Getting noticed: SAHA goalie Andres listed by Hitmen days after Weiss listed by Winterhawks

By RYAN MCCRACKEN on November 26, 2020.

South Alberta Hockey Academy goaltender Marek Andres makes a glove save on Calgary Edge forward Marcus Nguyen while Austin Derzaph (3) defends during a Canadian Sport School Hockey League game on Friday, Oct. 16 at Co-op Place. -- NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken

South Alberta Hockey Academy’s Marek Andres became the second goaltender on his team to be listed by a Western Hockey League club last week.

The Calgary Hitmen officially added the 17-year-old Hatter to their system just a few days after Andres’ SAHA tandem partner, Bodee Weiss, was listed by the Portland Winterhawks.

“It feels good to get recognition for the both of us, for sure,” said Andres. “Both of us have worked pretty hard for it.”

While new provincial guidelines have again placed the status of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League’s regional series schedule into a state of uncertainty, both Andres and Weiss have been crucial to SAHA’s success through their first six games in the league.

While they dropped their debut 1-0, Andres held firm with a 27-save performance, then Weiss entered the next day to back SAHA to its first CSSHL victory by a 5-1 margin.

“That first game was good against Edge,” said Andres, who boasts an identical .898 save percentage to Weiss. “Bodee went in the next day and stopped 30, then we went to Edge and I had a pretty good game there, too. I think that was the eye-opener for scouting and all that.”

The tandem has been working alongside SAHA and Medicine Hat Tigers goaltending coach Matt Wong through the past few months, and Weiss says he’s been a great source of guidance as they push toward the next step of their on-ice careers.

“Matt’s been great. We’ve had a few sessions with him in the last few months and he’s always super eager to help us get to where we need to go,” said Weiss. “It’s just been great working with someone who’s been through a few of the systems like the AJHL and the WHL, it gives some nice perspective of what the standards are for those levels.”

Being listed isn’t new territory for either netminder, as both have been listed by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the past. Weiss says that experience showed him what it takes to succeed at the next level and ultimately lit a fire beneath him that burned bright enough for the Winterhawks to take notice.

“I’m definitely taking in what I’ve learned from Moose Jaw into Portland, just about hard work and always putting my best out there,” said Weiss. “I think it was a bit of an eye-opener, just how much work needs to be put in to take that next step. Nothing comes easy. It’s always going to be hard work and you have to continually prove yourself to the team and coaches.”

SAHA U18 male prep head coach Brayden Desjardins says the listings are both a testament to the drive his netminders consistently display, and a source of inspiration for young players across the Gas City.

“I think it’s a really good thing for not only our guys in our room, but the rest of Medicine Hat as well,” said SAHA U18 male prep head coach Brayden Desjardins. “They’re both local guys who got passed over in the bantam draft but it didn’t faze them. They knew where they wanted to go and their vision carried them. I think the thing that carries both of them is they have a really strong desire for the game. That kind of overshadows any kind of obstacles they run into. They wouldn’t let things deter them because this is what they want.”