PHOTO COURTESY ANDY DEVLIN EDMONTON OILERS
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman and local product Josh Van Mulligen took part in the Edmonton Oilers development camp in early July.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
For the first time in his hockey career, Josh Van Mulligen donned a jersey for a team not based in Medicine Hat.
The Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman and local product was invited to take part in the Edmonton Oilers development camp as in early July, where he worked out and skated with Oilers prospects and other fellow camp invitees.
The soon-to-be 18-year-old says it was a surreal experience and was set up through his agent.
“He was talking to the Oilers a bit and obviously he found out that they’d be interested in a camp opportunity so not too long after the draft that they reached out to me and set everything up. It happened pretty quick,” Van Mulligen said.
Van Mulligen has only ever played for Medicine Hat teams, dating back to his time as a SEAC Tiger, playing at South Alberta Hockey Academy and with the Tigers. Seeing his name in different colours and on a stall in an NHL rink, he says it took some time to sink in.
“For a lot of the week it didn’t really set in, it didn’t feel real,” Van Mulligen said. “Just seeing my name on the jersey and everything, it’s pretty cool and it’s something I’m really grateful for.”
It was also his first development or rookie camp experience as he didn’t get the chance to take part in a Tigers camp after being selected 39th overall in the 2020 WHL draft due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Van Mulligen is coming off his first full season in the WHL, having a goal and nine points while playing in all 68 games with the Tigers. Leaving Edmonton, he took away some of the skills taught on the ice but left with a lot of knowledge on how to get to the next level in the gym and through nutrition.
“We had a lot of educational presentations going on whether it was nutrition or social media, mental toughness, a lot of cool different things and we were able to talk to a lot of specialists,” said Van Mulligen.
“I’ll take some of those small details and bring them home to bring to my offseason training here. It was also cool getting to meet a bunch of different players from all over, like college players, guys from the OHL, QMJHL and a couple of European players. I really got to experience that and see all those guys who are hungry for NHL jobs.”
Van Mulligen skated with SAHA after the Tigers season ended in a first-round loss against the Winnipeg Ice and has since been working out on the ice and in the gym. Off-ice he’s been mixing in some boxing workouts and other sports like playing basketball and squash to stay active outside of hockey.
“Squash is good for reacting quick and you really get a good workout out of it,” Van Mulligen said.
With the WHL season set to get underway in 64 days, Van Mulligen says he’s looking to use the development camp experience as even more fuel as he prepares for the year ahead. He’s looking forward to getting back on the ice in orange and black for what should be a promising season at Co-op Place.
“It’s a big confidence booster for me personally and it’s obviously a good experience, it gets you a taste,” Van Mulligen said. “Just bringing that into my season next year, it’s definitely going to have me wanting more from the year.
“Summer’s kind of flying by here. Every day I think, ‘When’s the season starting?’ I can’t wait to start playing games now. It’s obviously been a long offseason, and I’m just really looking forward to getting back and getting into camp and seeing all the guys again.”
