Tigers 2018-19 Preview: A blue collar off-season

By Ryan McCracken on September 22, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

Gary Haden’s charismatic persona has earned him throngs of fans over the past few years, but at the end of last season it netted him a job as well.

The 19-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers centre and Airdrie product often sells sections worth of tickets when his team travels to Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton to play — from friends and family to faces he’s met on the golf course — and when he wrapped up the playoffs in May, his friend and fan Gord Kennedy offered him some summer employment as an electrician.

“I met (Kennedy) at the golf course one time and we kind of became family friends. That progressed and he kind of became a Tigers super fan,” said Haden. “He’s from Calgary and would drive to Lethbridge or Red Deer or Edmonton to watch me play. He’s got a signed team jersey from us É After the season he just asked what I was doing for work. I didn’t really have a job so he offered me a job and then I just worked for him the whole summer. It was awesome.”

Haden spent 40 hours a week working as Kennedy’s apprentice, hitting the gym after work each night in preparation for the upcoming season. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound centre says the experience showed him how tough life outside the rink can be.

“There were some long days. It really puts into perspective how lucky we really are to play hockey at this age. There’s kids our age who are working full time jobs Monday to Friday, 365 days a year, so to play hockey is really a blessing,” said Haden, adding it could end up being his fallback job, but a career in hockey would be a far more favourable option. “It was hard. It was real work, that’s for sure. There were a lot of days where I came home and I was asleep by 8. It really opened my eyes. It would be really nice to make some money at this game and not have to work an everyday job.

“I really learned a lot and only blew myself up once, so that was good. I shocked myself once, it was pretty scary but you learn pretty fast.”

Haden joined the Tigers in the 2016 deadline day trade that sent Cole Sanford to the Regina Pats. Over the next two seasons, Haden worked himself into a key role on the team — picking up 17 goals and 25 assists in 70 games last season.

While the Tabbies will be without former captain Mark Rassell up front this year, Haden points out the team’s forward corps remains largely intact heading into the regular season, leaving him feeling confident about their chances to retain the Central Division crown.

“We have 11 returning forwards so anytime you get that kind of a turnover you’ve got to be excited, especially with how many goals we scored last year. I think we can definitely do that and maybe more,” said Haden, who says he believes sophomores Josh Williams and Henry Rybinski will be a big factor in the team’s offensive success. “They’re going to be great players this year. They’re really going to excel on our team. They got faster, bigger and stronger so I’m really excited to see what they do this year.”

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