NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Tyson Moss makes a play for the puck in the Saskatoon end in the first period of a 6-4 win Tuesday at Co-op Place over the Blades.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Tyson Moss has had himself an interesting first week in the Western Hockey League.
The Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman made his WHL debut on Tuesday in a 6-4 win over the Saskatoon Blades. That came two days after he took warmups with the club ahead of a 7-4 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings on Dec. 7. His debut also came a day before the 17-year-old’s signing was officially announced.
Through all the craziness, the Port Moody, B.C. product is just happy to be in the WHL and with Medicine Hat.
“(Tuesday) was really special, a great opportunity,” Moss said. “I really appreciate all the guys who showed me ins and out of the systems, I was really grateful to get out there.”
Moss started the season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL, recording six assists in 23 games. He was a 10th-round, 217th overall pick of the Kamloops Blazers in the 2022 WHL draft. He didn’t know any of his teammates before joining the Tigers but he has felt welcomed since.
“The facilities here are second to none, the guys are great and every day, everyone works hard, so it’s really awesome to see,” Moss said.
Head coach Willie Desjardins says the signing was one they were looking at making since the start of the season, liking Moss’ game. The necessity was accelerated when 17-year-old blue liner Matt Paranych asked for a trade.
Moss made his debut in an unfamiliar position, lining up at forward alongside Markus and Liam Ruck for his first game in the WHL. He says it was different than being on the blue line but he was just happy to be on the ice.
Desjardins liked the team-first attitude from his newest skater.
“There’s some guys that are good team players, he’s a good team player,” Desjardins aid. “I told him, ‘Tyson, I didn’t bring you to be a forward, that wasn’t my plan,’ but he was great with it, didn’t have one issue.
“He went out and did the best he could, he’s going to be a good player for us. He’s got good skill, he’s smart, so he’ll be good for us.”
Moss describes himself as an offensive defenceman who likes to jump up in the play and join the rush.
He’ll likely get more of a taste of the WHL this weekend as the Tigers have three games in three nights before the holiday break. That stretch starts today at Moose Jaw against the Warriors before they have a home-and-home with the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday at Co-op Place and Sunday on the road.
The Tigers (17-13-1) enter the weekend holding onto first place in the Central division, leading the Hurricanes (15-10-1-1) and Calgary Hitmen (14-9-3-1-) by three points, both with four fewer games played.
It’s a weekend that caps off the first half, one which associate coach Joe Frazer says has to end on a high note.
“There’s been a lot of really good hockey, a ton of adversity, it’s been a grind this first half,” Frazer said. “Guys have really stepped up and worked really hard. We’re short a lot of guys, but it’s given guys opportunities and they’ve taken advantage of it.
“It’s been a good first half, there’s some areas where we have to keep working on and make sure we tidy up for the second off and playoff push.”
