By Kamal Hylton
Its been a rough opening to the Brampton A’s 2014-15 campaign, starting the season 0-5 following a 110-107 defeat to Mississauga Power at Hershey Centre Thursday morning in the Peel Region rivalry. One bright spot for the second year franchise is new recruit David Tyndale, a key player that did his part to help keep Brampton in the game on the road before a knee injury put an end to his day.
“It’s nothing serious,” Tyndale told ON POINT. “I can still stand and walk on it a bit, I just need to get treatment and put some ice on it. We don’t play till next Friday so I’ll be fine. I was in a pick and roll situation, went left, stepped back into Brent Jennings [his A’s teammate] and it buckled. ”
His importance to the team wasn’t lost on coach David Magley either, who sees Tyndale as the reason the game didn’t get completely out of hand. The signing of the Mississauga-based product was the club’s first official move in the offseason, a player that Magley feels he could’ve given a longer rope. “He was amazing,” Magley said. “He played great defence, competed his butt off and showed a lot of character tonight. Probably enough to make me think I should’ve played him for longer stretches. We had very high expectations of David coming into the season and they were dashed when I didn’t give him as much opportunity being a rookie point guard, quite frankly I was nervous about his lack of experience at this level but he showed a lot of heart today. Even our owner James Tipping has been telling me to play him more.”
Tyndale comes into the NBLC with a strong Canadian basketball pedigree, starring at Father Goetz where he played alongside Andrew Nicholson of the Orlando Magic. It doesn’t take long to see how much he looks back on those days with fondness. “We certainly didn’t lose much that’s for sure,” said Tyndale. “Andrew’s one of my best friends, he is obviously in the NBA and I’m in the NBL but those where the glory days for sure. We talk about those days all the time, we have the tapes that we kick back and watch with a beer. Those days were certainly something to see.”
Following his time on the local high school scene, Tyndale moved on to York University where he became an All-OUA and an All-Canadian. A major influence on his decision to attend York is now an opponent in the Brampton/Mississauga rivalry, growing up with and looking up to Mississauga Power guard Tut Ruach while also playing with his brother Rieko. “Me and Tut have clicked since I was 14-years-old,” Tyndale said. “He was the reason I choose to go to York, he was in his fifth year when I was a freshman. We were a dynamic duo for a year. I was just a rookie looking up to him, just trying to learn as much as I could and even still learn from him during the summer when we train together. Even though he’s my opponent now he’s also one of my best friends, like a big brother.”
Deciding to join NBL Canada this season was a pretty seamless decision for him as well, paying attention to how the league has grown in its fourth season as well as having the chance to play in front of the people that support him most. “This is home for me,” Tyndale said. “Yes I’m playing for the Brampton A’s but I’m still a Mississauga kid. Playing in front of support is big, a lot of people came out to support me and I love it more today. There are a lot of guys that have turned down overseas contracts to play over here because you know you’re going to get paid here, which isn’t always the case elsewhere with teams sometimes holding your cheques, but also the talent level is rising. Also overseas there’s not the focus on development, I know both Brampton and Mississauga are big on skill development and making their players better. The Power have coach Kyle Julius and the Power Development Team and Brampton has it’s Athletes Institute facility in Orangeville.”
Coming into this league it’s every players goal to win a NBL Canada championship, but beyond that Tyndale has set his mind on more than that in his time here. Looking to take his game to the next level and seeing this league as the right springboard to what every player wants, a chance in “the show”. “I set realistic goals,” Tyndale said. “I want to perform to the best of my ability at the highest level and make the most of it whether it’s overseas, in the NBLC or wherever it may be. I want to go as high as possible. If I could get a call up somewhere, even to the NBA that would be awesome. Maybe the Magic [to reunite with Nicholson] or even the Raptors.”
By Kamal Hylton
Photos Courtesy of Kamal Hylton
Drew Ebanks
