NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Tyler MacKenzie carries the puck up ice during their 3-2 overtime loss against the Vancouver Giants on Nov. 1.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
At 18-years-old Tyler MacKenzie has quickly become one of the most relied upon players in the Medicine Hat Tigers lineup.
He’s utilized in both ends of the ice, on both the power play and penalty kill, and has been part of the lineup tasked with closing out games late with a lead. He just tries to be consistently good.
“Consistency is obviously key, I’m so focused on being a good two-way player but the confidence is obviously going up,” MacKenzie said. “I play with great guys, I have great guys around me, surrounded by the boys in practice – it’s always fun. My linemates are great. Just having that consistency is nice.”
Besides consistency, the Red Deer product is never satisfied with his play. As he approaches the 100-game mark in the Western Hockey League, MacKenzie has 14 goals and 44 points in 96 games played. His biggest improvement from when he debuted at 16, his mindset.
“That shift to being a pro every day and coming to the rink and playing hard,” MacKenzie said. “Also just being a leader, I’ve come a long ways in that aspect of things which is really good.”
Toward the end of last season MacKenzie was an assistant captain on rotating nights and continues to don the ‘A’ in home games this season.
In associate coach Joe Frazer’s eyes, it is MacKenzie’s work ethic and determination that makes him one of the Tigers’ hardest workers and an example of what they want their team culture to be like.
“He loves to compete and loves to win. He’s just again another guy with sheer determination and he’s got a great vision to make some real nice plays,” Frazer said. “His compete level, he really leads the way in our group and he’s a huge leader off the ice.
“His play on the ice, he drags guys into the game with him. He always sets the tone with his compete and work ethic.”
It’s that compete level paired with MacKenzie’s face-off abilities and his vision that Frazer says allows him to play on both special teams – a role MacKenzie calls an honour.
“You have to work hard to be on them and I think our special teams is coming along, we’re not quite there yet. It’s nice playing the PK, getting a chance to help the boys out and block some shots,” MacKenzie said. “Then on the other end of things, you have a chance to win games every night. It takes all of the guys in special teams and it takes the guys to draw those penalties and to be killed in those penalties alongside.”
MacKenzie and the Tigers head to Calgary on Friday to battle the Hitmen before they host the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday for the annual Medicine Hat News Teddy Bear Toss. MacKenzie tabbed defenceman Dru Krebs as the Tiger to score and release the Teddy Bears.
“Teddy bear toss is always a good game, the guys find that fun so I’m pretty excited,” MacKenzie said. “Krebs is going to rip one home from the point.”
Tigers prospects tabbed for Team Alberta
Five Tigers prospects were named to Team Alberta’s lineup for the 2023 Canada Winter Games taking place in P.E.I. from Feb. 18 to Mar. 5. Goaltender Jordan Switzer, defencemen Matthew Paranych, Jack Kachkowski and forwards Hayden Harsanyi and Kadon McCann were all selected to represent Alberta. Medicine Hat product Josiah Jackson was also named to Alberta’s roster.
They will likely face Tigers top prospect Gavin McKenna who would represent team Yukon, but their roster has not yet been announced.
