MacPherson returns to the ice, earns invitation to Panthers camp

By Ryan McCracken on June 7, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

Dylan MacPherson is back on his feet and ready to further his on-ice career.

The 20-year-old Redcliff product and Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman had his post-season cut short in a devastating knee-on-knee collision during Game 1 of the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference quarter-final against the Brandon Wheat Kings on March 23. But following a tenuous road to recovery, MacPherson says he’s almost back to full form and ready to push for a professional career after earning an invitation to attend development camp with the Florida Panthers.

“I’d say I’m at 95 per cent, just a little bit left,” said MacPherson. “It was a lot of slow, tentative stuff and then it just built up. It was really controlled exercises that helped it move along.”

MacPherson was out on the ice at the Family Leisure Centre last weekend to help out with his Tigers at their annual orientation camp, as well as put in some time with his former South East Athletic Club Tigers Friday. While it’s a far cry from what he’s sure will come at Panthers camp, MacPherson says it was great to get his blades back on the ice all the same.

“It felt good. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the ice and it’s just exciting to get out there and skate even if it’s not going hard and doing drills,” he said, adding the future is bright for the Tigers. “The camp is getting better and better. These young kids are coming in and competing hard and the skill level is getting better every orientation camp that comes around.”

MacPherson worked his way into the WHL after putting in the hours with SEAC. The steady blueliner caught the eye of the Tigers’ brass in 2016 amid an impressive season with SEAC and got his first taste of major junior that year. While he only played in one game, he remained with the team and worked his way onto the full-time roster that fall — where he was remained a staple ever since.

“It hurt us when he left in Game 1, it was a big blow for us in the playoffs, but now he’s heading out to NHL camp,” Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston said of MacPherson, who has four goals, 27 assists and a plus-26 rating through 118 career games in Medicine Hat. “It’s pretty exciting for a guy that was playing midget hockey in Medicine Hat a couple years ago. Dylan has come a long way, he’s put a lot into it and it’s really exciting to see him healed up and ready to go again.”

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