NEWS FILE PHOTO
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Andrew Basha celebrates scoring the opening goal of Game 1 of the Tigers first-round series against the Red Deer Rebels on March 29. The Tigers lost 5-4 in double overtime.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
A dream 18 years in the making is right around the corner for Andrew Basha.
The Medicine Hat Tigers forward is a few days away from the beginning of a hopeful long pro career that starts with the NHL Entry Draft this Friday in Las Vegas.
The Calgary product is projected to be either a late-first round or second-round selection by one of the 32 NHL teams. Basha will be in attendance at the Sphere, alongside 20 friends and family members cheering him on.
Basha spoke with the News before travelling to Vegas and says he’s still trying to comprehend how close he is to accomplishing a long-awaited dream.
“I’ve been dreaming about this every single day, for 18 years now, so it’s pretty crazy to me that the time has finally come,” Basha said. “I’m sure in the moment, it’ll be kind of numb, probably be in a little bit of shock that it really did hopefully just happen and I’m sure afterwards there’ll be a lot of emotion. Having lots of family and friends there it’ll definitely be an experience, it’s once in a lifetime and I’m just looking forward to kind of soaking it all in and cherish all the memories that I make there.”
Basha worked his way into a first-round touted prospect with a standout third season with the Tigers, putting up 30 goals and 85 points in 63 games. He added another three goals and five points in five playoff games. The 18-year-old played in the CHL Top Prospects game in January and also took part in the NHL draft combine in early June.
He enjoyed the combine experience and the opportunity to meet and talk with 29 interested teams ahead of the draft. Basha says it was made easier by knowing some of the fellow prospects in attendance, making it a shared experience living out the soon-to-be NHL dream.
He didn’t get asked any unique questions that stand out or would circulate on social media, joking the one he remembered the most was a team (he wouldn’t identify which one) asking who he was following on the platform TikTok.
“They kind of put you in a scenario and you have to tell them what you would do in the scenarios and sometimes it doesn’t seem like there is a right answer,” Basha said. “It’s more to see where your mind is and what kind of person you really are, it wasn’t anything wild.”
It has become popular over the last few NHL Drafts for prospects to showcase their personalties through their wardrobe, with Columbus Blue Jackets’ 2023 second overall pick Adam Fantilli leading the way last year with a vest printed with names of people he was thankful for.
Basha didn’t want to spoil too much of what he will be donning on draft night but says he had a suit customized by the company, Glorious Custom Suits, based out of Montreal.
“I went with a tan colour because it’s going to be so hot there,” Basha said. “I’m really excited with the way the design and everything went. The company flew in from Montreal and they’re unbelievable. So I was very excited to put it on for the first time.”
Basha will head to Vegas today as his family and friends are utilizing the big moment as an opportunity for a summer vacation. Once he’s there, stylish suit and all, Basha is looking forward to the draft night experience and a moment he says is only the beginning.
“Getting drafted is not my end goal. I’m more looking forward to development camp, showing whichever team takes me that they made the right decision,” Basha said.
