By Mitch Bach

‘I think I’m ready for the jump’: Bjorklund competing for back-up roll with Tigers

Aug 29, 2018 | 6:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — It appears it’s a three-horse race for the Medicine Hat Tigers back-up goaltender situation.

Jordan Hollett, returning for his second year with the Orange and Black, is essentially a lock for the starter roll, but the young man backing him up isn’t so set in stone.

The three ‘tenders competing for ‘second in charge’ include 6’7″ import Mads Sogaard, who signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the team earlier this week, 2017 first round bantam selection Garin Bjorklund, and Kaeden Freer-Lane, who played a pair of games with the Tigers at the beginning of last year.

Bjorklund, fresh off a strong midget AAA debut with the Calgary Buffaloes last year, isn’t phased by the high-stakes selection process.

“I think it’s exciting in some ways to see what they’re going to do,” said the 16-year-old, who dressed in a couple back-up games for the Tigers last year, but didn’t see any playing time. “To have Mads here after the import draft, it just shows some more competition and makes you work that much harder.

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“There’s five awesome goalies here right now, so it’s exciting to see what happens.”

The fifth netminder Bjorklund is referring to is Liam Vanderkooi, who was drafted earlier this summer by the Tigers in the third round. Vanderkooi is not eligible to make the team full-time this fall, but could be called up at some point depending on injuries and illnesses.

Head coach Shaun Clouston shed some light on the back-up roll, saying signing Sogaard is a good indication he could become the boni fide back-up.

“We were going to sign him when he got over, and that’s what we did,” said Clouston. “I think right now when you look at everything, he’s had a great camp and we’re excited to see him this weekend and we’re optimistic about his future.” 

Medicine Hat opens pre-season play on Friday, heading to Lethbridge to take on the Hurricanes at 7:00 p.m. They’ll travel to Taber on Saturday for a second date against their Highway 3 rivals before returning to the Canalta Centre for more scrimmages and practices next week. 

Clouston says each goaltender will see playing time this weekend, giving them the chance to send a positive message to the coaching staff.

“I just want to show them what I’m all about,” Bjorklund added. “I think I’m ready for the jump, and we’ll just see when time comes. Hopefully I’ll make it this year.”

While Bjorklund acknowledges it’s a big jump into the WHL from the major midget ranks, he believes his campaign with the Buffaloes helped him mature greatly as a goaltender. The Calgarian sported a 10-5 record, complimented by an impressive .913 save percentage and a goals against average of 1.92, which was the third best among all AMHL goalies.

After the season wrapped up, Bjorklund continued putting in the work with his eyes focused on making the Tigers.

“I worked out six times a week, and was on the ice three or four times a week,” he said. “I think I put a lot of my summer into making this team, so overall I think I could make the jump.”

All will be decided in the coming weeks, with five exhibition games leading up to the regular season, which begins on Friday, September 22nd in Lethbridge.

Bjorklund hopes to be there, potentially starting. Hollett is heading to Ottawa Senators rookie camp, and could still be in the nations capital come the WHL campaign.

“As a kid, you dream of playing in the WHL,” he added. “For now, I think you can stop dreaming and start working.”