Waterloo Black Hawks General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations Bryn Chyzyk's contract has been lengthened to cover the next four seasons into the summer of 2027, the team announced Thursday.
In May, Chyzyk was named the 2022/23 United States Hockey League General Manager of the Year. It was just his second season wielding the GM title and his third with the Black Hawks organization. His efforts helped Waterloo ice a team which won 40 games, marking only the third time in club history the Hawks have reached that milestone.
"Bryn's peers rightfully recognized what our organization learned very quickly: Bryn is very dedicated, talented, and has a bright future in the game," said Black Hawks Managing Director Eric Petersen. "Most importantly, Bryn puts players in situations where they can develop to their full potential, which is our fundamental mission as an organization. We are very pleased he will continue to be a key figure in Waterloo Black Hawks hockey."
Chyzyk first joined Waterloo as a scout ahead of the 2020/21 campaign. After working through the challenging circumstances of player evaluation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chyzyk was elevated to General Manager less than a year later. With much of the 2021/22 roster already in place by the time he was promoted, last season actually represented Chyzyk's first opportunity to compile a complete roster. The Hawks improved from 28 to 40 victories and moved from sixth to second in the USHL Western Conference, season-over-season.
In 2022/23, Waterloo had five previously-selected NHL draft picks on the roster for the first time in team history: Emmett Croteau (Montreal), Sam Rinzel (Chicago), Miko Matikka (Arizona), Nate Benoit (Minnesota), and Garrett Brown (Winnipeg). Thirteen members of last season's team will be playing NCAA hockey this winter.
As General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations, Chyzyk responsibilities include building the team's initial roster, in-season trades and other player acquisitions, monitoring the development of prospects on the team's affiliate list, preparation for the annual USHL Draft, and representing the organization in league-level hockey operations matters. He is assisted by a scouting staff, which includes Matt Grainda, Justin Froese, Jake Bennett, and Jake VanBesien.
Prior to joining the Black Hawks, Chyzyk studied law at the University of North Dakota, simultaneously working as a graduate assistant coach. He had earned his undergraduate degree while playing for the Fighting Hawks and spent a brief hiatus between those stints at the school playing professional hockey for the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) and Indy Fuel (ECHL). His playing career also included one season in the USHL with the Fargo Force.
The 2023/24 Hawks make their regular season debut during the Dick's Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic tomorrow. Waterloo meets Fargo at 4:30 p.m. in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.
