Tigers 2018-19 Preview: Hamblin to honour Humboldt’s Parker Tobin this season

By Ryan McCracken on September 22, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

James Hamblin will be playing for Parker Tobin this season.

The Medicine Hat Tigers captain lost his friend in the now infamous Humboldt Broncos bus crash in April, and will be wearing a special hat in memory of Tobin on game days.

“That’s kind of the least I can do. It’s a hat their family gave to me, so to be able to wear it is kind of special,” said Hamblin, who spent his formative years playing spring hockey alongside the Humboldt Broncos goaltender.

“I grew up knowing him pretty well. It was definitely tough to see him go.”

Tobin’s death came as an added shock, as his body was initially misidentified as teammate Xavier Labelle. It wasn’t until a few days after the crash that the truth was discovered — Labelle had survived, while Tobin had perished.

“It was definitely difficult,” said Hamblin. “I know as soon as the accident did happen we were contacting the family to see what was happening with him. To initially hear that he was in the hospital doing well, but that tragic news, it was hard for us but I can’t even imagine how it felt for his family.”

Hamblin — who put up 21 goals and 43 assists last year — will lead the Tigers into the season after being named captain in late August, following in the footsteps of former linemate Mark Rassell. The 19-year-old Edmonton product will be bolstered by alternates Ryan Jevne, Ryan Chyzowski and Bryan Lockner, and says he is excited to set a framework for the future with the team’s younger players.

“It’s exciting just to see how they step into those new roles that they have,” Hamblin said of the team’s youth. “There’s lots of skill and lots of talent here and I think they’re going to do really well.”

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