Hockey (M) 11/9/2022 12:30:00 PM Mario Russo

Turntables keeping Aaron Hyman in tune with life and hockey

Music is everything for Aaron Hyman. When he's not doing his due diligence on defence for the TMU Bold men's hockey team, it is the beats and sounds that consume him whole.

It is a feature in his life that never seems to go away, not even in the toughest of times, or during the lowest of lows. Music was instilled into Hyman at a young age. His two older sisters play piano, while his father complements strumming the guitar with a powerful voice able to inspire.

Growing up, Hyman quickly became a byproduct of his father's musical inspiration, taking a page out of his book and picking up the guitar as a result. He would later add drums to his musical arsenal and at the age of 14, his musical taste took flight.

It wouldn't be until March of 2020, however, where Hyman unlocked his full musical potential, taking up the turntables that would forever transform his life away from the rink.

What started as a self-taught hobby during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyman quickly came to the realization that his creative work could blend itself into some paid work as well. As a result, the Springbank, Alberta native began doing events around the city and throughout his hometown during the summer.

"It's grown from just a little hobby that I was doing on the side to something I really enjoy," said Hyman.

Although the turntables don't take up much of his time away from the rink, the values invested in his hobby continue to present themselves with every scratch and slide. Among them includes a deep look into the personality of the 24-year-old, a feature that never seems to change regardless of all the outside noise.

"I don't try to be anyone but myself no matter what I'm doing… I am not trying to be or do anything that Aaron Hyman wouldn't normally do," said the third-year.

"I think that's important to everyone. Just be yourself, you don't have to be anything else," he added.

Staying true to himself has always been the starting point of success for Hyman, both on the ice and in the studio. When he's mixing beats and juggling genres, he is undoubtedly within his element. Regardless of what people may think, Hyman welcomes the feeling of being present in the moment with open arms, relishing the ability to set the tone on any given night.

When it comes to Hyman's process, the Albertan stresses the importance of being aware, mentioning how: "You gotta read the room and see how people respond."

So far in his young mixing career, Hyman pins a lot of his recent success on his ability to understand the desires of his audience, a skill often diminished by the general public. Sure, it may be easy to pick up the overall vibe of an event on any given occasion, but once people from different backgrounds start to get involved, your typical DJ may very well be just that.

Yet it's through these situations that Hyman thrives on the turntables. He recognizes that people admire music for different reasons and uses his creativity to inspire rather than conform.

With hip-hop and R&B being the traditional 'go-to's' within a party setting, Hyman catches people's ear by bashing down the traditional borders in today's music. Melodic, Brazilian, and even South African tracks often sneak their way into Hyman's work and allow him to connect with his audience on a deeper and more personal level.

"You learn what you want to hear in music and understand what you're looking for."

Becoming a DJ has opened countless doors for Hyman in respect to narrowing down his relationships, both amongst his peers and within himself. The turntables keep Hyman connected, yet in the same, leave him separated from the hustle and grind of everyday life. This feature is what captivates Hyman the most, and enables him to "do something a little more creative than playing hockey everyday."

Having played over 200 games in the Western Hockey League, there are very few players in the OUA like Hyman that can relate to the detriment caused by the sport on both a physical and emotional level.

Having a way of distancing oneself from it all is what keeps Hyman coming back to the turntables week after week. It is through this separation element that Hyman truly feels closer to the things around him.

"It lets me escape the world that I'm in and allows me to do something different."

Yet through the escape, it is the power in which music has on Hyman's soul that leaves the third-year feeling fulfilled. No matter how the story unfolds for Hyman on or off the ice, music has, and will continue to resemble the light at the end of the tunnel, as well as a means to push forward.

"Music has always been something that allows me to escape any problems or issues that I've had in my life. It really helps me see the bigger picture."

Although DJing is something Hyman wishes to keep separated from the sport he loves, there have been times during his three-year career at TMU where his two favourite activities have crossed paths. Members of the Bold men's hockey team got a glimpse into the DJing career of Hyman during a team-bonding event before the current season.

After setting up his turntables and speakers, Hyman proceeded to have a bit of fun with his mixes and gave his teammates both old and new, an experience they would never forget. The veteran defender enjoyed every second of his time doing sets in front of his teammates, soaking in the "good vibes" while also "setting the tone on how people were feeling" during that retreat.

Despite his pre-season performance, Hyman has yet to crack the team's music playlist. Often dictated by teammates Jackson Doherty and Kyle Bollers, Hyman believes his absence from the list is for the best, wishing to leave his musical expertise for the handful of team parties within the season.

Student-athlete by day, DJ by night. This is the character in which Aaron Hyman can be found playing on any given weekend while staying true to who he really is. Every athlete has their own set of hobbies outside of the sport, however one would be hard pressed to find a persona like Hyman, that balances passion and persistence, while staying perfectly in tune with life.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#2 Aaron Hyman: D; 6' 5"; 3

#8 Jackson Doherty: F; 6' 0"; 2

#88 Kyle Bollers: F; 5' 11"; 2

Players Mentioned

#2 Aaron Hyman
: 6' 5"; 3
: D

#8 Jackson Doherty
: 6' 0"; 2
: F

#88 Kyle Bollers
: 5' 11"; 2
: F

Players Mentioned

#2 Aaron Hyman

#8 Jackson Doherty

#88 Kyle Bollers

Players Mentioned

#2 Aaron Hyman

#8 Jackson Doherty

#88 Kyle Bollers