NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
South Alberta Hockey Academy defenceman Matthew Paranych carries the puck up ice in the first period of SAHA's 4-2 win against OHA Edmonton at Big Marble Go Centre on Nov. 13.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers and South Alberta Hockey Academy are both well represented on Team Alberta’s Canada Winter games roster.
Five Tigers prospects: forwards Kadon McCann, Hayden Harsanyi, defencemen Matthew Paranych, Jack Kachkowski and goaltender Jordan Switzer and SAHA forward Ryan Miller were all named Wednesday to the U16 roster.
Paranych and McCann also don the SAHA blue and were watching the announcement video together alongside Harsanyi who plays for Edge in the CSSHL but is with the Tigers for the time being. It started with the goalies, then the defence and finally the forwards; McCann says he was sweating a little bit as the video eventually made its way to the forwards and his name.
“There’s a couple of the boys on that roster who are on this team, so it’s awesome to see everybody there,” McCann said. “We have a great group of (2007-born players) on our team, it’s a huge honour.”
The Canada Winter games takes place Feb. 18 to Mar. 5 in P.E.I. Competing there will be the first trip to the Eastern province for Paranych and McCann but not their first time representing Alberta. All five of the Tigers prospects played in the 2021-23 Alberta Cup.
“Representing Alberta is real fun,” Paranych said. “The Alberta Cup, Alberta Winter games are all fun tournaments and it’s just amazing to put Alberta across your chest. In the Alberta Cup I was able to wear the ‘C’ so it made representing Alberta even better.”
Paranych, McCann and Gavin McKenna, who will likely represent the Yukon at the Canada games, are three of a total eight Tigers prospects playing at SAHA, something the defenceman says is only making them better.
“It’s really exciting with me, Gavin, Kadon and all the Tiger guys, we’re really excited and getting real good chemistry together,” Paranych said. “We’re working out extra, putting good stuff in our bodies and making sure we’re on top of our school and workouts.”
Tigers associate coach Joe Frazer says the Canada games will be a great experience for them and pumped the tires of their scouting staff for bringing in the young talent.
“We texted all of the guys Wednesday night and they’re all super excited,” Frazer said. “The credit goes to the scouting staff, they put a ton of work in last year. We knew we were going to have some high picks and a lot of them and the scouting staff did an outstanding jobs. So credit goes to those guys.”
McCann says he is looking forward to the experience and getting a chance to face off against the other provinces’ best players.
“It’s a huge honour, it’s the first time playing in a Canada-wide tournament,” McCann said. “Playing against the top guys like (Michaal) Misa hopefully and kids from Saskatchewan, that’s going to be pretty cool. It’s a super huge honour for me and I know it’s a huge honour for everyone else.”
