NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN Medicine Hat Tigers forward Lukas Svejkovsky makes a breakout pass during a Western Hockey League game against the Everett Silvertips at the Canalta Centre on Dec. 7, 2019.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
After spending the bulk of three seasons on the same line at Delta Hockey Academy, Lukas Svejkovsky and Corson Hopwo were forced to part ways in order to embark on their careers in the Western Hockey League.
But on Dec. 7, their worlds collided back together in a blockbuster trade between the Medicine Hat Tigers and Vancouver Giants – and the duo has been wreaking havoc on a line with Tabby captain James Hamblin ever since.
“I heard that we got a right winger and a D-man from the Giants, and I was like ‘OK it could be (Svejkovsky),’ but I just didn’t know. Then when I finally heard I was pretty excited,” said Hopwo. “It was pretty cool to find myself on a line with him again.”
Although they hail from opposite sides of the border – with Svejkovsky coming from Point Roberts, Wash. and Hopwo calling Duncan, B.C. home – Hopwo says the two essentially grew up together on the ice.
“Me and Lukas have been playing together even before Delta (bantam and midget), within spring hockey with the B.C. Bears. We kind of grew up with each other, you could say. We created chemistry when we were younger and now we play together which is pretty cool,” said Hopwo, adding Svejkovsky hasn’t changed one bit since his Delta days. “He’s still skilled, works hard, nice shot. He’s the same player, same kid. It’s funny, he’s just an all-around good guy.”
Svejkovsky added that pre-packaged chemistry from their formative years, coupled with a solid friendship away from the arena, made for a smooth transition in Medicine Hat. Their line has combined for 36 points in nine games since the calendar flipped to 2020, including 14 over a two-game split this weekend.
“We seem to click pretty well. Growing up we usually played together on a line too so we’re just having fun,” said Svejkovsky, who had two assists in a 6-2 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes Saturday and two goals in a 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings Sunday. “When we’re producing it’s definitely fun, so hopefully we can keep that going.”
While Hamblin says it took some work for the three to start building steam as a line, it wasn’t long before the chemistry between Svejkovsky and Hopwo became apparent.
“You could definitely tell that there was something there. I think we’ve just been working with it as much as possible,” said Hamblin, who had four goals in Saturday’s win over Lethbridge, while Hopwo added three assists. “I think we’re starting to click a little bit, starting to figure out how each other plays and using our strengths. We’re just working hard. We’re getting on their D and turning lots of pucks over right now.”
Tigers assistant coach Ryan Smith agreed the line seems to be hitting its stride in recent games, spending the bulk of its ice time occupying the offensive zone and picking up the points to show for it. Perhaps most important, says Smith, each member of the trio brings a different approach to their role, which has resulted in a challenge for opposing defences.
“The biggest thing with those guys is they all bring a little bit of something different to the table,” said Smith. “It seemed like Lukas had the puck on his stick a lot this weekend, a skilled guy who makes plays. Hopwo’s a worker who goes to the front of the net and causes a lot of problems on the forecheck, then James is obviously an all-arounder who, on Saturday, showed his scoring touch. But they all contributed to those goals. It’s nice to see because it took a little while – that always happens after trades and moves and switching lines and all that, but they seem to be getting it now.”
The Tigers (29-13-1-1) hit the road for a short East Division swing starting Friday in Saskatoon against the Blades (22-18-1-2) and concluding Saturday in Prince Albert against the Raiders (23-14-5-3).
