Medicine Hat Tigers captain James Hamblin celebrates after scoring the opening goal in a Western Hockey League game against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 at the Canalta Centre.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
Outgoing Medicine Hat Tigers captain James Hamblin collected one last feather in his major junior cap by earning a place on the Canadian Hockey League’s list of all-star players.
Hamblin was one of 36 players and 18 forwards on the list, which was released by the CHL last week.
The 21-year-old Edmonton product played five seasons in the Western Hockey League – all with Medicine Hat. Hamblin collected 36 goals and 56 assists in 63 games this campaign before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the cancellation of the season. Over his 324 career games in the Gas City, Hamblin registered 115 goals – including 31 on the power play and 13 shorthanded – along with 169 assists and a plus-45 rating.
Hamblin – a 5-foot-10, 181-pound centre – solidified his future on the ice back in April by signing a two-year contract with the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors.
Other notable names on the list were top NHL draft prospect Alexis Lafrenière (35G, 77A, 52GP), of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Rimouski Oceanic, fellow draft candidate Marco Rossi (39G, 81A, 56GP), of the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67’s and Minnesota Wild prospect Adam Beckman (48G, 59A, 63GP), of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs – all of whom led their respective league in scoring.
