NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers prospect Kadon McCann looks to make a pass in the Tigers orange vs. black game Sunday, the third and final day of their rookie camp.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Kadon McCann is looking forward to getting started on his time in Medicine Hat with the Tigers.
The 6-foot-2 forward was selected in the second round, 23rd overall by the club in the WHL prospects draft, and on Thursday put pen to paper signing a standard player agreement.
In a Tigers’ press release announcing the signing, head coach/general manager Willie Desjardins and director of player personnel Bobby Fox each compliment his game.
“We were really excited to get Kadon in the draft and even more excited to have him sign. He’s been a leader on and off the ice,” Desjardins said.”
“Kadon is a multi-tooled, 200-foot competitive forward who can be trusted in any situation,” Fox said. “He uses his frame and reach to his advantage and he’s excellent on draws.”
McCann spoke with the News at Tigers rookie camp last weekend before the signing, and said he was excited to be selected by the club.
“It’s unreal, I’ve heard great things about the organization and I’m just excited to get started,” McCann said.
He said draft day May 19 was a whirlwind as he wasn’t sure where he was going to go. He was sitting with his family in their living room watching along as the first round passed by and entered into a 15-minute intermission before the second round began.
McCann said his agent told him he thought he would go at 23, the first pick of the second round, to Medicine Hat. The young forward said it was just awesome to see his name finally pop up on the screen.
“McCann appeared in 30 games with the Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep team during the 2021-22 season and had 22 goals and 45 points. He also appeared in three games with the RHA Kelowna U17 team, notching three goals and two assists.
The Cochrane product describes himself on the ice as a three-way forward because he can play in all three zones of the ice, – offence, neutral zone and defence.
“I’m a tough centreman who wants to win the draw every time, and I am a good playmaker,” McCann said.
He’s looking forward to playing alongside the other members of the Tigers 2022 draft – first overall pick Gavin McKenna, 16th overall selection Hayden Harsanyi and the rest. McCann and McKenna both come from RHA Kelowna, even with McKenna playing at the U18 level McCann said he got to know the Tigers’ top prospect well.
“I got to know him quite a bit, he’s a great kid,” McCann said. “He’s a great player, so excited to get to play with him.”
At the rookie camp, McCann said he was impressed by the Tigers organization and facilities.
“It’s first-class, everything’s so professional here,” McCann said. “It’s just a great arena, looking around seeing all the banners and all the unreal players who have played here is pretty first-class.”
He has not yet decided what team he’s going to dress for next season but is looking at playing for the Dunmore-based South Alberta Hockey Academy. McKenna has already committed to SAHA and other Tigers prospects have said they are looking at joining the academy team fresh off a win at the Mac’s tournament in April.
Wherever he plays next season, McCann is already looking toward a future of success while donning the orange and black.
“I’m just excited to meet everybody and we will win a Memorial Cup here and we will win WHL championships, so I’m excited to get started,” McCann said.
Tigers pre-season schedule announced
The WHL announced Thursday afternoon the 2022-23 pre-season will begin Sept. 6 and conclude Sept. 18.
Medicine Hat’s pre-season schedule opens with road a rendition of their Highway 3 rivalry in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes on Sept. 9 before returning to Co-op Place on Sept. 10 for a rematch with Lethbridge.
The Tigers’ two final pre-season contests have them in Swift Current on Sept. 16 before returning to the Hat for a rematch with the Broncos on Sept. 17.
The WHL also announced the 2022-23 regular season will begin Sept. 23, and clubs will announce their home opening dates Monday. The WHL says the entirety of the 2022-23 WHL regular season schedule is planned to be unveiled the first week of July.
