July 1, 2022; Hamilton, Ontario, CAN; Edmonton Elks defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 29-25 in regular season game at Tim Hortons Field. Mandatory Credit: Eddie Sokolowski
Growing up in Hamilton, wide receiver Tyler Ternowski always dreamt of playing professional football. To do so with a team he grew up watching and cheering for, he describes as a dream come true.
“Back when I started when I was like nine years old, I remember coming here to the old Ivor Wynne, playing at halftime events and doing 50/50’s,” he recalls. “It’s just a dream come true, that’s all I can really say.”
Starting out playing soccer, Ternowski was told he should try football by another student at his elementary school. He and his friend signed up in the fourth grade, and he knew right away this was what he wanted to do with his life.
“I always knew I wanted to be an athlete,” Ternowski said. “From the moment I stepped on the field, I loved it.”
It helped that Ternowski was a natural, excelling both on offense and defense in his young career. He started as a linebacker, becoming one of the best defenders in the league, before making the switch to running back and eventually where he plays now, a wide receiver.
“Ever since those seasons when I was young, I just knew I was built for this,” Ternowski said.
Ternowski noted that one of the best feelings when he’s on the field is knowing the support he has from his family and friends. He shared that his family has always been in the stands supporting him throughout his football career ever since he started at nine years old, but seeing former teammates he played with as a kid make this even more special for him.
“The crazy thing is to look up in the stands and see guys that I played football with, like, 10-12 years ago, telling me they always knew I’d make it,” he said. “It wasn’t that long ago that we were just on the field as kids running around, so being able to look back in the crowd and see 10 years back into my own life with memories of these guys I played football with is just a blessing.”
Growing up in the area, Ternowski attended Tiger-Cats games with his friends, family, and teammates. He also recalls coming to events, with the players and learning some basic skills from them. He attended an annual event held with the Hamilton Minor Football Association (HMFA), where a group of kids from the league would come to the field and go through drills with the Tiger-Cat players and have a signing session afterward. Being able to give back to the young kids after he was in their position not too long ago is an amazing feeling for him.
“Just being around this Hamilton football atmosphere has been great,” Ternowski said. “It’s good to be able to provide, not just knowledge about football, but show these kids that we’re from Hamilton, we’re hardworking people, put your mind to anything you want, and you can get it.”
As part of the Stelco High School Mentorship Program, Ternowski was coaching at his former high school, Sir Allan MacNab. However, he shared that he was already coaching there before the Mentorship Program even came into play. With his old coach still coaching there along with some of his friends, Ternowski said he couldn’t imagine not helping to coach the kids. Remembering the mentors he had when he went into grade 9 football, he wanted to be able to pay it forward for the guys coming up through the game now.
“Remembering those guys and everything they did for me, it was kind of a no-brainer for me to go back and do the same for some other kids,” Ternowski said.