By Scott Roblin

Orientation Camp scrimmage gives Tigers a glimpse into future

Jun 4, 2018 | 5:42 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Prospects in the Medicine Hat Tigers system received a crash course in WHL life over the weekend through the team’s annual Orientation Camp.

On Sunday, 20 prospects from the 2017 and 2018 WHL Bantam Drafts were put to the test in the Tigers’ Black vs. White scrimmage.

Led by current Tiger Jaeger White, Team White took an early lead and never looked back to earn a 12-6 win over Team Black.

For top prospect Cole Sillinger, the weekend camp was his introduction to the Tigers organization.

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“You can’t picture it until you actually see it,” said Sillinger. “The facilities, the room, it’s all world-class, the organization, the staff, everybody is just world-class and it’s great.”

While White helped out the winning side, Gary Haden was on the ice for Team Black helping prospects.

He said it was a bit of a surreal experience, just a few years removed from being in those prospect’s skates.

“I remember my first camp, I could barely stick handle the puck I was so nervous,” said Haden. “At the end of the day it’s just hockey and this is a game you love to play, so just go out and have fun.”

One of the standouts in Sunday’s game was forward Scout Truman, a 2017 second-round pick by the Tigers, who netted a hat-trick in his second career camp.

“I knew kind of what was going on, how much I needed to be lifting and everything for the workouts,” said Truman. “And, it just really prepared me for this camp and for upcoming camps.”

After posting 48 points in 34 games with the Yale Hockey Academy Prep team, head coach and GM Shaun Clouston said Truman has put himself into a great spot ahead of training camp.

“I think he’s a guy that can play on our team come fall,” said Clouston. “He’s grown a lot in the last year, had an outstanding season, and really stood out.”

Joining Haden and White was Dylan MacPherson on officiating duties, while White basked in the Orientation Cup victory with his team.

Joking after the scrimmage, Haden said a loss always stings no matter the significance of the game.

“It sucks not winning obviously, because who doesn’t like winning,” he said. “But, we’ll give one to Jaeger [White], I feel bad for him so I’ll give him a mercy win on that one.”

Meeting the new draft class on Friday and getting to know their families, Clouston said the face to face interaction is the first step in player development.

“I think it was necessary,” he said. “I think there’s always a bit of a decision-making process for the families and they got to come and meet us.”

2002-born prospects like Truman will regroup for training camp in late August, in the hopes of finally graduating to the WHL level.

“It would be a huge honour, just knowing that I finally gotten there after working hard all these years,” said Truman.