By Matt Pouncy

Tigers draft picks gain experience at training camp

Aug 27, 2018 | 5:40 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Tigers held its training camp over the weekend and it was the first opportunity for the Tigers 2018 bantam draft picks to get a taste of junior hockey.

The three day camp wrapped up on Sunday morning with an intrasquad game that featured some younger prospects looking to make an impact.

Tigers assistant coach Joe Frazer was watching his potential future Tigers compete and gave praise to their scouting team for finding some young talent that will be the future of the team.

“I think they all looked good. Cole Sillinger was really good all weekend. Dru Krebs play well, (Liam) Vanderkooi in net. Jaden Davis was really good, so go down the list, (Rhett) Parsons, all of them. So our scouts did a really good job at the draft last year,” said Frazer.

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All of those players were drafted by the Tigers this spring with Sillinger at top going 11th overall.

As 15 year-old’s, these draft picks are only eligible to play in five regular season games as per WHL guidelines, although can play more on emergency call-up basis.

Frazer hopes these players had a positive experience at camp and that they will continue to grow their game over the season.

“Hopefully they can take the experience they got from Eagle’s Nest, spending some days with our leadership and hopefully they learned some things that they can bring back to their club teams. Just grow as players and people and be ready to go next year,” said Frazer.

On Sunday forward Cole Sillinger showed why the Tigers picked him in first round as at times he controlled the play and used his 5’11” frame to create space for himself on the ice.

He said on the ice he felt rusty but overall he enjoyed his first major junior camp.

“You know not in mid-season (form) yet. Didn’t get the bounces maybe you wanted to but yeah, all together the guys were so good, built chemistry with them. It was just really fun,” said Sillinger.

The 15-year-old Regina product says the veterans of the team helped him feel welcome throughout the weekend.

“They all welcome you with open arms and they start conversations with you and just talk to you about the organization, the people, and everything about Medicine Hat. They’re really good to you,” said Sillinger.

Defenseman Dru Krebs came into the camp with some veteran advice from he older brothers who both have WHL experience.

Dru’s oldest brother Dakota (19) has four years of experience split between the Tri-City Americans and the Calgary Hitmen, and middle brother Peyton (17) just wrapped up his first full season with the Kootenay Ice.

With all three brothers on teams in the WHL’s Central Division, it could create some interesting rivalries but Krebs says they told him to keep things simple ahead of camp.

“They just told me to be yourself, don’t try to over do it. Just play your game,” said Krebs.

Liam Vanderkooi got to play between the pipes for one period of Sunday’s intrasquad game.

He didn’t like how the period went but said his play throughout the weekend was good and he learned a lot about how different junior hockey can be.

“It was a lot quicker than anything I’ve played in the past and it was a lot of fun playing with older guys. Really challenging myself and yeah it was a lot of fun,” said Vanderkooi.

The Tigers have trimmed the roster from 60 to 40 over the weekend, and a few more will likely be let go ahead of pre-season action this weekend. 

The Tabbies are gearing up for two exhibition games against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Friday night’s game will be played in Lethbridge at the Enmax Centre and on Saturday night the Tabbies will host the Hurricanes at the Taber Community Centre.