NEWS FILE PHOTO
The Medicine Hat Tigers made a pair of trades Saturday, sending forward Shane Smith to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for 20-year-old goaltender Harrison Meneghin. They also sent forward Brayden Boehm to the Victoria Royals for a pair of picks.
The Medicine Hat Tigers shook up their lineup ahead of WHL action tonight.
Just under seven hours before puck drop at Co-op Place against the Moose Jaw Warriors, the Tigers made a pair of trades. The deals come off the heels of a 6-3 loss Friday at Red Deer to the Rebels, the third-straight loss to the Central division rivals.
The Tigers acquired 20-year-old goaltender Harrison Meneghin from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for 19-year-old forward Shane Smith.
In a corresponding move, the Tigers sent 20-year-old forward Brayden Boehm to the Victoria Royals in exchange for a third round pick in the 2026 WHL Draft and a conditional fifth round pick in the 2027 Draft. The move gets the Tigers back to three 20-year-olds, with Meneghin and forwards Oasiz Wiesblatt and Mat Ward.
“We felt Meneghin is one of the top three goaltenders in the league and that we needed his presence to make a good playoff run,” head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins said in a release.
“Shane has been a big part of our organization and we’re saddened to lose a player of his skill and character. The problem is when you want to get something good you have to give up something good. We wish Shane all the best and thank him for his time in Medicine Hat.”
Meneghin has spent his entire WHL career with the Hurricanes posting a career record of 46-33-7-2 with a .913 save percentage. Smith was drafted by the Tigers in the third round of the 2020 Prospect Draft and the Cessford product played parts of five season in Medicine Hat. He tallied 48 goals and 85 points in 143 games with the Tigers. He also appeared in nine playoff games with two assists.
Boehm joined the Tigers as a 16-year-old in the Covid shortened 2020-21 season, playing in parts of five seasons. He made a return this season after a knee injury prematurely ended his 2023-24 season. The Nanaimo, B.C. product accumulated 31 goals and 70 points in 154 games in the orange and black.
“Brayden was a big part of our team and we really appreciate his work ethic and speed,” Desjardins said in a release. “We moved him to Victoria where we can be closer to family. We wish Brayden all the best and thank him for his time in Medicine Hat.”
