Medicine Hat Tigers forward Hunter St. Martin scans up ice while carrying the puck through the neutral zone in the first period of the Tigers 3-0 preseason win at Co-op Place against the Swift Current Broncos on Sept. 17.--NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Hunter St. Martin got a taste of the Western Hockey League last season, now he’s looking to make an impact.
The 17-year-old Edmonton product made his WHL debut on opening night of the 2021-22 season, a 2-0 Medicine Hat Tigers loss in Swift Current against the Broncos.
St. Martin dressed in 14 other games last season with the Tigers and practised with the club when he wasn’t playing for U18 OHA Edmonton in the CSSHL.
He said that experience made this season’s training camp easier to navigate.
“It was definitely different, not as much nerves and you feel more comfortable on and off ice,” St. Martin said. “You know all of the guys and then on the ice, I had that little bit of experience from last year. It’s definitely good to have that experience and it’s not really that nerve wracking.”
He said his biggest takeaway from last season was he had to improve his strength over the summer and make himself a player who can help up and down the lineup. His offseason and preseason efforts stood out to Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins. He said he knew St. Martin was going to put in the work over the summer to get better.
“He was a guy that you knew could come in and fill in lots of different places and he did come in, he came back, he’s stronger, he’s in better shape,” Desjardins said. “There’s some really good things with him but it doesn’t surprise me. I expected him to come back better and he did.”
St. Martin, like the rest of his Tigers teammates, is looking forward to Saturday’s season opener against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Co-op Place. After not playing in last year’s home opener, St. Martin is ready to get into this year’s contest.
“Last year when I went out for the intros, you want to play so badly but I didn’t get into the lineup,” St. Martin said. “But now we’re hoping to be in the lineup Saturday and it’s really exciting with that crowd and everything.”
He’s also looking forward to recording his first regular season point in the orange and black. St. Martin said he was teased by his two goals in the preseason and can’t wait to score for the Tigers this season.
“I want to obviously produce more and help the team out in that sense and I want to play in the top six if you want to put a word on it,” St. Martin said. “Be one of the go-to guys on the offensive side of the puck and defensively, too.”
Throughout the preseason he’s been slotted with fellow 17-year-old Shane Smith and 20-year-old Brendan Lee. A line trio he says works well together.
“Lee’ser and I have good speed together and Smitty complements us with his defensive game and is really reliable in the middle, so I really like it,” St. Martin said.
He’s also enjoyed playing alongside the Tigers top prospect Gavin McKenna. The 14-year-old has left an impact on St. Martin who has high praise for his future full-time teammate.
“It’s honestly incredible, he’s two years younger and he’s just there, he could play in the dub this year, he’s just so good. It’s very impressive.”
