Jordy Kyros is a pillar of the Perth Thunder. The 32-year-old Perth-born forward recently played his 250th Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) game, all while wearing the Thunder jersey with pride.

“He’s one of our pillars, he’s been there since day dot,” Perth Thunder player-coach Ben Breault told Hockey Hype Australia last weekend in Sydney. The pillar analogy matches the numbers.

Since the Thunder entered the league in 2012, the team has played 271 regular season games. Kyros has featured in 252 of those contests, leading all Thunder players in games played.

In the club’s inaugural season, Kyros was all over the scoresheet in landmark games. Kyros collected an assist in the team’s first game, an assist in the team’s first away win, scored his first career goal in the the team’s first home win, and scored the franchise’s first AIHL Finals goal.

Breault on Kyros

“Game in, game out, you know exactly what Jordy is going to bring to the table,” Breault continued. “It’s probably the easiest guy to guess what kind of game you’re going to get out of him. He rocks up every game, he’s in the right mindset, he works hard.”

Hockey Hype Australia spoke to Breault following the 5-3 victory at Macquarie Ice Rink over the league-leading Sydney Bears. Perth became the first team to take all the points from Macquarie Ice Rink against the Bears this season, and Kyros played a huge part in the weekend’s success.

“I put him on a line this weekend, just to try things out, with Hiko (Yu Hikosaka) and Natan [Vertes]. And look, he’s wearing the hat right now,” Breault said with a grin. “So he’s man of the match for tonight.

“He’s got good speed, I know Hiko’s got amazing speed, so I was trying to find the right match. [We’re] trying things out before Finals, that’s pretty much the goal. I’m glad it worked out, he deserves all of it.”

It would be hard to imagine it working out better. Kyros contributed a goal and four assists across the weekend, and earned the Skaters Network Australian Player of the Week award, winning a Bauer stick.

Kyros’ connection to the Perth Thunder

“I love playing for the Perth Thunder,” Kyros told Hockey Hype Australia. Listening to Kyros speak, the love he has for the Thunder isn’t a cliché, a casual remark tossed aside like an unlucky raffle ticket from the 50/50 draw at Macquarie.

Like the deep bedrock holding up the city of Perth itself, the love for the Thunder has proven as stable a foundation for Kyros as Kyros is to the rest of the team.

“Like I said, you know what to expect from the guy, he’ll play his heart out and he’s there for the boys,” Breault responded enthusiastically. “Every training, he doesn’t miss anything, he’s always there for the guys. He’s got that Thunder logo tattooed on his heart.”

Like tree roots in a forest that entangle and grow together, strengthening and supporting each other, it is difficult to parse Jordy Kyros and the Perth Thunder. Kyros and the Thunder have grown together for over a decade.

“I was there when it first started – the idea [of the Perth Thunder] – and I’ve been there from even the years leading into the first season.” After reflecting a moment, Kyros declared, “I don’t think I would still be playing if it wasn’t for this team.

“I just love the coaches, the players, the fans, everything. It’s easy to play when all your best mates play and we’ve just got a great vibe, I love it.”

Favourite memories… so far

When asked to pick a favourite memory, Kyros struggled to isolate just one. Eyes sparkling, he rattles off options – making the Goodall Cup final in 2019, the club’s first season, and then offering ‘everything’ as an option. Eventually, he settles on his answer.

“Last year I had a really fun year, because I played on a line with my two best friends – Kieran Webster and Coxy (Andrew Cox) – so that was pretty special. And we got close [to winning the Goodall Cup] as well, so I think that was probably my favourite year.”

When mentioning his production last season of 20 goals and 16 assists for 36 points, Kyros laughed. “Yeah, I don’t know how that happened,” Kyros replied, a huge grin on his face. “Right place, right time.”

There is a sense that Kyros’ favourite memory with the Perth Thunder is still to come.

When asked about his goals for the season, Kyros answers quickly, “Just to win.”

“I feel like we’re building every year. A lot of our guys now are at a good age and have played for a long time. Our group’s been together for a long time.

“I feel like we’ve definitely got belief this year. We’ve got a really good group and everyone loves each other. I mean, I have a good feeling about this year.

“It’s just that next step, we just have to take it. I think we’ve got the right pieces, it’s just doing it. We’ll do our best.”

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