PHOTO COURTESY MEDICINE HAT TIGERS
The Medicine Hat Tigers announced the leadership group for the 2024-25 season on Oct. 14. Gavin McKenna and Josh Van Mulligen will serve as alternate captains during home games, Andrew Basha is a full-time assistant captain, Oasiz Wiesblatt is the 41st captain in team history, Hunter St. Martin and Bryce Pickford will serve as alternate captains at away games.
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The Medicine Hat Tigers leadership group looks to display what it means to wear the orange and black.
The Tigers unveiled the six-player leadership group on Monday after announcing Oasiz Wiesblatt as the 41st captain in franchise history.
The other five members of the group include forwards Andrew Basha, Hunter St. Martin, Gavin McKenna and defencemen Josh Van Mulligen and Bryce Pickford.
McKenna and Van Mulligen will serve as alternate captains in home games, Basha is a full-time assistant captain and St. Martin and Pickford will serve as alternate captains at away games.
“There’s some guys who’ve been here a long time who know how we want to play,” associated coach Joe Frazer said.
“Bryce Pickford has come in and really left his mark early with just how hard he works, how hard he trains off the ice, he’s going to be a great leader off the ice, making sure we’re really pushing in the weight room. You got Hunter, JVM, Gav, Bash, it’s a well balanced group. Not everybody has every strength, you have to have different guys who do things well.
“It’s a great supporting staff and when you look at that group, they all have different strengths, where they can really can help each other and help the team.”
Pickford is wearing a letter for the first time and was honoured to be named an alternate captain in his first months as a Tiger. The Chauvin, Alta. prodcut says he made leadership a focus off his offseason.
“It’s just a new thing I’ve added to my game, I think I’m a pretty good leader,” Pickford said. “I just tried to do it a little bit more when I was here. I didn’t get the chance to show it in Seattle, so definitely trying to be more of a leader here.”
Basha was honoured to receive the assistant captain role, getting the chance to be one of the team’s official leaders at home and away.
“A lot of guys in our room could have gotten that but it’s definitely an honour,” Basha said. “I’m just looking to do my best with it.”
St. Martin says he’s hoping to just be his best every day to set an example for everyone in the organization. He says the group as a whole has to set the standard for the rookies, call-ups and future Tigers.
“We all have to be accountable and we have to bring the habits day in, day out, because if we don’t do that, we’re going to lose games, we’re not going to win,” St. Martin said. “We have to show up every night, be who we are, play Tigers hockey, show everyone our habits. We have to show up, because if not, then what are they going to follow? Just showing up every night, being the best that we can be, and that’s all we can do.”
Tigers Game
The Tigers got back in the win column, beating the Moose Jaw Warriors 6-3 on the road.
Oasiz Wiesblatt scored the game winner, capping a two-point night. Medicine Hat outshot the Warriors 43-13.
The Tigers (5-5) are off until Wednesday when they host the Calgary Hitmen.
