NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers' defenceman Rhett Parsons focuses on the face-off in front of him during the first period of the Tigers' 10-7 win Sept. 15 at Co-op Place over the Swift Current Broncos.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Time flies when you’re having fun, and it seems to fly by even fast in the Western Hockey League.
The Medicine Hat Tigers’ three overage players, defencemen Dru Krebs, Rhett Parsons and Bogdans Hodass, all look to make the most of their last season of WHL eligibility as 20-year-old players.
Krebs and Parsons were both drafted by the Tigers in 2018, with Krebs being selected 38th overall and Parsons drafted with the 99th pick. They’ve been career-long Tigers, playing 211 and 151 games in the orange and black, respectively.
Parsons says the past three seasons flew by and he is excited for his overage season.
“It’s been a whirlwind, I remember just like yesterday, I was walking in from our first training camp, but now entering this 20-year-old season, I have a lot to prove for myself and this team has a lot to prove,” Parsons said. “We’re really excited, we have a great group of guys in there, so it’s going to be a good season. I’m really excited and I think the boys are really excited, too.”
Hodass was drafted 71st overall by the Tigers in the 2021 CHL Import draft and the Jelgava, Latvia product has played 113 games in Medicine Hat across two seasons. Hodass says he’s enjoyed his time in Canada and the Western Hockey League and is look forward to being one of the old guys in the room.
“It’s obviously (my) last year with the Tigers and I want to do as much as I can here to help the team win games and win the championship, and I’m excited for that,” Hodass said.
“It’s nice to see the young guys compete every day. It’s really nice to see what I can do as the leader and I’m trying to help them.”
The next step for the trio, beyond the Tigers’ regular season and hopeful lengthy playoff run, is working toward a pro contract, as the likelihood of being drafted as a 20-year-old is slim for all players.
It’s a goal Krebs has had since he was drafted 176th overall by the Washington Capitals in 2021 and continued working toward this summer when the Capitals did not sign him but he attended the Florida Panthers’ development camp. The Okotoks product has had a lot of fun along the way and says he won’t be too reflective on the season but will focus on each day.
“I try not to reflect on it too much while I’m in it, but I think it’s just taking it day by day and just trying to chase towards my goals,” Krebs said. “That’s the biggest goal or thought process of the season is just trying to become a better hockey player, I’m trying to prove myself.”
Parsons played alongside former Tigers captain Daniel Baker in his age-20 season, which was unfortunately cut short by a season-ending injury in February 2022. Like Krebs, he’s not looking back or wanting to get too caught up in the moment of his final WHL season.
“Just take it each day at a time, I try not to look too high or look too low, I just take it one day at a time,” Parsons said. “Because I’ve played in these games before, so I just have to bring what I have to the younger guys and make them feel comfortable. I think there might be a lot of nerves, but I think just making them feel comfortable, whether it’s at home or in Calgary (Friday) night, it’s whatever I can to make them feel comfortable.”
