NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Cole Sillinger readies his shot during a scrimmage at Medicine Hat Tigers training camp on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019 at the Canalta Centre.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
Cole Sillinger made a name for himself with the Tigers last post-season, now he’s ready to make a home in Medicine Hat.
The 16-year-old Regina product joined up with the Tigers for last season’s opening round playoff series against the Edmonton Oil Kings and came out as one of the team’s top performers before they met their end in Game 6. Now Sillinger hopes to pick up where he left off and earn a permanent place on the roster for the upcoming season.
“I trained hard this summer,” said Sillinger. “That’s something I really focused on, was coming here and making this team – but being a factor on this team too.”
While their season-ending overtime loss wasn’t the conclusion Sillinger was hoping for after getting called up to the team for the playoffs, the 6-foot, 180-pound lefty admits the experience gave him a stronger understanding of what it takes to thrive at the WHL level and left him hungry to develop over the off-season.
“You really do know what you have to get to at the end of the year. Everyone trains hard, everyone wants to be the best, so it’s just the stuff that puts you over the top,” he said. “I think that’s something I focused on when I was training this summer, just doing the little extra things that would keep me in condition at a late time in the year.”
While Willie Desjardins wasn’t coach of the team last season, he says he took notes on Sillinger’s progress through the playoffs and he’s looking forward to helping the young forward develop further.
“Sillinger certainly proved it last year in the playoffs,” said Desjardins. “He’s one of the top guys in his age group, so it’s good to see him coming in.”
Sillinger’s off-season was highlighted by a trip to Hockey Canada development camp in Calgary ahead of November’s World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The Tigers will hit the road for a nine-game road trip while Canalta Centre plays co-host to the tournament, and with any luck, Sillinger will remain in Medicine Hat to compete on one of Canada’s three teams at the event.
“It really was a humbling week (at development camp) with so many good players across Canada. Just knowing how hard you have to work, that was a great experience for me,” he said.
“If I was selected to be a part of that tournament it would be an extreme honour for me.”
