Tigers add depth with Gapter signing Thursday

By JAMES TUBB on September 30, 2022.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

The Medicine Hat Tigers lengthened the depth of their roster Thursday morning.

The Tigers announced they had put pen to paper with 16-year-old defenceman Kolby Gapter, signing him to a Standard WHL Player Agreement.

Gapter was selected by the Tigers in the second round of the 2021 WHL US Prospect Draft with the 25th pick. He said it’s been a positive experience from being drafted to signing.

“Getting drafted in December, I was super excited to get an opportunity and it’s just great to come out here,” Gapter said.

The Arvada, Col. product played in 60 games during the 2021-22 U15 season with the Rocky Mountain Roughriders, scoring seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points, and another 59 games played in the U14 Roughriders program in the 2020-21 season amassing five goals and 12 assists for 17 points.

He is the first selection in the U.S. priority draft the Tigers have signed since the draft began in 2020. Tigers general manager Willie Desjardins said the U.S. player draft is another chance to add high-end talent.

“We’ve been unfortunate, we’ve drafted not early in those drafts but saying that, you don’t have to draft early, there’s lots of good players out there,” Desjardins said. “We were fortunate to get a couple of good ones, (Oliver) Moore (2020 U.S Draft) is a good one, too. But it does give you a chance to spot some high-end talent and we’re fortunate to be able to do that.”

Gapter took part in the Tigers’ training camp where Desjardins said he impressed.

“He’s just a good, young player for us,” Desjardins said. “We had him out of camp, we liked what we saw. He just gives us a little bit more depth to our defence. Not an older guy but a guy that we feel can play.”

Gapter is suiting up for the CSSHL’s Southern Alberta Hockey Academy U18 program this season while having the chance to be a Tigers affiliate player if injuries should pop up on the backend throughout the WHL season. He said he is looking forward to playing for SAHA.

“It’s great so far. I’m very excited to play and practice with them, the coaching is great there. I think it’ll be a really good opportunity,” Gapter said.

He said he’s noticed a big difference in the game from his club team in Colorado to training camp with the Tigers.

“The passing, the skating, it’s all just faster.”

Gapter said he is looking forward to donning the orange and black and the Tigers logo, which he said is the best in the Western Hockey League, but also excited to be part of the Tigers’ growing group of young prospects.

He is one of eight Tigers prospects to be playing for SAHA this season, including, Gavin McKenna, Kadon McCann, Matthew Paranych, Zach Zahara, Brett Calhoon and Nate Corbet.

“It’s obviously a very, very high-level group and it’s really cool to be part of it because they’re all so welcoming,” Gapter said.

Coming from Colorado Gapter says the Medicine Hat scenery is a little different than what he is used to at home and he misses the mountains, but he has already started to become accustomed to and like the Gas City.

“It’s a lot different because of the landscape in general but I really like it, it’s a nice little town; everybody’s nice, it’s a tight-knit community,” Gapter said.

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