PHOTO COURTESY EDMONTON OILERS
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Nate Corbet was one of 12 skaters invited to NHL rookie camps last week. Corbet and forward Brayden Boehm attended the Oilers' camp in Penticton and have both returned to Medicine Hat ahead of Saturday's season opener.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers got one step closer to nailing down an opening night lineup.
The Tigers had two players returned from NHL rookie camps, with forward Brayden Boehm and defenceman Nate Corbet joining the club Wednesday after attending the Edmonton Oilers’ rookie showcase in Penticton.
That leaves nine skaters who will be attending NHL main camps this week and won’t be available for the season opener Saturday at Co-op Place against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Associate coach Joe Frazer says they are happy to have Boehm and Corbet back and even happier to see their players get the NHL experience.
“You come to Medicine Hat to sign a pro contract and win a championship, we talk about it every day and all you can ask for is an opportunity,” Frazer said. “Nine guys make it to main camp, you’re just so excited for them because you know how much work they put into it.
“It’s just really exciting to see them get to go against the big boys, and it’s going to be a great experience for them. Hopefully they can stay as long as possible, learn as much as they can and bring that experience back to our guys.”
Boehm says the experience on and off the ice was beyond his expectations and an atmosphere he wants to be part of as soon as he can reach the level. He left camp with the knowledge he can get back there.
“The main takeaway is just how close I am to that level,” Boehm said. “I was there, I didn’t stick out, I fit in. Obviously coming back from injury to playing in that tournament was huge to know that I’m not far off from that level.”
The 20-year-old Nanaimo product had his family and girlfriend in attendance for the tournament. He shared a special moment with his dad Dave who is a life-long Oilers fan.
“It was pretty special for him,” Boehm said. “It was something him and my family will never forget.”
It was just as special for the 18-year-old Corbet, getting his first taste of the NHL level. Corbet says he learned about ensuring he has a game plan for how he wants to play in every game and every shift, and the importance of going the extra mile.
“If you want to be extraordinary, you have to do extraordinary things,” Corbet said. “That’s important to emphasize the extraordinary, because it’s just getting back to the basics and you have to master those. Everyone’s going to skate and work out, that’s inevitable, but it’s what you’re going to do after to separate yourself beyond that. That is the biggest thing.”
Corbet fought in all three games he played for the Oilers. The first fight was him making a statement, he says, with the other two coming from moments in the game. He’s looking forward to carrying that same intimidating presence into his second season with the Tigers and, like fans, he’s excited about the group they have.
The Calgary product does caution that they have a lot of work to do still.
“We can have a special group and everyone says we are going to be good, but are we going to be good, I don’t know,” Corbet said. “We have to do it and it’s only on us. Coaches can’t do it for us, nobody else can do it for us, it’s up to the players. So I’m looking forward to a new season, the summer couldn’t end quick enough for the season to start.”
With nine skaters at NHL camps, the Tigers have 12 forwards and seven defencemen left heading into opening weekend.
They’ll only have six D-men eligible for opening night, with Jonas Woo set to serve a one-game suspension from his last game with the Wenatchee Wild.
Forward Gavin McKenna’s status is still up in the air for the home opener. Head coach Willie Desjardins says they won’t have an update until Saturday’s lineup is decided.
Frazer says the opportunity gives the younger Tigers the chance to get experience that could pay dividends later in the season.
“The older guys will get a great experience at NHL camp, learning from the pros and just how to become a pro, that’s invaluable experience, and our younger guys that are here getting to play more and critical minutes so they can kind of fast track that development right away,” Frazer said.
Tigers atop CHL
preseason rankings
The Canadian Hockey League released its top-10 rankings ahead of the 2024-25 season, naming the Tigers as the top team heading into the campaign.
The Tigers have not been atop the CHL’s rankings as far back as the 2016-17 season, the earliest season tracked on the CHL website.
Frazer says the early ranking is exciting but doesn’t change their approach or focus heading into the season.
“We have one goal in mind and the only way to accomplish that to make sure we get better every day,’ Frazer said. “It doesn’t matter where we start, it matters where we finish, and hopefully that’s playing in the Memorial Cup. That’s our goal and the only way we’re going to do that is making sure we’re pushing each other and holding each other accountable and getting better every day.
