NEWS FILE PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Brayden Boehm poses for the camera during the first day of training camp ahead of the 2023-24 WHL season at Co-op Place. Boehm has been out of the lineup since suffering a lower-body injury in a 7-5 loss to the Prince George Cougars on Oct. 22.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
After playing hockey for over a decade, Brayden Boehm is still working on watching from the sidelines.
The Medicine Hat Tigers forward has been back at Co-op Place for a little over a week while still recovering from a lower-body injury suffered on Oct. 22 that has him out indefinitely.
He skated Thursday in a yellow jersey, not taking part in any drills but on the same ice as the rest of the team. The 19-year-old had been rehabbing at home in Nanaimo and says things are on the up with his recovery and physiotherapy.
Boehm says he’s had to dial himself back and not push himself beyond what his recovering body can handle at this point in time.
“I’m used to pushing myself to the boundaries and seeing how far I can go until something happens,” Boehm said. ” Now, I have to lean back and just let things heal, not be so hard on myself to lift more, to do more activity and put more stress on that.”
Head coach Willie Desjardins cautioned there is no timeline for Boehm’s return this season with the Tigers but he says it’s been a positive sight having him around the rink.
“He’s a big part of our group. It is unfortunate we’ve lost him for so long, he was playing so well for us and certainly would have helped us this year,” Desjardins said. “So it’s good to see him back. He’s really rehabbing well.”
Boehm has tuned into every game he could while at home recovering and any game he’s missed, he’s dialled into the highlights the next day. There is a challenge when it comes to watching games from afar, whether it’s a bloated win, a close loss or any game in between, Boehm wants to be there and not separated by a screen and roughly 1,300 KMs.
“They’re doing well, they’re winning and they’re playing well,” Boehm said. “Obviously it’s frustrating not being able to be a part of it, but I’m glad that the boys are doing well and that things are going well for them.”
About the only positive of the injury for Boehm has been an extended opportunity to be at home with his family, sharing more time with his dad Dave, mom Tracy and younger brother Nash. He says they helped him through the first couple of weeks when he wasn’t mobile on his own and have since helped him fill the time usually occupied with hours at the rink.
“It’s nice to watch my brother play hockey, basketball and I’ve helped my dad coaching and just some family games,” Boehm said. “It’s nice to kind of have that there to keep my mind off what I was missing out here.”
He says there’s been many competitive card games played at the Boehm household, where hand and foot canasta, farmers Rummi, Rummi 2000 and President reign supreme. Boehm isn’t afraid to admit his brother consistently beats him at the basketball game 21, “I have to step up my game there.”
He will eventually return to Nanaimo and continue rehabbing with sights set on the 2024-25 WHL campaign, which would be his age-20 season in the league. He’s hoping to return to the city come playoff time and cheer on his teammates in person.
