Tigers sign another local product
By RYAN MCCRACKEN on May 7, 2020.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com
The Medicine Hat Tigers announced Wednesday that they have signed another South East Athletic Club product in 15-year-old Shane Smith.
The 5-foot-10, 159-pound centre from Cessford spent most of his minor hockey days in Medicine Hat before joining up with Calgary’s Edge School this past season. His name was called by the Tigers in the third round of last month’s Western Hockey League bantam draft at 51st overall.
“It’s an amazing feeling to come back to Medicine Hat where I originally played hockey. It feels great,” Smith said in a Wednesday phone interview. “Growing up close to Medicine Hat, the Tigers have been the team that I’ve watched in the WHL so I’m excited to be part of the organization.
“I just want to add a thank you to my coaches, teammates and family.”
Smith spent two years playing peewee AA with the Medicine Hat Hounds before making the transition to AAA for his first year of bantam with the SEAC Tigers in 2018-19. Over the course of that season, Smith managed 11 goals and 15 assists in 33 Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League games.
“My (peewee) coaches were outstanding. The second year of peewee we were fortunate to win provincials,” said Smith. “Last year, in bantam, my (SEAC) coaches were great and we had a good run.”
Smith then made the jump to the Canadian Sport School Hockey League this season, where he recorded 23 goals and 20 assists over 30 games with Edge. Smith says Edge also helped prepare him in balancing school with hockey, which will be crucial when making the jump to major junior.
“Edge School definitely played a major role, putting school first and worrying about other things other than just hockey,” said Smith.
Smith becomes the third member of his draft class to sign a WHL standard player agreement, and the second SEAC product behind Hatter Josh Van Mulligen, who served as captain of SEAC’s bantam AAA squad this season. The Tigers also drafted 14-year-old Hatter Cole Unger – who spent the past season as a defenceman with the SEAC Tigers – in the 10th round at 206th overall.
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