NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forwards Oasiz Wiesblatt and Andrew Basha juggle a puck in warmups ahead of a 5-2 win over the Prince George Cougars on Jan. 17 at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Anyone looking for one of Andrew Basha or Oasiz Wiesblatt won’t have to look hard, they’re usually with one another.
The Medicine Hat Tigers forwards duo can often be seen together on the ice during practice working on passes with one another, they’ve been on the same line for all but a few games this season and when they’re on the bench, there is a lot of dialogue about what went right or what they need to do better.
“It’s a lot of communication, just helping each other out,” Wiesblatt said after the Tigers’ 5-2 win over Prince George on Jan. 17. Basha had two goals and Wiesblatt two assists, one on Basha’s first.
“I can just figure out how my linemates play and help them realize how I kind of play and where our strengths are.”
The duo of Calgary products sit first and second in team scoring, with Basha leading the way with 11 goals, 30 assists, 41 points to Wiesblatt’s 17 goals, 23 assists and 40 points. They share warmup routines, curly hair and a desire to be great each and every night.
The 17-year-old Basha is a year younger than Wiesblatt and has 40 fewer WHL games played than his elder statesmen, but relishes their relationship on and off the ice.
“I love Oasiz, he’s such a good teammate,” Basha said. “He’s the ultimate teammate, we spend a lot of time together, we’re always together. Because of that, we have great chemistry. And I just love him.”
The two started the year with Brendan Lee on their wing and led the Tigers offensively at 5-on-5 and on the man advantage. When Lee went down with injury, defenceman Pasha Bocharov stepped up and has continued the offensive onslaught with a hard forechecking ability.
Since joining their line on Jan. 17, Bocharov has three goals and an assist in six games. He says his job is pretty easy alongside Basha and Wiesblatt: Stay out of their way and make sure his stick is on the ice when he’s near the net.
“It’s so fun,” he said.
“They’re so skilled and talented. Every day in practice is so fun too, you’re probably practising more than you play and when getting to practise with those guys every day, it’s a privilege. It’s unreal and really fun to be able to play with them.”
When they’re on the ice both Basha and Wiesblatt have executed behind-the-back passes to one another or have been able to drop a puck in the exact spot the other’s stick ends up for a chance on net. Neither would confirm if they can see the other with their eyes closed but Wiesblatt says simply, they share a lot of chemistry.
Head coach Willie Desjardins has coached one of, if not the best, pair of players in hockey history in Henrik and Daniel Sedin. He wouldn’t compare the two hall of famers to his Tigers but says his forwards feed off one another.
“They both get excited out there, Bash is really good from the blue line in, he makes lots of good plays and Oasiz sees the ice well, he’s really creative,” Desjardins said. “He’s a driver for us for sure and he’s taken big strides this year. ‘O’ is a guy that’s always involved and he’s so competitive. So both those guys have made a difference and when they’re going well, it certainly helps our team.”
While Desjardins wouldn’t compare the two to his former Hall of Famers, he sees some future similarities between Boston Bruins forwards Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron.
“Both are pretty high-end guys and they grew together, I don’t think they were always there but I think they learned what each other could do so it made them better. I think ‘O’ and Bash will do that.
“Bergeron is a great example for Oasiz, the way he plays both ways and that’s what ‘O’ has to do. Marchand is just such a competitor and Bash is good down low too and he can be quick. The biggest thing is they’re good players at our level and they want to get better too and they need to get better if they’re going to become elite. But they’re working out.”
McKenna recalled
The Medicine Hat Tigers have recalled top prospect Gavin McKenna from the SAHA U-18 Prep Team. The 15-year-old forward will suit up in both Tigers’ home games this weekend, when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday and the Regina Pats on Sunday.
