Andrew Basha has an opportunity to get signed to an NHL team Friday night. File Photo/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill, Eli J. Ridder

‘Pretty surreal’: Medicine Hat Tigers players up in the NHL draft

Jun 28, 2024 | 3:20 PM

Several Medicine Hat Tigers players have the opportunity to get drafted to the big show as the National Hockey League draft begins Friday night.

Tigers forward Andrew Basha, speaking from a hotel in Las Vegas where the draft is taking place, said getting drafted to a professional hockey team will be a dream come true.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Basha told CHAT News late on Thursday.

“It’s very exciting but at the same time, it’s obviously not the end goal, this is where my career is just starting.”

Basha, 18, is expected to be draft in the later half of the first round or early second round.

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Projections have Tigers forward Cayden Lindstrom going early in the first round.

Tigers forward Tomas Mrsic, who also made the trip to Las Vegas, is projected to be picked by round four of the draft.

Basha, who grew up in Calgary cheering for the Flames, said it’s great to have teammates going through the draft process at the same time.

“The Tigers organization has done such a good job developing all the young players and for it to be a moment that I can share with my teammates is something very special,” he said.

“Just amazing.”