NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN - Medicine Hat Tigers captain James Hamblin, seen in this Nov. 16, 2019 photo celebrating a goal at Canalta Centre, signed a pro deal Thursday.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
James Hamblin’s major-junior run ended sooner than anyone could have expected, but his professional hockey career is only beginning.Â
The outgoing Medicine Hat Tigers captain put pen to paper on a two-year contract with the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors this week and says he’s thrilled for the shot to carry on his career as a pro.
“It’s been a huge process, and an uncertain process at that,” said Hamblin. “Especially with everything going on right now, to be part of an organization I’m really comfortable with and believe I have a good opportunity with is real good moving forward.”
Bakersfield serves as the AHL affiliate of Hamblin’s hometown Edmonton Oilers – meaning he’ll will get the chance to skate with the Oilers prospects and have a shot at cracking the NHL down the road.Â
“It’s really cool just being able to say I’m part of the Oilers organization,” said Hamblin, a 21-year-old Edmonton product. “Just growing up in Edmonton and going to Oilers games growing up, it’s very special.”
Hamblin closed out his 324-game Western Hockey League career with 115 goals, 169 assists and a plus-45 rating. He also added 13 shorthanded goals and 31 more on the power play over the course of his Tabby career. Hamblin closed out the stretch by finishing third in the league scoring race with 92 points in 63 games this season.Â
“I owe the Tigers organization and the city of Medicine Hat so much,” said Hamblin. “It’s crazy just to think of where I’ve come from since I was even 14 to now – it’s a huge jump and it’s all thanks to the development staff we have in Medicine Hat and just the organization as a whole. They’re top notch, they’re world class.”
Hamblin becomes the second Tiger in the past few years to lace up his skates in Bakersfield, as former winger Chad Butcher spent seven games with the Condors in 2017-18 before opting to join the University of Alberta’s Golden Bears this season.Â
“I haven’t talked to Chad too much about it, but I know that he did enjoy his time there,” said Hamblin.Â
With isolation limiting the ability for athletes to train, Hamblin added not much has been said as to what sort of training will be expected from him in the coming weeks. But he’s looking forward to getting together with his new teammates when camp dates are finally announced.
“I think we’ll have more of those discussions moving forward,” said Hamblin. “I don’t think it’s something that we’re in too much of a hurry – especially with everything going on – to get done, but it’s definitely a conversation I’ll have soon.”
