NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers prospect Matt Paranych carries the puck up ice in the Tigers orange and black game during the final day of their rookie camp Sunday.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Matt Paranych has wanted to be a Medicine Hat Tiger for a long time and that dream came true this week.
The Tigers announced Wednesday they had signed the 15-year-old defenceman to a Standard WHL Player Agreement. The Edmonton product was drafted 45th overall by the Tigers in May’s WHL prospects draft.
Last season with U15 OHA Edmonton, Paranych put up 13 goals and 52 points in 30 games, breaking WHL star and Montreal Canadiens draft pick Kaiden Guhle’s team record of 40 points, set in 2016-17.
He was in Medicine Hat for the Tigers prospect camp last weekend and said he was blown away when he saw Co-op Place, the home of the Tigers.
“Coming to see the rink, it’s great. I never really thought I would see a rink this big,” Paranych said. “My dad scouts with Brooks (Bandits) so I’ve been at the Brooks rink and this is like five times better than that rank. This is probably one of my favourite rinks I’ve been to so far.”
Paranych spoke with the News before the prospect camp and shared his desire from his childhood to someday don the orange and black.
“I fell in love with the jersey colours and Medicine Hat is probably my favourite team. It was my No. 1 choice to go there,” Paranych said.
In a Tigers’ press release announcing the signing, head coach/general manager Willie Desjardins and director of player personnel Bobby Fox both compliment Paranych and said what he’ll bring to the Tigers.
“We are excited to have a player of Matthew’s calibre join our team. Not only for his playmaking ability but for his character,” Desjardins said.
“Matthew is a smart, deceptive, mobile defenceman who drives possession,” Fox said. “He sees the ice really well, he’s elusive, poised with the puck and has an accurate shot.”
He is the second member of the Tigers’ 2022 draft class to put pen to paper with the club. First overall pick Gavin McKenna signed his WHL standard player agreement moments after being taken with the first selection at the May 19 draft.
Paranych will likely take part in the Tigers’ fall training camp and has a chance to crack the season with the WHL club. He will be limited to five regular season games as a fresh draft pick before he must return to his club team.
When asked if he had a stall picked out in the Tigers’ dressing room, Paranych offered a humble answer.
“I think any stall will be fine, I’m just trying to make the team and contribute to Medicine Hat.”
