Medicine Hat Tigers Tomas Mrsic lines himself up for a face off in a first period of a 7-1 win over the Calgary Hitmen on Dec. 21 at Co-op Place.--NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Tomas Mrsic is always working on something in his game.
Whether it’s during practice, working on his own after drills or even in game, there’s always something the 17-year-old is tinkering with. He says working like that helps to build confidence as he continues to learn in the WHL.
“Every practice is trying to work on something else,” Mrsic said. “Ever since (the U17s) I feel like I’ve had a lot of confidence obviously on the power play, like making nice plays and stuff like that.”
Without sharing state secrets or giving away too much, the Surrey, B.C. product has been trying to fine tune his shot and release.
“My toe-drag snapshot, I’m trying to get that going,” Mrsic said. “I’m just shooting pucks after practice every day, just trying to improve on my shot.”
That drag release was made popular in the National Hockey League by Toronto Maple Leafs’ star Auston Matthews and has since been almost redone by Regina Pats centre and expected first overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft, Connor Bedard.
Mrsic chuckled but agreed that’s the shot he was trying to emulate and has witnessed first hand a lot. Both being from the same area, Mrsic says he trains with Bedard quite a bit in the summer and is looking forward to playing him for the first time on Sunday.
The Tigers are in Regina to face the Pats before Bedard and his team are at Co-op Place on Feb. 5., back-to-back Sundays.
“It’s going to be cool playing against him for my first time,” Mrsic said. “We haven’t talked about it yet, probably will a little in the game but that’s it.”
Having known Bedard like he has, Mrsic says it’s exciting seeing how much attention he is getting, and earning, in his draft year.
“During COVID when everything was locked down, there was one rink open and the both of us and a couple other guys went to train there it was cool seeing him in Regina pads,” Mrsic said. “Now he has all this hype he’s getting and is probably going to go first overall, so it’s pretty awesome.”
While the focus for the Tigers won’t solely be on Bedard, associate coach Joe Frazer says it comes down to having all five players working to try to limit options.
“It’s a group of five, you can’t expect one to shut him down, we’ve seen the World Juniors and what he can do, so it’s going to be the five guys on the ice who have to be aware of him,” Frazer said. “The biggest thing is making sure we’re on the forecheck and making him defend. That’s the easiest way is to get the puck in the ozone so you don’t have to defend them off the rush. Obviously, he’s going to get his chances but we have to limit them with our structure and that group of five mindset.”
Mrsic has been centring his own line over the last six games after spending the majority of the year as a winger.
“It’s nice being able to play my natural position, which I’ve been playing the rest of my whole life,” Mrsic said. “But I’m on a winger now back with (Tyler) MacKenzie and (Brayden) Boehm, so it should be cool with them again.”
With the return of Tyler MacKenzie to the lineup for Saturday’s game in Moose Jaw against the Warriors, head coach Willie Desjardins says Mrsic good at either position and likes his flexibility.
“That’s one thing, our guys just want to play,” Desjardins said. “I don’t think he really cares where he plays, he just wants a chance to play.”
