By Mitch Bach

Rookies to be placed front and center in first few exhibition games

Aug 31, 2017 | 3:39 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Three weeks remain until the Medicine Hat Tigers open the 2017-18 regular season, and there’s sure to be a few rookies cracking the opening night roster.

Like every season, head coach & GM Shaun Clouston is expecting several veterans to be under the watchful eye of NHL brass at various professional training camps, which typically run from mid-September into October.

And like previous years, Clouston is putting his newcomers and prospects front and center when the Tigers open exhibition play in Lethbridge on Friday.

“We’ve kind of traditionally done that,” said Clouston, who’s entering his 8th season as head coach with the club. “If we need some older players with some numbers, we’ll go with that, but right now we’ve got a whole bunch of young d-men. They’ll all get a chance to play this weekend.”

According to the WHL league website, the Tigers have 12 defenceman rostered for pre-season. Seven of which are rookies, including Cameron MacPhee who was called up on several occassions last year.

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David Quenneville plans on taking part in New York Islanders training camp this fall after being selected in the 7th round in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. 

Kristians Rubins and Brad Forrest are both entering their 20-year-old seasons, and are two of five competing for one of three permanent spots as an overage player. Both could dress in the season opener, although it depends on whether ’97-born forwards Mark Rassell and Zach Fischer are at Calgary Flames training camp or not.

That leaves two returning defenceman who are basically shoe-ins for the season opener on September 22nd in Lethbridge — Dylan MacPherson and Dalton Gally.

Therefore, Tigers fans could see a few new faces taking over the blue-line three weeks from now.

“It becomes about the guys who have an opportunity to make the roster this year,” continued Clouston. “Whether they’re 16 or 17 or even the odd 18 year-old, it really is an opportunity for them this weekend to play well and prove that they’re ready to go.”

Clouston plans on dressing only a few veterans for the two games this weekend.

The look on the forward-lines looks a little more certain, but there are still a couple spots up for grabs. The Tigers have 10 returning players up front and seven rookies on the roster.

Several are expected to head to NHL camps, including Zach Fischer (Calgary Flames), Mason Shaw (Minnisota Wild) who were both drafted this spring.

Mark Rassell took part in Flames development camp earlier this summer and may be in Calgary later this month, Max Gerlach has received an invite to Arizona Coyotes camp, and Jimmy Hamblin is heading to Boston after receiving a last-minute invite.

It’s too early to tell who will be back in time for the team’s first game, but it’s looking like several youngster-forwards will get the nod come opening night as well.

One of those rookies could be Corson Hopwo.

The 16 year-old from Victoria, B.C. says he’s worked hard all summer long for the opportunity to play in the WHL.

“I worked out four days a week,” said the Tigers 2016 7th-round draft pick. “I really worked hard on my quick feet. I’ve got to get quicker, so I worked really hard on that.”

Playing out of the Delta Hockey Academy midget-15s program in B.C. last year, Hopwo scored 19 goals and 25 assists in 30 games. He also chipped in with two helpers as a call up in four games with the Delta midget prep squad.

“I’m really excited,” he said about Friday’s preseason tilt. “All I need to do is relax and move my feet. Work hard and play with skill, make some plays.”

Medicine Hat will play four pre-season games over the next couple weeks, none of which at home. The closest venue is Saturday’s contest in Taber against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.