NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers rookie goaltender Ethan McCallum keeps his eye on the puck while making a save during a practice scrimmage Friday at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
After a down 2022-23 season, Ethan McCallum is looking to take control this Medicine Hat Tigers season.
The 17-year-old net minder is one of five goalies competing for a spot on the team’s opening night roster. Last season, McCallum broke camp with Medicine Hat and backed up full-time starter Beckett Langkow but never saw game action before he was returned to the U18 level following the acquisition of Evan May from the Everett Silvertips.
Going from a backup role in the WHL to playing U18 hockey at the South Alberta Hockey Academy wasn’t something McCallum took very well, but upon reflection, says it made him better.
“It was tough getting sent down last year, it kind of destroyed some confidence a little bit,” McCallum said. “But I still believe in the process and SAHA had a great program in place, especially the guys there I got along (with) really well on a personal level. To come back here now and get a second shot at it, I’m excited for it. I believe I developed really well throughout that year and it’s helped (me) grow into a mature guy who’s more approachable in the locker room to help the guys who need it.”
That approachability is something McCallum says he recognized he needed to work on, as he felt others players were feeling awkward trying to talk with the quiet rookie who kept to himself. He made it an objective of his coming into this camp to be more open and available as a teammate and also help push the group to be better.
“The goal was to make it more comfortable so guys would know that I could be a person they could come to for help, whether it’s on or off the ice,” McCallum said. “The approach for me in the camp today was not just push myself to my limits mentally and physically, but as well as the guys around me. Because if everyone’s working out 100 per cent, then we’re going to have a really good shot this year of winning a championship. I believe that the guys we have right now, it’s pretty high expectations we have for this year.”
The Brandon product was between the pipes for the first period of the Tigers’ 7-3 preseason win Tuesday at Lethbridge against the Hurricanes. He turned aside all 13 shots he faced, crediting the defencemen in front of him for making his job easier. Having played in two preseason games the year prior and entering his second training camp, McCallum says he’s matured more and felt much more comfortable this year.
“I kind of realized the expectations of what needs to come out of me to help the team win,” McCallum said. “Just coming into preseason, I was a lot more comfortable and most importantly, I just want to make sure the younger guys who are new just like me last year, are more comfortable and are more ready to go for the games.”
That self reflection and different look from the year prior showcased itself in how McCallum spent his summer. For summer 2022 he was on a seven-day workout program which he admits started to take away the fun of playing hockey. This summer’s focus became easier, have some fun while still getting better.
“The goal was this year, take a couple of weeks off, which I did, have some vacation,” McCallum said. “But training wise, it was five days a week on the ice with WHL and MJHL skaters and then the last two weeks I spent with pros like (Zach) Whitecloud, (Travis) Sanheim and those guys who are locals. Then just off ice I got with a trainer for four days a week, working on my strength because for sure one thing I need to improve on is off ice. Mentally, I’m not quite there yet and I think I have another level to go.”
When McCallum broke camp with the Tigers last season, it was as a 16-year-old who breathed a sigh of relief after his first WHL training camp. This year, if he is able to make the Tigers’ opening day roster for the second year in a row, he’s ready to make it count and fulfill a lifelong dream of playing in the league he grew up watching.
“To think right now I have a chance to play in the league the (Brandon) Wheat Kings do and face them, it’s just really inspiring for me and my family,” McCallum said. “To play for this team, especially looking at the prospects we have on the team, I’m looking really forward to the potential of this and I want to be here because I want to be that key piece that guys need behind them.”
