NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Tomas Mrsic carries the puck out of the Tigers end in front of current teammate and former Hurricane Logan Barlage in the first period of Medicine Hat's 5-3 loss to the Lethbridge on Dec. 18.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The 2021-22 hockey season has been a momentous one for Tomas Mrsic.
The 16-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers prospect won the WHL Cup in October with team B.C., was taken eighth overall by the Tigers in the December WHL draft, scored his first WHL goal in his fourth game and capped off his CSSHL season by capturing the U17 championship with Delta Hockey Academy last weekend.
He said the year is better than he could’ve asked for.
“It’s been amazing, an honour to be drafted here, play in the WHL Cup with that amazing B.C. team, overall this year has been amazing and I couldn’t ask for better.”
The Surrey product was one of four prospects recalled by the Tigers, along with Shane Smith, Josh Van Mulligen and Hunter St. Martin. All four will remain with the Tigers for their remaining 10 games of the season.
Mrsic said it’s great being back in Medicine Hat with the guys. He said it’s great winning the championships he has but losing builds character.
“(Losing) shows you how much more you want to win the championship,” Mrsic said. “I just think winning more championships is just going to be better for the team and knowing how to win a championship.”
Mrsic’s CSSHL title with Delta came alongside fellow Tigers prospect Cayden Lindstrom who also excelled at the B.C. school. Lindstrom had 25 goals and 60 points in 31 games with Delta to Mrsic’s 41 goals and 98 points in 28 games.
When asked what it means for some of the Tigers’ prospects to win championships before joining the WHL, associate coach Joe Frazer said it’s not easy to win and the team always wants winners.
“You have to learn how to win so when you get prospects who are champions in their league, that’s a great experience for them,” Frazer said. “So now they’ve done it at one level and hopefully we can accomplish that with them here at this level.”
When Mrsic spoke to the News Wednesday, it was the first time since he scored his first WHL goal on Feb. 26 in Lethbridge. His goal was one of few positives in the Tigers 9-2 loss that night and was almost taken away from him by a review.
Mrsic said he had a smile on his face the whole time and continuously called it an amazing experience when reflecting on the goal.
“That was amazing, all the guys congratulated me and that was a great feeling,” Mrsic said. “All the guys are unreal to me.”
With the roster expanded with prospects ahead of the final 10 games of the season, there will be competition between the rookies to get into the lineup, something Mrsic welcomes.
“Obviously in practice you are trying your hardest trying to out-compete the next guy and it’s always a battle to get to the next level and get to your spot,” Mrsic said.
He said the one thing he’s learned from his season with Delta and two previous stints with the Tigers is that he needs to make plays quicker because of just how much faster the game is at the higher level.
“I think I just need to make plays faster and it’s obviously just a way faster game than midget but it’s all about making plays and getting the pucks out and then creating some offence.”
Mrsic and the Tigers head to Red Deer Friday night to battle with the Rebels before hosting the Calgary Hitmen Saturday night at Co-op Place.
