NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Lukas Svejkovsky scans his options with the puck in the first period of the Tigers win against the Swift Current Broncos on Oct. 19.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
It’s been the Svejkovsky show to start the season in Medicine Hat. The over-age forward has been on a tear this year, as he’s put up seven goals and 20 points in the 11 games he’s dressed. Svejkovsky missed the Tigers last game, a 3-2 OT loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors last Saturday, due to injury.
He said on Friday he tweaked his back ahead of the Moose Jaw matchup and decided, alongside the coaching staff, it would be better to sit the game, get better and he will dress Saturday against Calgary.
“Took a few days off the ice, I’ve been back since Wednesday and I’m feeling really good,” Svejkovsky said.
That’s great news for the Tigers, as the 20-year-old currently leads Medicine Hat in points and has been the main offensive threat through the first 13 games. He’s only 18 points off his WHL career high from 2019-20 when he also played for Vancouver before being traded to the Hat mid-season. Svejkovsky says he worked a lot in the summer which has helped lead to his early success.
“I worked a lot on my weaknesses in the summertime, even my strengths as well, Svejkovsky said. “I think I got a lot stronger, a lot quicker and it’s nice to see that paid off a bit. As of now I can’t take the foot off the gas pedal and just keep going.”
Svejkovsky says his line mates, Corson Hopwo and Noah Danielson, get better every day together and have developed chemistry in their first season playing on the same line.
Hopwo, who has played with and against Svejkovsky since they were young, says he knew his friend would have a great year.
“He’s pretty dedicated and focused to sign a contract this year and he’s definitely close. He’s a great player,” Hopwo said.
Hopwo says the line is close off the ice which has translated to a lot of their on-ice chemistry and success this season. Danielson shared the sentiment that they’re all good friends off the ice and said they’re all very smart players that keep one another accountable.
“Being that close we have the ability to talk to each other in-between shifts or on video and be honest about it,” Danielson said. “Just having that close knit, not just with those guys but the whole team, helps for sure.”
The Tigers will need the line to produce Saturday when the Tabbies host the Calgary Hitmen for the first game of their home-and-home series. Puck drops at Co-op Place at 7 p.m..
