Tigers keep it light on and off the ice

By JAMES TUBB on February 12, 2022.

The Medicine Hat Tigers are a fun group.

Whether it’s in practice or off the ice, there is a lot of laughing around the team’s locker room. Head coach Willie Desjardins said it’s a real credit to the guys for keeping it light during a season like this one.

“It’s a tough situation but it’s like anything, if you go and aren’t having any fun then it’s really hard to be good at it,” Desjardins said. “I’d say go to work but I don’t want to treat this as work, it’s not, we’re lucky to be able to do it. But we have to have that attitude where it’s fun to come to the rink. If it’s fun you’ll get better, if not then we won’t get any better.”

Heading into their weekend matchup at Co-op Place against the Edmonton Oil Kings, the Tigers carry a heavy record of 9-28-3-1. But practice Friday morning was full of guys cheering each other on and lots of chirping and laughing.

Forward Tyler MacKenzie took part in practice donning a no-contact jersey after being away from the club since suffering an upper body injury Jan. 22. Desjardins says MacKenzie is a ways away from getting back into the lineup.

The forward says the light heartedness of practice is a part of the culture with the Tigers.

“I think that’s a huge part of our culture here, that’s what the Tigers are,” MacKenzie said. “We’re always going to be excited, we’re always jumping and it’s awesome for guys to celebrate. We recognize every little thing someone does so it’s awesome.”

Capping off Friday’s practice was one half of ‘team orange’ winning the final three-on-three drill saving them from the push-ups their counterparts, ‘team black,’ had to endure. Tigers defenceman Pasha Bocharov says team orange was “buzzing.”

His fellow former Saskatoon Blade, Brendan Lee, was less humble about the orange squad’s scouting report.

“I just think we work harder, we’re better in every way, we just play better,” Lee joked.

Lee is one of the more vocal Tigers and doesn’t shy away from it because it’s part of who he says he is.

“I just think that’s my personality, I try to lighten up the mood and have fun,” Lee said.

According to Bocharov, who has played alongside Lee for two seasons, it’s good to have a guy like that on the team.

“He’ll let you know if you made a good move or if you missed the net and stuff like that,” Bocharov said. “He’s very vocal and he’s a really good guy, really high positive energy. It’s good to have him here.”

The Tigers will carry that high energy into a rematch with the Oil Kings on Saturday after losing to them 6-2 on Feb. 2. Lee didn’t hold back when asked what they’re taking into the game.

“We want to surprise everyone in the world and beat the best team and show them what we’ve got.”