Soakin’ in the Tubb: Injuries provide opportunities for Tigers

By JAMES TUBB on October 5, 2024.

With almost everyone back from NHL camps, the Medicine Hat Tigers roster is nearing its full point.

The reassignment of forward Hunter St. Martin and defenceman Veeti Väisänen leaves just forward Cayden Lindstrom away from the team. He was always expected to be the last to join the team this season and won’t be here until the Columbus Blue Jackets deem him healthy and ready to go.

The Tigers sit at 14 forwards, eight defencemen and three goalies without Lindstrom. That leaves difficult lineup choices that gained a little easement this week, with injuries to 19-year-old defenceman Josh Van Mulligen and 19-year-old goaltender Zach Zahara.

Van Mulligen’s week-to-week upper body injury suffered in the opening-minute fight against the Red Deer Rebels on Sept. 21 leaves the coaching staff with seven options, an easier rotation. Zahara’s day-to-day upper body injury leaves Ethan McCallum and Jordan Switzer to battle for the crease.

Switzer got first nod of the weekend, starting at Red Deer on Friday. He finished the Tigers’ 4-3 loss to Red Deer on Sept. 21 after McCallum allowed three goals on 11 shots.

Head coach Willie Desjardins is still looking for his option in net for the rest of the season.

This team will need time to find their stride and build chemistry, in the crease and throughout the lineup with everyone playing their first couple of games together.

There’s an appreciation for patience when it comes with success, as long as that patience is met with growth.

Tub(b) thoughts

-Who would have pencilled the Saskatoon Blades as the only team to be 4-0 through the first two weekends. They’ve been led by 19-year-old forward Tyler Parr with a goal and eight points so far. They also have goaltending tandem 20-year-old Austin Elliott and 18-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospect Evan Gardner backstopping them. Will be interesting if they decide to run with the group for the playoffs or make some moves to re-kindle assets traded last deadline.

-First suspension of the 2024-25 WHL season was handed out to Regina Pats’ defenceman Corbin Vaughan. The 19-year-old defenceman received a three-game ban for a check to head major and game misconduct at Moose Jaw on Sept. 27.

– There was a lot of excitement around Rhett Parsons signing a pro deal with the Toronto Marlies. The long-time Tigers defenceman suited up in 219 games in the orange and black, serving as the sheriff on the ice for a young team. He had to grow up quickly on the ice, fighting older players to either set the tone or in defence of this team. Good people get rewarded in this game, his signing is only another example.

-Tigers’ rookie Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll has found an early stride in his first couple of weeks in the orange and black. The still 15-year-old, (he turns 16 on Nov. 26), has a goal and three points in three games entering the weekend. Even more impressive, he’s fourth on the team in faceoff wins with 17. He sits behind 20-year-old forward Mat Ward (34), NHL draft eligible Kadon McCann (18) and overager Oasiz Wiesblatt (18).

James Tubb is sports reporter with the Medicine Hat News. He can be reached at jtubb@medicinehatnews.com