Plethora of Tigers at NHL camps gives coaching staff a different look

By JAMES TUBB on September 6, 2024.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

The Medicine Hat Tigers will have a far younger look about them after the weekend.

The Tigers host the Calgary Hitmen at Co-op Place for their second preseason action. Following that contest, the WHL club will send 12 skaters to various NHL rookies camps.

As a result, Saturday’s roster will feature more of a veteran-heavy lineup before they leave for NHL camps, something associate coach Joe Frazer says is an opportunity that group of players has been waiting for.

“We’ve been working on lots of things here and it’ll be nice to go against an opponent,” Frazer said. “We’ve bene scrimmaging lots against each other and it’s been a long summer for a lot of the vets. So they’re excited to play against that different opponent.”

The Tigers sent a youth-heavy group, featuring just six WHL regulars, to Lethbridge on Tuesday in a 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes. After the Tigers host Calgary on Saturday, they’ll head to Red Deer on Sept. 13 to face the Rebels before wrapping up the preseason on Sept. 15 at Co-op Place in a matinee against the Hurricanes.

When it comes to the preseason games, Frazer says they’re looking at how each player improved from the day before and ensuring they’re playing to the system that they’ll rely on come the regular season.

“Each day you want to see that team game, the concepts, how we want to play, you want to see that starting to come,” Frazer said. “Every day we should get better and better and more in sync with that.

“You’re looking at individuals, but for us, it’s just trying to get that team game, especially because we’re gonna lose those guys to NHL camps, and we’re not going to get to work with them while they’re gone. So we have to make sure we’re getting those habits down right away. So when they’re back, they just hit the ground running.”

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