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Tigers’ veterans mentor young talent, foster winning mentality in pre-season

Sep 7, 2023 | 5:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Tigers have already hit the ice for a WHL pre-season game. While the pre-season doesn’t count towards their overall standing for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign, the team believes every single game on the ice is important, pushing them towards what the team hopes is a championship season.

The Tigers took a seven to two win against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Tuesday, and will play them again on Saturday in the first home game. Returning player Shane Smith says the new band already feels strong.

“Just to see first game where you’re at and especially going in with a young lineup, kind of getting to see the younger talent and what the future looks like for the team,” says Smith. He adds, “we got tested with a bit of adversity and we battled through. So yeah, it was a really good game.”

Associate coach Joe Frazer says early-season is often spent teaching players what it means to be a leader both on and off the ice. This is drilled into all players from a young age, so they can grow up to pass that knowledge down.

“It’s really important that the veterans show the young guys what we do here. And then when the young guys are older they’ll do the exact same. It just repeats itself,” says Frazer.

Another job of the veterans is to make sure the new players adapt a Tigers mentality, teaching them the four pillars of being fast, competitive, winning and taking care of each other.

“We focus on two main things, we’re a family and we love to win. So kind of just getting that into the minds early and like I said, pushing each other,” says Smith.

Forward Kadon McCann adds, “you’re no longer the young guy, so you gotta share your experiences with the Rucks and Steen and all the 08’s and younger guys.

Forward Kadon McCann says it’s important to display the team’s early-season talent to set expectations for opponents. Especially when playing long-time rivals of the Tigers like the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

“I want them to know that they should be scared to play us. We’re here to win and we’re going to be pushing to for a championship this year and the next couple years. So I want them to be scared to play us,” says McCann.

While the Tigers won’t be climbing up the WHL rankings until regular season starts September 22 against the Calgary Hitmen, the road to the potential Championship has already begun.

“I think getting that taste of playoffs last year is dangerous for teams around the league and we always want more. So we’re looking forward to a big year and a lot of expectations, high expectations for this year,” Smith explains.

The next pre-season games are September 9th and 15th against Lethbridge and then the Swift Current Broncos.