[7/8] Denver Opens 2015 Playoff Run with 4-3 Home Win Over [6/6] Minnesota-Duluth: http://t.co/yslKZnGt7g #DU1NATION pic.twitter.com/1SE4uiezNs
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 14, 2015
Most Penguins and Ducks are familiar with the name Troy Loney. He helped the Penguins win two Stanley Cups and was the first captain of the Ducks. What many do not know is that Troy, with wife Aafke have three sons, Reed, Ty, and Clint.
All three of his sons went on to play hockey, of course, but it’s Ty who is really taking after his father. Ty, who started off his career with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL during high school, chose the college route and played four seasons with the Denver Pioneers.
Ty and his brothers grew up in Valencia, Pennsylvania and went to Pine Richland High School. A school that, as it so happens, half of my cousins went to. The youngest of which, actually knew Ty and his younger brother, Clint.
It was while Ty was playing with the Pittsburgh Hornets U16 team that I was first introduced to the middle son of Troy Loney. My classmate, Dylan Margonari, played with Ty and in my quest for any hockey knowledge I could soak up I discovered Ty. It wasn’t until Dylan disappeared halfway through our senior year of high school that I realized that he and Ty had both signed with the Youngstown Phantoms. Ty played two seasons with the Phantoms in 71 games, scoring 25 goals and 30 assists for 63 points.
In 2011 he chose the college route and decided on Denver University. That decision was not one that was taken lightly. It wasn’t until Troy talked with fellow former Penguins, Joey Mullen that he gave Ty the green light to sign with the team. Mullen’s own son had played with the Pioneers from 2005-2009.
Ty quickly found that the college style of play was vastly different than college. He had to ditch the bad habits he learned with the Phantoms, and as soon as he did his game picked up. In his four years with DU he played 152 games for the Pioneers tallying 39 goals and 50 assists for 89 points, in addition to a plus-minus rating of +15.
Ty Loney, son of Former @penguins Troy Loney, scored a beauty last night for Denver. https://t.co/eukW3yQQEx
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) March 14, 2015
After he played his final game with Denver, Ty was signed by the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL to a Amateur Tryout Contract on April 4th. Three days later he scored his first AHL goal. In three games he has one goal and two assists. His first professional goal came in his first game.
With a start like that, it would not be too surprising to see him signing a full contract with the Admirals for next season. Before long the name Loney may once again be appearing in professional hockey. If Ty keeps up the good work with the Admiral’s, he may be following his father’s footsteps onto NHL ice in the near future.