NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers prospect Kadon McCann makes a pass during the Tigers Sept. 10 preseason game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Kadon McCann has had himself quite a week.
The 15-year-old had a big role in the South Alberta Hockey Academy’s Circle K Classic championship win on Sunday and just five days later will be making his Western Hockey League debut when he dons the orange and black tonight.
McCann will draw into the Medicine Hat Tigers’ lineup in Edmonton against the Oil Kings and is more than excited for the opportunity.
“To top off the week this is pretty special and I’m very fortunate to be able to be doing this,” McCann said.
He says it was a crazy call home to his parents back in Cochrane who will bring his brother, with some aunts and uncles making it to the game as well. They don’t have to worry about getting tickets for his grandparents as they are season ticket holders with the Oil Kings. McCann hasn’t thought about how they’ll handle their season tickets when he’s a full-time Tiger next season.
“We’re just worried about this year first and then we’ll focus on next year then,” McCann said.
The 6-foot-3 forward has found his offensive stroke with SAHA, scoring 11 goals and 25 points in 20 games in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League -11 of those points came in his hot month of November.
McCann practised with the Tigers this week ahead of his debut and says the biggest step is the pace of play and how organized it feels on the ice; everything is done for a reason. He was able to get into two preseason games for the Tigers and says he’s gotten quicker since then.
“My speed (has improved) and being more comfortable around the guys is pretty good,” McCann said. “Just being close with some of the guys and having them reach out to me and look out for me is pretty special to me.”
He says he’s dreamed of playing at that arena where he’s been a spectator for many games.
“Just seeing (Connor) McDavid and (Leon) Draisaitl and all those guys skate on an NHL ice is pretty special and I’m pretty fortunate.”
Associate coach Joe Frazer says it’s special to make a debut in an NHL rink like Rogers Place and says McCann has earned it.
“Watching him on the ice, he has a high hockey IQ, he reads plays well and just has sneaky vision. He makes those little passes that not many guys see,” Frazer said. “He sees them and he has the skill set to complete them. He’s had a heck of a year at SAHA, the coaches love him over there and every time he’s been up with us to practise, he’s a really good kid and he’s going to be a big part of our future. It’s good to get him in there.”
McCann will be the third Tigers prospect from the 2022 WHL Draft class to make his debut this season, following first overall pick Gavin McKenna who was played eight games, and 16th pick Hayden Harsanyi who has suited up twice. Joining those two isn’t lost on McCann.
“It’s pretty special to have names like Gavin and Harsanyi standing in front of me, it’s pretty pretty special and I’m very lucky to be able to do it with those guys,” McCann said.
Frazer says they like this draft class a lot and enjoy getting them opportunities when they can.
“We knew that draft was super important, Bobby (Fox) and our scouting staff did a tremendous job getting speed and skill and that’s what we need to be: fast and skilled,” Frazer said. “Looking throughout that draft class, we have a lot of that and that’s exciting.”
