PHOTO COURTESY VICTORIA ROYALS JAY WALLACE
Medicine Hat Tigers' rookie forward Kadon McCann looks to make a play with the puck during the Tigers 4-1 loss Tuesday at Victoria against the Royals.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Two Medicine Hat Tigers have picked up memorable games early in their trip through British Columbia.
Rookies Kadon McCann and Matt Paranych recorded some memorable stats in the Tigers’ 9-2 win over the Kelowna Rockets on Oct. 14, with McCann recording his first goal and Paranych notching his first assist and first point.
The best part for the two Alberta products is Paranych’s assist came on McCann’s goal late in the third period of the win. Paranych fired a shot on net that McCann knocked in, giving the duo their memorable statistic.
“It was pretty special, he’s an unbelievable kid and super special to share with him, and if we could split the puck in half I would,” McCann said. “Having that power play goal is pretty special with Hayden (Harsanyi) out there, too. I wouldn’t want to share it with anybody else, it’s awesome and I’m super super lucky to be able to share with these guys.”
For McCann, who played last season with the South Alberta Hockey Academy’s U18 team, his first WHL goal had even more meaning. Before he joined SAHA, the Cochrane product played for the RINK Kelowna academy. Being able to get that goal in front of former coaches, teammates and even family made it even more special.
“I have lots of good buddies from down there, lots of former teammates and my coach was also in the stands, so it’s pretty special,” McCann said. “To get it in front of those guys and lots of family there, too, it’s special and it’s even better to get the win in front of those guys.”
Having played in B.C. before and visiting family there, it’s not his first trip to Canada’s westernmost province, but is his first in the WHL. McCann says he’s enjoyed the different culture the province brings and also learning how much goes into making a trip like this possible for the team.
“I didn’t really think about everything that happens behind the scenes, like Mikki (Lanuk) is super busy and we’re super lucky, he’s staying up late and sharpening skates,” McCann said. “There’s a lot of stuff that goes into behind the scenes and I thought it just all happened with a major trip but no, everything comes down to certain pieces and everything is just so organized.”
With McCann getting the first-goal puck, Paranych received the final puck put in play of the game. Both Tigers’ rookies say the puck will be going to families for safekeeping once they return to Alberta.
Paranych has also been to B.C. a couple times for hockey trips, making his first in the WHL an experience he’s enjoyed.
“It’s definitely just a great experience to come to B.C. and play all the B.C. teams and be here with the guys and just enjoy it, enjoy the scenery on the ferry,” Paranych said.
The defenceman says it was surreal to get that first WHL point and have McCann be on the other side of it.
“I know he’s great in front of the net and I can trust him, it all just happened all at once,” Paranych said.
The Edmonton product is still looking for his first WHL goal from the blue line, with a lot of close chances through his first seven games. He’s not thinking about it too much and is focused on continuing the shooter mentality while also maintaining his defensive responsibilities.
“That’ll come, it takes time and just focus on getting good opportunities every game to prove myself that I can play in this lineup and just keep shooting the puck and have a shooting mentality,” Paranych said.
Neither McCann nor Paranych got on the board Tuesday night in the Tigers’ 4-1 loss in Victoria against the Royals. Nanaimo product Brayden Boehm scored Medicine Hat’s lone goal, playing in front of a lot of friends and family in the stands. Evan May, also from Nanaimo and well represented in the stands, made 23 saves against the Royals.
May was not between the pipes or on the bench for the Tigers on Wednesday as they were at Vancouver taking on the Giants. His scratch marks the first time the 19-year-old isn’t making an appearance this season, with Zach Zahara slated to make his first WHL start.
It’s the fourth appearance of Zahara’s career, having come into three different games in relief over the past three years. He picked up the win making one save in an 8-7 OT win at Swift Current on Oct. 6.
The Tigers continue their B.C. trip Friday when they head to Kamloops to face former head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston and the Blazers.
