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
Lukas Svejkovsky said before he was traded to the Tigers, he didn’t know where Medicine Hat was on a map.
After three seasons donning the orange and black, Svejkovsky says he has a lot of great memories here and can’t thank everyone enough.
“The people there are so caring and the fan base is just awesome,” Svejkovsky said. “It was really a first-class place to play. Obviously my teammates were awesome all three years and same with the coaching staff, they really put me in a position to succeed there. I just can’t thank them enough.”
The 20-year-old was traded to the Seattle Thunderbirds on Dec. 27 for a 2022 first-round pick, a conditional second-rounder in the 2023 draft and a conditional third-round pick in 2025.
Svejkovsky spoke to the News on Jan. 19, days before he had played his first game with the Thunderbirds on the 21st. His last game came on Dec 18., the Tigers’ last contest before the Christmas break.
He said his extended absence from play came from contracting COVID-19 before Christmas. Svejkovsky added he was pretty sick for a week and his whole family had it for the holidays.
“My whole family actually had it so it was a tough, tough Christmas,” Svejkovsky said. “I was pretty much in hibernation for three or four days, pretty sick. Just didn’t have too much energy.”
Since joining Seattle, he has played six games in blue and green and has had six assists.
In his three years with the Tigers, the Point Roberts, Wash. product had 38 goals and 42 assists in 78 games. The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect came to Medicine Hat in a trade from the Vancouver Giants in December of 2019.
Sending Svejkovsky to Seattle was move Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins said both sides agreed would be the best outcome.
Svejkovsky said things would have been different if he was younger but said he wanted to win in his last year.
“I really want to win and I loved it in Medicine Hat but we just weren’t really in a chance to compete this year for a championship,” Svejkovsky said. “They’re going to be good down the road, they have some really good young players.
“I think (Andrew) Basha will be a really good player… If he just keeps playing like he is playing, obviously he’s 16 but he’s jut got to get his confidence up a little bit, get stronger and faster over the years. But I think he can be a really good player and a great player for the Tigers. Same with (Oren) Shtrom’er, he’s one of the most skilled guys I have seen for his age… Honestly, I was impressed with the strides Teague (Patton) and (Tyler) MacKenzie made since last year. I think they have pushed their game up a notch this year.”
He did say it was tough leaving the Hat because everyone was great to him.
“I just couldn’t thank Willie and Joe Frazer enough, they really made me the player I am today and the person as well,” Svejkovsky said. “That was tough and it’s always tough to go to a new team. Leaving behind friends like that and just friendships I made over the years in Med Hat, it was tough. I definitely think it’s for the best.”
Besides going to a playoff contender – Seattle sits in third place of the U.S. division with a record of 23-11-4-1 – Svejkovsky gets to be around and play in front of a lot of family and friends.
He said his family on his mom’s side lives in Seattle so he has an aunt, uncle and cousins in the city with the rest of his family only two hours away. Getting to play in front of them in his final season is something he said he’s excited about.
When asked if it was weird putting on a different coloured jersey for the first time, Svejkovsky said it was different not seeing a big tiger, but that he loved the jersey.
“I loved the colours, cool jersey, it’s awesome,” Svejkovsky said. “Growing up somewhat close to Seattle, I think I was 10 or 11, I got to catch a couple games when they were in a playoff run… The atmosphere here is just crazy. The fans are crazy and it’s pretty rowdy.”
He said he thinks the Thunderbirds have the best depth in the league and is looking forward to bringing his game into the playoffs.
“I am super excited for that, and to have the opportunity to win is going to be special.”
