Williams already primed for sophomore season
By Ryan McCracken on August 25, 2018.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken While most Western Hockey League players were still spending their hours in the gym, Medicine Hat Tigers forward Josh Williams was gearing up for his season on the international stage. The 17-year-old right winger clinched gold with Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton and Red Deer earlier this month, allowing him the chance to fine tune his game just before training camp while leading his country in goals. “It’s always an unbelievable experience, every chance you get, you take it with open arms and it was just really fun playing against some of the best players in the world. It was a great challenge and we were lucky enough to come out with the gold,” said Williams, who had four goals and an assist in the five-game tournament. “It let me sort of fine tune everything and get ready for the season and I’m hoping to have a big year.” Williams recorded 11 goals and nine assists through 47 games last season — a year stymied by a broken collarbone suffered in a practice prior to the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Langley product went on to add a pair of goals in the playoffs before earning his place on Canada’s roster at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with an impressive performance at selection camp. Williams was one of 11 WHL players on Canada’s squad at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, including longtime friend and regular on-ice rival Dylan Cozens— who spends his seasons lacing them up with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Williams says it was a nice change of pace to be able to play alongside Cozens. The pair even combined for two of the tournament’s biggest goals when Williams netted the overtime winner in the semifinal against the United States after Cozens forced sudden death with just one second left in regulation. “It was definitely exciting. It came down to the wire, like literally to the wire,” said Williams. “We’ve got a great group out in the West here and we’re a pretty close group. I’ve been friends with a lot of those guys a long time, played against them growing up — especially me and Dylan. We played on our midget team together, we’re pretty good friends now and it’s always going to be fun playing against them this year.” RELATED: Hamblin all healed up Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston says he was proud of Williams’ performance at the event, which was bolstered by much more than four timely goals and an assist. “I think he did a great job,” said Clouston. “He got better as the tournament went on. I was really impressed with not just the goal scoring but how engaged he was. There were times late in the game where he was out on the ice and he’s managing the puck and doing a real good job during a very important time in that tournament.” Having home ice advantage at the tournament, Williams’ Canadian squad was treated to an impressive amount of coverage rivaling that of the World Junior Championship — including televised games and thousands and screaming fans in attendance. “It was really professional,” he said. “Being there at the final with 11,000 people wearing red Canadian jerseys, it gives you chills. It was an unbelievable experience and it was happy to be a part of it.” 14
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