NEWS FILE PHOTO Medicine Hat Travelodge Cubs defenceman Fletcher Aleman stickchecks Kaleb Rowe of the Strathmore Wheatland Kings during a Heritage Junior Hockey League game at the Kinplex on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019.
Fletcher Aleman has been called up to compete at the Heritage Junior Hockey League’s all-star game.
The 19-year-old Medicine Hat Cubs defenceman will take the place of teammate Joshua Schafer at the event – which will be hosted at the Kinplex on Jan. 5.
Schafer was recently sidelined due to an upper-body injury and isn’t expected to return before playoffs. While it leaves the Cubs in a tough spot, it opened the door for Aleman to step onto the Southern Division roster alongside Cubs forwards Mason Fischer and Chandler Aleman – his twin brother.
“We have a very strong D core of seven and honestly I could see any of the seven being strong enough to put on a great showing at the all-star game,” Cubs co-coach JD Gaetan said in a message to the News. “Fletcher is very solid on the back end and always brings that consistent game. We rely on Fletcher in lots of different situations, from shutting down top lines, to power play and penalty kill. It is great to see him get an opportunity to showcase his skill at the all-star game.”
Aleman, who hails from Brooks, has four goals and eight assists in 20 games on Medicine Hat’s blue line this season.
The Cubs are on pace for one of their best records in recent memory, entering this weekend’s three-game homestand with a 15-7-2 record – good enough for fourth in the Southern standings.
They host the High River Flyers (10-14-3) tonight at 7:45 p.m. before taking on the Strathmore Wheatland Kings (8-17-0) Saturday at 7:45 p.m. and the Cochrane Generals (17-7-1) Sunday at 2:15 p.m.
