NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Park Gavlas races up the ice to join the rush during a Western Hockey League game against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 at the Canalta Centre.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
Parker Gavlas has paid his dues.
The 20-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman returned to the blue line Tuesday after serving a four-game suspension for a head check on Prince George Cougars centre Ilijah Colina.
The collision came in the third period of Medicine Hat’s eventual 5-4 victory on Nov. 6 and resulted in an immediate game misconduct – sending Gavlas off the ice for nearly two weeks. Colina wasn’t injured on the play.
“It’s tough watching four games when you really want to be on the ice,” said Gavlas, adding the hit, which took place as Colina attempted to cut behind him while entering the zone, didn’t quite go as planned. “Hockey is a fast game. I was going to hit a guy and he tried to make a move, and my body clipped him in a way that wasn’t nice to see.”
While they came up short in Gavlas’ first game back on Tuesday – falling 4-0 to the Brandon Wheat Kings – Tigers assistant coach Ryan Smith says the 6-foot, 184-pound Saskatoon product’s steady veteran presence was a welcome return to the team’s young blue line.
“You only get three 20s and when you’re missing one, that hurts. He waited a couple of weeks after the suspension and it’s not easy to come back after missing a couple weeks of action,” Smith said of Gavlas, Medicine Hat’s only overage defenceman. “He means a lot to us, every guy does. When we’re missing a guy, there’s nobody too in big or too small of a role. That’s what a team is about, is filling in for him, but we’re happy to have him back in the lineup.”
Tabby defenceman Trevor Longo couldn’t agree more, as Tuesday reunited him with Gavlas after juggling through four different pairings over the past four contests.
Longo and Gavlas have combined for 12 points across their 18 games together since Gavlas joined the Tigers in a trade with the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sept. 16. But Longo says it feels like they’ve been playing alongside one another for far longer.
“It feels good to be back with him. He plays really physical and I always know where he is,” said Longo, who has four goals and three assists with a plus-six rating this season. “We have some chemistry and I like playing with him a lot. He also skates really well, so it’s good that he’s back.”
Gavlas agreed he’s been building quite a bit of chemistry with his 19-year-old defensive counterpart. While Longo’s speed and left-handed puck-moving ability make him an ideal partner on the blue line, Gavlas says his personality makes him an even better friend in the dressing room, which seems to have boosted their bond on both sides of the boards.
“He’s really fast, moves the puck well and me and him work together quite well,” said Gavlas, who boasts a goal and seven assists with a plus-three rating. “It’s awesome. Me and him have really good chemistry on and off the ice. I think it’s really good when you can be friends with your D-partner too. That helps us lots.”
The Tigers return to the Canalta Centre Friday to host the Moose Jaw Warriors (9-9-1-0) at 7:30 p.m.
