It was just two years ago that Ty Higgins was a rookie with the Junior B team down the road, navigating a new league and learning about leadership from Stratford Warriors’ captain Zac McCann.
Such is the nature of junior hockey. “It’s been a quick transition,” Higgins said. “Junior hockey flies by. One day you’re a rookie, and one day you’re in your second last year.”
Higgins’ ascent has been equally swift. He had 10 goals and 28 points in 27 games with Stratford in 2021-22, which was tops among Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League blue-liners. That caught the attention of Acadie-Bathurst, the New Brunswick-based club in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Higgins had three goals and 13 points in 39 regular season and playoff games in his first taste of major junior hockey. He broke out last season, scoring 13 goals and finishing with 41 points in 68 games while landing on Central Scouting’s list of top draft-eligible North American skaters.
“I just started building off that, and you start playing a little looser and everything becomes easier and you’re having fun,” he said. “I didn’t take it too seriously, just go out and play hockey because I love it.” Higgins went undrafted, but the snub will serve as motivation for the third-year Titan. “There are always ups and downs in your career, and (making the NHL) is an end goal, but (not being drafted) won’t affect me,” he said. Higgins skated at a Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospects camp in August and can still be drafted next June. It’s an important season for the two-way defenceman, whose leadership style is similar to McCann and Cole Larkin, the Titan captain in 2022-23.
“I think I’m more of a quiet leader and show everybody what they need to be doing,” Higgins said. “I have a voice and I’m not afraid to speak up and not afraid to put people on the right path and do what’s best for the team.”
It’s why the Titan decided Higgins needed a different letter after serving as an alternate captain for half of last season. While the responsibilities have changed, Higgins is going to keep doing things his way. “I think it’s an honour to wear the ‘C,’” he said. “There’s no extra pressure. I’m the same player and same person, and it shows I’m a leader with the team and doesn’t change anything with my game.”
