NEWS PHOTO SEAN ROONEY Daniel Baker, decked out in his finest Space Jam regalia, switches sports during the Medicine Hat Tigers' skills competition Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 at Canalta Centre. Baker dunked a ball instead of shooting a puck past goalie Jordan Hollett as teammate Trevor Longo helped hold the miniature basketball net.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
The Medicine Hat Tigers Skills Competition returns to the Canalta Centre tonight for the annual exhibition of dynamic ability, breakneck speed and quirky creativity.
While previous years featured two teams battling for bragging rights, this year’s event will pit four squads against each other – and the trash talk is already heating up.
“The captains have been giving it to each other, saying who has the better team,” said Bryan Lockner, one of four captains along with James Hamblin, Ryan Chyzowski and Cole Clayton. “I think I’ve got the best team, for sure. I think (Baxter Anderson) is going to win fastest skater, he’s a great skater. Obviously I’m the reigning champ for hardest shot so I think I’ve got that one in the bag, for sure.”
While Lockner won last year’s hardest shot event – clocking in at 94 mph – Clayton argues this year’s event isn’t as cut and dried as his teammate makes it out to be.
“Locks really thinks he’s going to win hardest shot, but I think he’s in for a rude awakening,” said Clayton. “We should see who picked the best team. I think I did.”
There’s just as much contention surrounding who will earn the title of fastest skater and most accurate shot, but the crown jewel of the event always seems to be the showtime shootout – a breakaway competition that’s less about scoring and more about dazzling the judges with creative, prop-based performances. Notable attempts from previous years include Steven Owre’s sparkler rocket skates, Mark Rassell’s American sniper routine and Jaxon Steele’s flying Superman goal – which won the event last season.
“It isn’t easy trying to think of ideas and get props, especially when we only have three days here,” said Hamblin. “It’s not easy, but hopefully what we come up with is what the judges like.”
Chyzowski added the difficulty in planning for the showtime shootout is often coming up with ideas that haven’t been done before, but it still never seems to disappoint.
“It’s a challenge coming up with creative and new ideas that are just as exciting,” said Chyzowski. “It’s something that everybody looks forward to. It’s pretty hard to put that on somebody’s shoulders, but it’s always something that goes really well.”
New Tigers have a history of stealing the show at the skills competition, from Steele’s showtime gem last year, to former goaltender Michael Bullion commanding the limelight in 2017 after being traded to Medicine Hat from the Portland Winterhawks just a few weeks prior. Clayton is hoping that trend will continue, which is why he selected newly acquired blueliner Nick Perna to step up for his team in the showtime shootout.
“I think it’s going to be a way for him to express himself a little bit, and for the crowd to get to know him a little bit better,” Clayton said of Perna, a former Winterhawk like Bullion. “I think he’s got a couple funny things up his sleeve.”
He won’t be the only new Tiger in the showtime shootout, as former Saskatoon Blade Cyle McNabb will represent Team Chyzowski and former Edmonton Oil King Parker Gavlas will compete for Team Lockner, while Corson Hopwo is set to take the reins for Team Hamblin.
Lockner is the only Tiger entering the competition as a reigning champion. Former Tabby blueliner Dylan MacPherson took last year’s fastest skater event with a time of 14.68 seconds, while Logan Christensen finished with the most accurate shot after hitting all four targets in 13.70 seconds. Regardless of who wins, Clayton says it’s always fun for players to test themselves against the stopwatch or radar gun.
“It’s pretty cool. Obviously you don’t really get to do it that much,” said Clayton. “When we get to test it on that clock and see a number, it’s pretty cool. Hopefully I improved from last year.”
Facing Clayton and Lockner in the hardest shot competition will be Team Hamblin’s Dylan Plouffe and Team Chyzowski’s Cole Sillinger, while Hamblin will take on Anderson, Team Chyzowski’s Caleb Willms and Team Clayton’s Brett Kemp for the title of fastest skater.
Chyzowski will lead his team in the accuracy shooting competition against Team Hamblin’s Jonathan Brinkman, Team Clayton’s Daniel Baker and Team Lockner’s Lukas Svejkovsky. The evening will also feature a 3-on-3 tournament and an elimination shootout. The team relay has been removed from this year’s event.
The format and sponsor may have changed – with A&W stepping up to present the skills competition this year – but the goal of supporting the local MS Society remains the same. Fans are encouraged to donate at the door in place of tickets. Last year $4,260 was raised for the MS Society.
“It should be fun, and no matter what it’s all for an unreal cause,” said Chyzowski. “It’s just a fun experience to be part of.”
