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By Chris Brown & Scott Roblin

Captain to the Condors

Hamblin signs with AHL’s Bakersfield Condors

Apr 30, 2020 | 11:32 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Sunny California is calling James Hamblin.

The former Medicine Hat Tiger has signed a two-year deal with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League.

“It’s a pretty crazy feeling,” said Hamblin. “I’ve known this has been coming for the last couple of days, but all the support that I’ve been getting throughout the day has really kind of opened my eyes. I’m just starting to feel it now.”

Hamblin led the Tigers with 92 points this past season on 36 goals and 56 assists in 63 games, third in league scoring when the league shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A five-year veteran in Tigers stripes, Hamblin told CHAT Sports that it feels like a culmination of half a decade of work to earn a professional contract.

“That’s the best thing, just being able to sit here and say that I put all that work in,” said Hamblin. “I’ve gotten so much support from so many people over the years, for it to come together is what’s special. I’ll try to definitely sit back and reminisce on that and then get back to work.”

Hamblin played his entire Western Hockey League carer with the Tigers after they took him 17th overall in the 2014 Bantam Draft. The 21-year-old from Edmonton played 324 games, scored 115 goals and collected 169 assists with the Tigers. Hamblin served as the Tigers’ captain for the past two seasons.

“Jimmy was a complete player. He doesn’t do one thing particularly well, he does everything excellent. We relied on him to generate offence, shut down other teams’ top lines and play both sides of the special teams. Jimmy was usually the first player to the rink and one of the last to leave. He wanted to get better every day,” said assistant coach Ryan Smith in a press release. “We are extremely proud of him as a staff, he deserves this opportunity.”

Set to join Bakersfield when the 2020-21 season eventually gets started, Hamblin will be re-uniting with a pair of minor hockey teammates in goaltender Stuart Skinner and forward Tyler Benson.

“I played bantam with both [Skinner] and Benson so I know them very well,” said Hamblin. “I also played with [Evan] Bouchard and I played with [Ryan] McLeod. So, there are a few guys that I am familiar with.”

Hamblin cites Bakersfield as providing ample opportunity to grow his game at the professional level, but couldn’t help but mention the organizational path as a contributing reason to why he signed with the Condors.

Of course, the Condors are the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and now puts Hamblin in the system for one day possibly playing for his hometown club.

“That’s crazy just to think about,” said Hamblin. “Growing up here going to Northlands Coliseum and watching them my entire life, to say that I’m a part of that organization is unbelievable. I’m just really excited for what the future holds.”