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Irvine, Aleman ready to represent Medicine Hat at HJHL All-Star Game

Dec 10, 2018 | 4:07 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Two of the Medicine Hat Travelodge Cubs’ top offensive weapons will get the chance to suit up alongside the Heritage Junior Hockey League’s top talent next month.

Cubs forwards Noah Irvine and Chandler Aleman were tabbed last week to join the Southern Division’s roster for the 2019 HJHL All-Star Game in Airdrie on January 6.

Both Irvine and Aleman sit in the top 25 in HJHL scoring, with their stats taking off after being paired together on Medicine Hat’s top line.

This will be Irvine’s second all-star game appearance after joining captain Quinten Karg and defender Josh Schafer last year in Okotoks.

After a slow start to the season, Irvine is leading the Cubs with 12 goals and 31 points in 23 games and sits tied for 14th in league scoring.

Irvine said the talent pool the HJHL draws from is deeper than a lot of people think and being able to put on a showcase like the All-Star Game helps improve the visibility of the league.

“It kind of just proves there’s a lot of skilled players in this league,” said Irvine. “I feel like sometimes people don’t realize that, but there’s some real good hockey players and just playing with them was pretty cool.”

As for Aleman, he will be making his debut at the 2019 All-Star Game after making the jump from midget AAA to junior hockey this past summer.

He’s had no issues adjusting to the new level of hockey though, as Aleman is tied for second in Cubs scoring with 27 points and has fired 14 goals in 23 games to begin the season.

Aleman said it would be great getting to play on the same line as Irvine in Airdrie, but added he’s just glad to have gotten the nod.

“It’s good experience for sure and hopefully we can play together,” said Aleman. “But if not, then I guess just help the whole team out in the south and bring it back.”

Along with playing on the same line with the Cubs, Irvine and Aleman also played two seasons together with the SEAC Midget AAA Tigers before making the jump to junior.

Irvine said the duo have been joined at the hip for the last three years and is happy to see their chemistry continuing with the Cubs organization.

“Half of the time I know where he’s going to be before he’s even there,” he said. “So, just that connection is super easy and it makes the game a lot easier for both of us.”

After doubling up the Blackfalds Wranglers by a 6-3 final on Sunday, the Cubs have climbed within two points of fifth place in the Southern Division with a 9-11-3 record.

A busy weekend lies ahead for Medicine Hat with three games in three days, beginning with a road trip Friday night to face the High River Flyers.

They return to the Kinplex on Saturday evening to face the struggling Three Hills Thrashers at 8:45 pm, before hitting the road again on Sunday to battle the Lomond Lakers.