NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Carter Chorney exits the Tigers d-zone in the first period of the Tabbies 6-3 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Jan. 15.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Carter Chorney brings something to Co-op Place that the Medicine Hat Tigers lack: age.
The 20-year-old forward is one of only six players on a young Tigers squad that is over the age of 18.
Associate coach Joe Frazer said he’s exactly what the Tigers need and has been a huge addition to the team’s leadership group.
“He’s exactly what we need, an older guy that can teach our young guys just the details of the game, blocking shots, getting pucks out, getting pucks in and being hard on the forecheck. He goes to the net hard and he’s great at screening the goalie,” Frazer said. “All those little details that we have to get better at, he’s brought. The leadership aspect of it, he’s been a great addition so far.”
The Sherwood Park product said he’s been enjoying himself since joining the Tigers. He credits having one of his good buddies, Tabbies captain Daniel Baker, on the team to welcome him.
“It’s huge having a buddy and he’s the captain of the team, pretty familiar with all the guys,” Chorney said. “So coming in with him is huge.”
Chorney joined the Tigers on Dec. 28, the same day they executed their three-team trade with Saskatoon and Prince George and one day after they traded fellow over-ager Lukas Svejkovsky to Seattle.
He said Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins reached out to him and he was surprised. Chorney said Baker then reached out and told him Desjardins was interested and asked if he would want to don the orange and black.
“I said for sure, so Willie gave me a call and it kind of went from there,” Chorney said.
The veteran has appeared in 188 career WHL games and has 28 goals and 32 assists over his tenure. In seven games for the Tigers, he has one goal and two assists for three points.
Chorney said he’s looking to help lead the younger Tigers roster and give back some of the lessons he’s learned in his five-year WHL career.
“This is my fifth year in the league, so kind of looking at it like I want to give back and give the younger guys the best chance to make it pro or sign a pro contract if they can,” Chorney said. “I’ve seen a lot of guys go through this league, so whatever I can do to help them I am going to do.”
Chorney said he sees himself as a guy who can provide physicality and prides himself on his hard work. When asked if he sees himself filling a protector role for his young teammates, Chorney quickly said yes.
“If anything happens to one these young guys, I’m here,” Chorney said. “I’m not letting these guys take stuff from anyone. If anyone tries to do anything, I am here for these guys, always, no matter what.”
