Andresen ready for early shot with Tigers

By RYAN MCCRACKEN on March 4, 2021.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken

Reid Andresen is ready to make the most of a rare opportunity with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

With most levels of hockey still on pause, first-round picks from the 2020 bantam draft, like Andresen, have been able to join up with their Western Hockey League squads a year earlier than usual.

“It means a lot just to be with this organization,” said Andresen, a 15-year-old defenceman out of Saskatoon. “We’ve got such a great coaching staff here and hopefully they’ll develop my game.”

With development as the focus for the WHL’s 24-game campaign, Tigers assistant coach Joe Frazer says a chance like this provides a great opportunity for Andresen – who has yet to make his debut with the team – to soak in the atmosphere, learn from the vets and prepare to make an even bigger impact as a 16-year-old next season.

“I think it’s awesome that the league is letting the first-round 15-year-olds get to come up with their teams. He’s going to be here for two and a half, three months, around the older guys,” said Frazer. “It’s a great opportunity for him just to dive all in and get to us as a staff. We can get to know him, he gets to know the veterans. Hopefully next year at training camp, he’s comfortable, he’s ready to go. He’s already been here for three months heading into next season and his confidence is as high as it can be for a 16-year-old.”

While Andresen may be the youngest on the squad, he isn’t alone in a class of nearly a dozen rookies. Andresen says it’s made the transition easier, as he’s never the only one learning the ropes from the team’s veterans.

“Just learning everything new along with all the other guys, all the new drills, (the veteran players) helps us all through it,” he said.

“The difference in practising with bantam guys to WHL guys – there’s such a big difference in their speed and strength and everything.”

Andresen managed to get in four games with the Saskatoon Blazers U18 AAA squad this season before joining the Tigers, netting a pair of assists in the process. The left-shot defenceman earned his way onto Medicine Hat’s radar after compiling 13 goals and 38 assists over 31 games with the Saskatoon Generals U15 AA team last season.

“It was nice to get a couple games in, for sure. Now I’m here and I’m super happy. I just want to keep developing my game,” said Andresen, who also added 10 points in four playoff games last year. “Dealing with COVID lately, it’s been tough just to keep motivated but coming from the Blazers, they prepared me really good for this opportunity.”

‘Groundhog Day’

Frazer rejoined the team this week after taking part in a two-week quarantine following his return to Medicine Hat from Minnesota, and says it’s good to be back coaching in person after dealing with video and Zoom calls.

“It kind of felt like Groundhog Day having to stay home for two weeks and not getting out to practice,” he said. “But they did a good job of videotaping practice for me, so I got to watch it at home and do a lot of Zoom calls with the power play and whatnot to break down videos. It was definitely a little tougher but we got the best out of it.”

Frazer added he’s been working with the power play over Zoom for months, and was impressed with the way the team’s leadership group took command of the unit in their pair of victories over Red Deer to open the season.

“Throughout the pandemic we were still doing video, so the power play guys knew what the game plan was. There were a lot of Zoom meetings throughout November, December, January, so now it was just getting on the ice and kind of executing that,” said Frazer. “I can’t give enough credit to the leaders and the older guys. They really ran it when I wasn’t out there. (Ryan) Chyzowski and (Brett) Kemp and (Cole) Clayton, they really took charge of it and did a great job.”

The Tigers (2-0-0-0) return to the ice this weekend for a home-and-home set against the Oil Kings (2-0-0-0), starting Friday in Edmonton at 7 p.m.

“Their top line, with (Dylan) Guenther, (Kaid) Oliver and (Jake) Neighbours, did a lot of damage – especially on the power play – last weekend,” said Frazer. “Similar style teams, both of us want to attack and be on the offence so it’s going to be a great test.”

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