Hat’s Prosofsky making the most of Tigers training camp

By Ryan McCracken on August 27, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

Hayden Prosofsky spent his childhood watching the Medicine Hat Tigers play at The Arena and Canalta Centre — and this weekend, he finally joined them on the ice.

The 14-year-old Medicine Hat product was invited to attend training camp with the Tigers after an impressive season with the Canadian Sport School Bantam Hockey League’s Pursuit of Excellence.

“It was a great experience,” said Prosofsky, who netted five goals and 12 assists in 30 games with POE last season. “It’s been great fun, and just different. You’ve just got to look up to the guys as an undrafted player, learn, do your best and then hopefully come back next year.”

While he missed out at the Western Hockey League bantam draft in May, Prosofsky certainly made an impact during his weekend with the Tigers — as the young forward will return to compete with the team at scrimmages today and Wednesday.

“It’s always nice to get the local kids out here and hopefully he enjoyed it,” said Tigers assistant coach Joe Frazer. “He’ll be coming with us to scrimmages on Monday and Wednesday this week. It’s nice to get that local talent out here, making that dream come true of playing for the Tigers hopefully.”

RELATED: Smart diet, strong work ethic lead to impressive results for Tabbies winger Rybinski

Although spending last season with Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna, Prosofsky got his start in the Hat, and most recently played with the Medicine Hat AA Hounds and SEAC AAA Tigers bantam squads in 2016-17. Given his own history, Prosofsky says he looks at former SEAC Tiger Dylan MacPherson —an undrafted WHL defenceman who earned a place on the Tigers in similar fashion before earning a trip to Florida Panthers development camp next month —as a source of inspiration.

“That was something special,” Prosofsky said of watching MacPherson go from a SEAC Tiger to a WHL Tiger. “As an undrafted player he’s kind of somebody you have to look up to because he’s gotten so much better. He’s such a good player and a good guy.”

10
-9