NEW PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Corson Hopwo skates towards the Medicine Hat Tigers bench after scoring in the first period of the Tigers 6-3 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers and Lethbridge Hurricanes swapped veterans looking for a fresh start at the Western Hockey League’s trade deadline Monday.
The Tabbies sent ’01-born forward Corson Hopwo to the Hurricanes in exchange for 21-year-old Logan Barlage and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 WHL Prospect Draft.
Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins wouldn’t say who initiated the trade but said the move was just one that occurred and gave the two veterans a fresh start.
“It’s two older guys that have been with an organization and maybe need a fresh start, I think both are real similar in point numbers if you go through their careers so I think it’s just a fresh start for both guys,” Desjardins said.
Hopwo had spent his entire four-year WHL career in black and orange since being drafted by the club in 2016 and was close to reaching the century mark in points with 43 goals and 53 assists for 96 points over 170 games in the Gas City.
Desjardins said it’s hard to move a guy that’s been with you for a while but described the move as a lateral one for the Tigers.
“The good thing is some times in a move like this you get younger and it’s like you take away from the team, but I think this one is kind of a lateral move,” Desjardins said. “It’s two good players moving for each other and I’m excited about that.”
The Duncan, B.C. product was a big part of the Tigers leadership group and had worn an ‘A’ for two seasons. Desjardins said they will formulate their leadership group as they go and wait to name their second alternate captain.
“We’ll just wait and see what we’re going to do with that,” Desjardins said. “We’ll talk and formulate our leadership group as we go.”
Coming back from the Hurricanes, the 6-foot-5 Barlage has appeared in 31 games for Lethbridge this season, notching seven goals and adding 10 assists. Desjardins said Barlage has lots of skill and character, adding it is pretty exciting to add a player like that.
He said Barlage and Hopwo are similar players and both the Tigers and Hurricanes are looking for the move to spark both guys.
“I think they’re similar players and sometimes a switch can get you excited and I think it can spark both guys, so I think that’s what both clubs are looking for,” Desjardins said.
Both team’s general managers had a preview of their acquisitions this weekend as the Tigers hosted Lethbridge Saturday night. Hopwo scored for the Tigers en route to the 6-3 Hurricanes win.
The Tigers carried a three-game losing streak into Monday’s deadline after losing 6-2 in Moose Jaw Friday night, Saturday against the Hurricanes and a 5-2 loss Sunday night against the Red Deer Rebels.
Desjardins said after Sunday’s loss they would see what happened and do what they could to make the team better. With the dust settled on the Tigers lone move, Desjardins and the team can look towards the final 33 games of what has been a challenging year for the Tigers.
They sit with a record of 7-24-3-1 as the focus has shifted to the future as opposed to the playoffs this season.
With the roster set after the Hopwo trade for the rest of the season, Desjardins said there will be opportunities for younger guys to step up.
“…With Corson leaving there’s different opportunities that are going to present themselves,” Desjardins said. “I think the young players they’ve got to be looking for those opportunities to grow and I think that’s going to help them and the team.”
There has been recent turnover within the Tabbies organization as they traded star centre Lukas Svejkovsky on Dec. 27 and a day later brought in Brendan Lee and Pasha Bocharov from the Saskatoon Blades and signed forward Carter Chorney the same day.
Desjardins said with the new guys coming in and guys like captain Daniel Baker, Oasiz Wiesblatt, Tyler MacKenzie and others playing well, there are positives on the Tigers.
He did say losing games is tough and can take a toll but said he thinks the Tigers have a good group.
“For sure it’s a challenge with us right now, losing games is tough. It takes its toll but I think we have a good group and we have to build off that group and look forward to what’s coming ahead,” Desjardins said.
After their stretch of four games in five nights the Tigers have some time off before they hit the road for a two-game Saskatchewan road trip. They travel to Saskatoon to take on the Blades Friday night, then take on the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday.
