CARLYLE - Jason and Melissa Dixon are Carlyle residents who keep themselves extremely busy raising their four sons.
Tyrell, Tristan, Darius and Colton all have one thing in common: they love the game of hockey.
From early September to the end of May, the Dixons run nonstop from rink to rink. The family rises early, and then, after a full day of travelling, playing, coaching and cheering, they drive home happy but exhausted. Great family memories have been made and are played over and over in their minds. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
Tyrell, 17, is in Grade 12 and plays centre and is co-captain for the Carlyle U18 team in the Moose Mountain Hockey League. Tyrell is one of their leading scorers. He is only one of two returning third-year U18 players, the other being Mitch Himmelspach.
Tyrell is coached by his father Jason, Kirk Himmelspach and Danny Nelson.
“I like leading by example,” said Tyrell. “I like winning and hanging out with the guys. I like shooting the puck and feel I have a good snapshot.”
Tristan is 15 years old, in Grade 10, and a goalie on the U18 team. Tristan has been playing goal for nine years and absolutely loves the game.
“I think my greatest strength is my speed in the crease,” said Tristan. “I like all my teammates and the great dressing room atmosphere.”
Darius is in Grade 7 and is 12 years old. He plays defence on the Estevan Meter Bruins U13 AA team, and this is his third year of AA year hockey, previously playing for the Moosomin Badgers.
Owen Light, Knox Valentine and Darius are athletes from Carlyle who play on this Estevan team. Chris Light is his coach.
“I think my greatest strength is my skating. I like the team and the friends I have made this year,” said Darius.
Colton is 10 in Grade 5, and plays forward on the Carlyle U11 team. His coaches are Scott Nicholson and Colin Wilson.
“My mom picked the number,” said Colton. “I feel I am a good skater and like hanging out with the team. I really like the music that is played in the dressing room, and of course the snacks after the game.”
Being the youngest, Colton is of course the recipient of the most handed down equipment. All of them have worn at least one item of oldest brother Tyrell’s gear. As well, when a goaltender reaches the age of 14 or so, their equipment is no longer supplied by Carlyle Minor Hockey. This is Moose’s second set of family-owned goaltender pads, which are extremely expensive.
The brothers are extremely active and continually practise with their teams and on their own. In all their years of hockey, only Tyrell has suffered injuries, a broken wrist in the last game three years ago and a concussion last season.
The Dixons moved to Carlyle in 2007 and the parents are also heavily involved in the sport. For two years, Melissa was on the Moose Mountain Minor Hockey League board and for five years was on the Carlyle Minor Hockey League executive. In addition to coaching the U18s, Jason was president of the league the past two years and is vice-president of Carlyle Minor Hockey this year. He is to become their president in 2023-24.
“Melissa and I haven’t taken a winter vacation since we moved to Carlyle,” said Jason. “We just haven’t had the time. But it’s great to have our kids involved in sports and it gives us something to do together as a family. It’s great to see everyone grow up right before our eyes. We just wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I always get asked how we do it with four kids in hockey and we answer is simple, you just do,” added Melissa. It might mean divide and conquer some weekends. We ask for help when we need it from other hockey families. And we might not get to see each kid play but we try to split it up, so we see everyone at least once on the weekend.
“I would do everything in my power to keep them playing, whether its house hockey, Double A, spring or shinny. It keeps them happy and busy, and I love to see the joy it brings them.”
