NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Harrison Meneghin makes a pad save during practice Tuesday at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Harrison Meneghin is getting his first look at the Highway 3 rivalry from the other side.
The Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender will make his first return to Lethbridge since he was acquired from the Hurricanes in a one-for-one trade on Oct. 5 that sent 19-year-old forward Shane Smith the other way. The two teams face off tonight in the first of eight meetings.
Meneghin played 91 career games for the Hurricanes after being listed and signed by the club in September 2021.
“It’s going to be fun, I’m super excited,” Meneghin said. “I’ve got nothing but respect and I love the guys over there, I love the staff. But at the end of the day, I’m going there to win. I’m excited to see them after, but before the game it’s all business.”
He’s also looking forward to seeing his billet family again, getting a rushed goodbye before leaving to immediately start in a 6-3 Medicine Hat loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors.
“I love them to death and I’m excited to see them, they did so much for me when I was there,” Meneghin said. “They’re very, very important in my hockey career.”
The South Surrey, B.C. product enjoyed the back and forth competition he had with Brandon’s Carson Bjarnason in Saturday’s 3-0 loss to the Wheat Kings and he hopes to be the victor next matchup. That contest was his ninth for the Tigers, putting up a 5-4 record, 2.61 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. It was also his 100th in the WHL.
“You play your whole career in Lethbridge and your 101st game in the league is actually going to be against them, it’s pretty cool to think about,” Meneghin said. “How long of a journey it’s been, but also how special it also has been. So I’m excited, I’m ready to steal two points from them as well.”
He’ll be donning orange and black pads for the first time, receiving new pads on Oct. 31. Meneghin likes the look of his new gear and says it makes him feel like a 20-year-old goaltender again.
“It feels good, just kind of feeling more like a Tiger, not so much as like an affiliated goalie with all the colours and all the random gear,” Meneghin said.
The Hurricanes lost two games in a row over the weekend, falling 5-4 at Red Deer to the Rebels on Saturday and 5-3 to the Calgary Hitmen on Friday. That loss to the Hitmen was their first at VisitLethbridge.com Arena as they’ve started the season with a 7-1-1 home record.
“They have good structure, they’re going to play hard,” Willie Desjardins said. “It’s going to be a tough game. We’re going to have to make sure we get inside and we battle, because they defend well.”
While Meneghin’s return will be a spotlight on the night, Tigers fans making the trip might not see Shane Smith in the Hurricanes lineup. The Cessford product has been day to day with an upper-body injury and did not play for Lethbridge over the weekend. In six games as a Cane, he has two goals and four points.
Tigers’ captain Oasiz Wiesblatt says he’s looking forward to seeing his former teammate either in a suit after the game or on the ice. He’s also excited to help propel his starting goaltender in his return.
“For Harry it’s super exciting, he’s going to have some family and his billets and a bunch of friends he’s gathered in the last four years,” Wiesblatt said.
The 20-year-old Calgary native also celebrated a milestone over the weekend, recording his 200th WHL point with a four-assist effort in the Tigers’ 10-5 win at Regina over the Pats on Friday.
In 233 career games with the Tigers, Wiesblatt has 70 goals and 201 points. He enjoyed the milestone but was frank, he’s not looking for individual success in his last WHL season.
“It’s super exciting, and it’s cliche, but I can’t do it without my teammates and coaches,” Wiesblatt said. “I’m super thankful for everyone who has helped me out, but in the end, I just want to win a championship.”
The Tigers had a positive sight at practice Tuesday with forward Ryder Ritchie skating with the club. The 18-year-old forward has been out of the lineup since Oct. 9 when he took a skate to the face in the third period of a 3-0 win over Red Deer at Co-op Place.
Ritchie had to be checked over by the Minnesota Wild doctors, having been selected 45th overall by the club in the 2024 NHL Entry draft. Desjardins was happy to see him back on the ice but says the Kelowna product remains week to week.
