By Mitch Bach

Van Impe eyes permanent spot on Tigers blue-line

Aug 30, 2018 | 5:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The selection process continues for the Medicine Hat Tigers as the regular season inches closer.

Some 35-40 players remain at camp, fighting for a limited number of permanent spots with the club for the 2018-19 stanza. 

While the forward units remain fairly consistent from last year, a few new vacancies have opened up on the blue-line. Kristians Rubins has graduated from the junior ranks, while David Quenneville is unlikely to return after signing a professional contract with the New York Islanders over the off-season.

’98-born import Linus Nassen’s situation is a little more uncertain, with much of his future depending on his performance at Florida Panthers training camp next month. Dalton Gally is one of four overage players currently with the team fighting for one of three eligible spots.

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This leaves the potential for a couple young prospects and rookies to crack the orange and black roster for the long haul.

16-year-old Eric Van Impe is one of them.

“I just have to play my game, and do what I can to help the team,” said the Calgarian, who was acquired by the Tigers last October when Zach Fischer was sent to the Spokane Chiefs.

Like all up-and-coming prospects looking to raise the coaching staffs eyebrows, Van Impe took part in last weekend’s training camp. He survived the first wave of cuts, which mostly included 2003-born invites and 2018 Bantam Draft picks.

“The pace picks up from playing midget last year,” he said. “You see the different between the younger and the older guys, how they hold themselves, how they play and the compete level they have.”

Van Impe’s performance throughout the 2017-18 season is enough reason to give the 6’1″, 185-lbs defenceman a double-take. He averaged a point-per-game playing for the Calgary AAA Midget Northstars — his second stint with the club after making the jump to major midget as a 14-year-old.

His 33 points were second among all defenceman in the Alberta Midget Hockey League scoring, trailing 18-year-old Tyler Winquist by a single tick.

His performance earned him a short emergency call-up to the Tigers for two games last year after Nassen suffered a broken arm. He skated to a +1 rating and recorded two shots on goal.

“I got a couple games last year, and you notice the difference right away.” Van Impe added. “The compete, the speed, even the systems are a little more technical. So you’ve got to get used to all that.”

Van Impe was originally drafted by the Spokane Chiefs in the 2nd round (30th overall) of the 2016 Bantam Draft. The previous season, he represented Team Calgary North at the Alberta Cup after recording an impressive 46 points in his final year of AAA bantam.

This weekend’s pair of exhibition games will paint a clearer picture on his ability to compete at the WHL level. Medicine Hat opens pre-season action Friday night in Lethbridge at 7:00 p.m. They’ll tangle with the Hurricanes for a second time on Saturday in Taber at 7:30 p.m.