cooler now. I talk to him about it all the time when I get a chance."

With this in mind, it's only fitting that Thiessen would also lace up the skates. He was on the ice as soon as he could walk, and he even got the chance to play with his younger his Kyra (KK), who played on boys' teams until grade nine. 

Going places
Thiessen scored a point per game at the U18 Triple A level with the Winnipeg Wild in 2013-14, and when he was 15, he was drafted to the MJHL to play for the Virden Oil Capitals. It was the first stop on a hockey journey that took him to multiple locations. 

"I didn't even know where Virden was, which is maybe a little embarrassing when you're 15, 16 years old," he says. The GM stuck around one of my games when I was 15 playing bantam. He told me about playing in Virden and what it's like and older guys that I knew from Winnipeg that were playing there. I spent four years of my life there and I loved every minute of it."

Thiessen spent his entire MJHL career in Virden, and he also graduated from the town's high school. He scored 157 points over four seasons, including 50 points in 57 regular season games in 2017-18 as the team made a run to the finals. 

"The place was packed, oversold. We were told before that they were selling tickets that didn't exist. We had a lot of people that were still around for multiple years that year. We had lots of depth on our team and we brought in players to go for it. We had a tight battle with Steinbach in the finals, and they had some really good players on their team. It went six games. It could've gone either way I always want to think, we just ran into a really good team as well."

Following his time in Virden, NCAA Division 1 program Mercyhurst came calling, both for Dylan and KK. 

"For her, there was a girl on her high school team at St. Mary's who already committed there, so they were already watching her and they kind of saw my sister KK. The coaches of the women's team told the men's team oh she has a brother. They started watching my game videos from when I was in junior and we both got offered at around the same time, and accepted around the same time."

Dylan played five games with the Lakers, based in Pennsylvania, in 2018-19. He looks back on the experience fondly, despite limited in-game action. 

"That's the way it is down there, it's competitive, high-level hockey but I wouldn't trade it for anything," he says. 

"The biggest difference is that it's a very straight-lined speed type of game. In Canada we play more of a battling, chip into the corners and hit type of game. It was a wake-up call when I got down there about the style of game they play, and the speed of the game."

At the end of the year, Thiessen had to make a choice. Stay in the NCAA and spend his last few good years of university hockey playing a handful of games, or return home to suit up for the Bisons. He chose the latter, and hasn't regretted it. He played in all 28 regular season games in 2019-20, contributing 13 points, while being right upon for his defensive abilities in a shutdown role.

"Since I've been back, I've played lots. I don't regret that decision at all, I would come back every time. But I did love my time [at Mercyhurst]. It was an amazing city to play in."

Thiessen's game is well-rounded. An intelligent top-six forward who can score, he's also relied upon as a shutdown player who blocks shots and can contribute on special teams. After missing the last few games with a lower body injury, he's back and his return couldn't come at a better time for a Bisons team that's only four points out of the sixth and final playoff spot. 

"I've always tried to be someone who thinks the game in a different way, and I think [head coach] Mike [Sirant] would agree. I try to see the ice as well as I can and go to the right spots. It also helps playing with the right players," he says. 

"I'm still relied upon to be a two-way centre, penalty killer and to step up on the power play, but with players like [top liners] Devon Skoleski, Brett Davis and Colton Veloso who have ridiculous offensive talent, I don't have to take up the full offensive role, and I can be more of a two-way player."