NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Cayden Lindstrom celebrates his second first period goal in the Tigers 4-2 loss to the Red Deer Rebels on Oct. 21.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Cayden Lindstrom wants to be the top rookie in the Western Hockey League this season, and he’s ready for the challenge.
The 16-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers forward had a slow start to his season but has since scored three goals in his last four games and continues to drive his own line.
Last week Hockey Canada announced rosters for the U17 Hockey Challenge in Langley, and while Tigers teammates Tomas Mrsic was on a roster, Lindstrom was not. The 16-year-old says he was happy for his friend but has already looked past the snub and has set his next goal.
“You can’t really dwell on that and I just have to keep working, get some more goals, work towards those goals and just keep working hard,” Lindstrom said.
“I want to be one of the top rookies. I know that’s a huge goal but I feel like I could do it if I really put my mind to it and focus on it.”
What will it take for him to get to that level? The Chetwynd, B.C. product says practice is key.
“It all starts in practice,” he said. “If I work hard and practise, start doing the right things in practice, all of the little details and stuff, shooting, stick handling, whatever it takes really,” Lindstrom said.
Head coach Willie Desjardins says the tournament snub is disappointing for Lindstrom but will allow him to keep developing at the WHL level.
“If he wasn’t playing good minutes with us then it would probably be better for him to go,” Desjardins said. “But since he’s getting those kinds of minutes with us, it’s just as good for him to be here. If you’re looking at overall development, him staying here will be just as good for his development.”
The Tigers’ coaching staff have raved about Lindstrom’s shot and his ability to drive play on his own. Desjardins says working with players like Lindstrom who enter the league with a lot of talent is fun but requires a lot patience.
“The hard thing for a coach, you always want to get to it (a high level) right away and honestly, it takes time,” Desjardins said. “We’ve had lots of teams and I’ve said about this team, too, I think those young guys will be better after Christmas, at least they should be better. That’s something we have to keep working on.”
Lindstrom will keep working on his shot, going through different scenarios where he would unleash his shot in a game. All highlighted by his flashy purple stick. Lindstrom says there’s no real reason he has that kind of stick, he just thought it was “rad” when he ordered it.
He’s spent the majority of the season playing alongside 20-year-old Dallon Melin and 17-year-old Hunter St. Martin. The 6-foot-4 Lindstrom says playing with Melin, who is the same height, has taught him a lot early in his career.
“The first couple games I knew he was just going to be a great leader for me,” Lindstrom said. “He’s been in league for a long time, he leads me in the right way. He talks to me on the bench, tells me what I need to do better and I’ve just listened to him and it works.”
Lindstrom and the Tigers are in action on Friday when they host the Saskatoon Blades at Co-op Place for a 7 p.m. contest.
Tigers name leadership group
The Tigers unveiled their leadership group for the 2022-23 WHL season on Wednesday with 19-year-old Owen MacNeil named captain.
“You win with your leaders, your leaders have to set the tempo, the drive for the team. And there’s the good times and bad times and they have to be there for each other and the team,” said Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins in a team release. “We are honoured to have Owen represent the rich history the Tigers have when it comes to our captains.”
Alternate captains will be Rhett Parsons, Dru Krebs, Tyler MacKenzie and Dallon Melin.
See Friday’s copy of the News for a full story on the announcement.
