NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Josh Van Mulligen carries the puck through his zone in the first period of the Tigers 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Ice on Sept. 24 at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Josh Van Mulligen got a taste of playing in the Western Hockey League last season, now the Medicine Hat product is here to stay.
The 17-year-old defenceman played 13 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2021-22, picking up two goals and an assist. He said the opportunity has already made it easier to fit in this season.
“Getting some looks last year helped a lot, just getting comfortable around the guys and knowing a lot more about the team and systems,” Van Mulligen said.
He says he also feels more confident with the puck this season while also getting the benefits of being faster and stronger after a summer of working out. Tigers associate coach Joe Frazer said Van Mulligen has gotten better with his practice habits as the young season has gotten underway which has adapted into his game. Frazer said they stressed to Van Mulligen to work on his skating and he has already noticed the results.
“We really stressed to him those first three strides, making sure he’s getting quick back to pucks in the D-zone like we tell all of our defence,” Frazer said. “He’s always had the vision and hockey sense and he’s sneaky offensively when he’s in the zone, he’s got a great shot. He knows how to be deceptive on those wingers coming out there and getting pucks through, so no, I think the more he’s here and more we get into the season, the better he’ll be.”
Van Mulligen has suited up in all seven of the Tigers’ games to kick off the season, including a 5-3 loss to the Portland Winterhawks on Tuesday. He said he’s excited to once again play and put up quality minutes for his childhood team.
“It’s definitely pretty special and it was obviously a dream of mine to play here and to be in this league; it’s an honour and I’m really happy,” Van Mulligen said. “I want to help the team with some good, reliable minutes especially in the D-zone. Giving the top guys some more good minutes while also gaining confidence.”
Van Mulligen had personal ties with the Tigers before he was drafted, having once served as the stick boy for the team. He declared he is the best stick boy the Tigers have ever had.
The defenceman said it was a good experience to be around the culture of the old Tigers teams and could not nail down one special moment as they all meant something to him.
“There’s a lot of great moments here, a lot of winning teams,” Van Mulligen said. “A couple of my relationships with the guys, remember David Quenneville, he was a really good player here and drafted into the NHL. I always remember he was really good to me and just a really good person.”
When he wasn’t in a Tigers jersey last season, Van Mulligen played with the South Alberta Hockey Academy of the CSSHL, winning the Mac’s Invitational tournament in February. He said ending his major midget career off with a victory like that was as perfect as could be imagined.
“It was special to capitalize on a win like that,” Van Mulligen said. “My relationship with the coach, Des (Brayden Desjardins), I was with him for three years, so to finally end off on a win, it was definitely really special.”
Van Mulligen and the Tigers were in Tri-City on Wednesday night taking on the Americans for the fourth game of their U.S. road trip which wraps up Friday in Spokane against the Chiefs. Wednesday’s game was not complete by time of press, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story.
