After returning to the playoffs last year, Tigers want to take the next step

On Friday and Saturday fans can see the group that will make-up the 2023-24 roster at a pair of morning practices beginning at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. and then a scrimmage at 7 p.m.

Training camp ends with an intra-squad game at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

After a down year two seasons ago the Tigers took a huge step forward last year and returned to the Western Hockey League post-season.

“It was huge step for our guys last year to play those meaningful games down the stretch and to beat Swift Current that last game at home to sneak in and then get that experience in the playoffs against a great Winnipeg team,” Frazer says. “That was great now we want more and that’s the next step here.”

Gavin McKenna agrees. He returns to the Tigers after turning heads league-wide last season.

“I think we kinda raised our expectations coming into this year after making playoffs as the eighth seed,” he says. “So you know guys are getting older, they’re getting more comfortable with the league so I think we’re going to be a really good team this year.”

McKenna posted four goals and 14 assists in 16 regular season games last year and added one goal in the playoffs.

He says he focused on a lot of little things over the summer.

“Defienlty playing two-sides of the puck and then I’ve always talked about how big the league is so just getting bigger,” he says. “Try to get bigger and put on weight, and then getting stronger, better shot, always trying to get quicker.”

The first pre-season game for the Tigers is in Lethbridge on Sept. 5. The teams will battle again in Medicine Hat on Sept. 9.

by Chris Brown

After returning to the playoffs last year, Tigers want to take the next step

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