NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers prospect Markus Ruck and forward Tyler MacKenzie compete for a face-off Sunday during the Tigers' final scrimmage of training camp at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
A weekend of competition at Co-op Place came to a close Sunday with the Medicine Hat Tigers roster far from decided.
The Tigers wrapped up a three-day training camp with a third scrimmage of the weekend between the 50 players in attendance. After the Team Black vs. Orange game, head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins noted the performances through the camp from all age groups competing.
“We had a lot of good performances. I was quite happy with the young guys,” Desjardins said. “That’s a big difference from 20-year-olds to guys who are 15. That’s a huge jump in age and it’s hard to compete with that but I thought a lot of the young guys played well. Looking at our veteran players, some guys look like they’re quicker and they’re hungry. So that’s a good sign too.”
The Tigers held practices both Friday and Saturday morning ahead of scrimmages that night with Sunday’s bout the final of the weekend. Throughout the scrimmages and even in practice drills, there was no love lost between the players who were teammates last season and are fighting for roster spots or the freshly drafted prospects looking to leave an impression before returning to their minor clubs.
That physical play displayed throughout camp is something Desjardins is looking for as they ramp up for the season and beyond.
“We have to make our practices harder than our games,” Desjardins said. “That’s what you have to have every day. You always hope there’s no injuries out of it but there has to be intensity.”
Returning forward Tomas Mrsic echoed Desjardins, agreeing with the need for the controlled physicality.
“It makes us a tougher team to play against as well as a fast, quick team, obviously we have little bit of grit, so that’s good for our group,” Mrsic said.
For prospects entering their first camp, the ramped-up physicality and speed can be intimidating as they look to showcase themselves for the first time in their WHL club colours. Markus Ruck, the Tigers 21st overall pick in the 2023 draft, entered camp alongside his twin brother Liam who was selected ninth overall.
Markus, the older of the duo, says the pressures and nerves of being at his first camp calmed down after the captain’s skates leading up to the weekend. While nerves hit in the first period of the first scrimmage, the 15-year-old became more comfortable with each passing shift.
“I thought I played good. The first period of the first game was a little sloppy but then as I settled in, I was more comfortable, made better plays,” Ruck said. “I was just a little nervous, gripping the stick a little too hard but I got comfortable.”
Besides the Rucks, there were seven other 2008-born prospects in attendance at camp. Some will see preseason action but all will return to their minor hockey clubs for the season. Desjardins says they’re happy with the whole group and look forward to them being part of the organization when eligible.
As for the rest of the roster, they don’t have long to look back on training camp as the preseason schedule opens tonight at Lethbridge against the Hurricanes. Having their first game right away is a positive, Desjardins says.
“You want to get your young guys a taste but then you want to get them home for school,” Desjardins said. “It’s good to have an early game, give them a taste right away so they know where they’re at.”
The Tigers will host the Hurricanes Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest at Co-op Place. They’ll wrap up the preseason with a home-and-home series against the Swift Current Broncos, playing host on Sept. 15 before heading to Swift Current on Sept. 16. The Tigers will open their 54th season in the WHL on Sept. 22 at Calgary against the Hitmen, who they will host for their home opener the following night.
Between now and then there are a lot of moves to be made for the Tigers who entered camp with five 20-year-olds for three spots, three import players for two spots and five goalies competing for the two roles on top of other lineup decisions. Those choices and cuts will come in due time, says Desjardins.
“You don’t know when they’re gonna start. It just depends on how things fall in,” Desjardins said. “You want to evaluate guys, you want to see things and it depends on if other teams are calling you. But there’s no rush, we have some good people and we just want to make sure we get as good a look at them as we can.”
