Thunder curler Tyler Van Amsterdam

Jan 16, 2019

by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips

Fastballs, breaking balls and changeups.

Guard shot, draw or takeout.

At the age of 16, Tyler Van Amsterdam was akin to the unique sports language of baseball and curling as a two-sport athlete.

But then a "small tear in the rotator cuff" meant putting away the mitt and bat.

"Playing baseball and curling were the two big sports growing up," recalls Van Amsterdam, now 23, and a student/athlete with the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder curling team.

"I had played baseball (Bantam and Midget AAA in South Edmonton Elite Baseball Association) until I kind of had a small tear in the rotator cuff. After I did all of the rehab and came back, I got cut from the team and I made some life decisions.

"Try again for baseball and perhaps do more damage on my shoulder (he was a pitcher) or focus on curling.

"At the beginning of high school, I was looking at colleges that I could potentially curl and play baseball for. So, it was a tough choice to give up baseball. Surprisingly there aren't a lot of schools that offer both."

A fan of the Kansas City Royals and Major League Baseball centre fielder and seven-time all-star Mike Trout, Van Amsterdam keeps active on the diamond as "last summer, along with my brother Evan, I took up umpiring."

The two also play on the same slopitch team.

Thunder curler, Tyler Van Amsterdam (right)

Did we mention that Evan, 20, is also skipping the champion Thunder men's curling team of which Tyler plays third?

Last year the two teamed up with second Gregory Crawford and lead Josh Buchholtz, to capture the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) banner by defeating the Red Deer Kings 8-5 at the historic Rose City Curling Club in Camrose, Alberta.

It was the second ACAC banner for the brothers as they were part of the Thunder mixed team that won in 2016-2017, beating Red Deer College 9-4.

"I was blessed with some really good athletes that wanted to learn and progress in curling," said Thunder coach Dylan Theroux, of the mixed team composed of Evan Van Amsterdam, skip; Brooke Gelasco, third; Tyler Van Amsterdam, second and lead Melissa Palsitt.

"The skip (Evan Van Amsterdam) is very smart and very strong as well. He was able to make shots when they were needed. They were good under pressure and with the physicality and mentality; they were able to push though."

There would be no Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) advancement for the mixed team as it was not part of the program, but last year the Thunder's men would make an appearance at the CCAA finals held at Leduc Recreation Centre's twin arenas - Ken's Furniture Arena and Robinson Arena - in conjunction with the 2018 U SPORTS/Curling Canada Curling Championships (March 24-28; 2018), Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship (March 26-31, 20128) and the 2018 Canadian Mixed Doubles Championships.

"We tied for fourth in a tie-breaker but ended up officially in fifth," recalls Tyler, who is enrolled in Bachelor of Management.

NAIT Ooks would bring home bronze in the CCAA men's and women's competition.

Of curling with his brother Evan, who is the two-time ACAC Men's Curler of the Year, Tyler says: "He is very talented and the team is way better off with him as skip."

Of the sport of curling in regards to his own life, Tyler commented: "Curling is my favourite sport and I have been doing it all my life now. For me there's nothing more fun than curling. Usually during the summer (when not golfing) I am waiting for curling season.

"My life revolves around curling. Curling is my life. I am even coaching now (St. Albert) and I will be involved in curling my whole life, no matter what it takes."

Tyler said his ultimate goal "Is to become a professional curler. But curling is not like baseball where that is a career. For most professional curlers, you will also have to have a fulltime job, so for now I will have to focus on school. Then after next year maybe I will start looking to get on a competitive men's team."