NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Tanner Molendyk carries the puck up ice in the first period of a 7-3 win at Co-op Place over the Red Deer Rebels on March 15.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Despite years of having to game plan against Tanner Molendyk, his skills still find ways to impress the Medicine Hat Tigers coaching staff.
The 19-year-old Nashville Predators defence prospect has carried a heavy load on the Tigers’ back end since being acquired on Jan. 6, between quarterbacking the power play to double-shifting through the few games they’ve trailed, helping push for a lead.
It’s been a two-month showcase that has impressed head coach Willie Desjardins.
“He’s got another gear, he’s a guy who is hard to handle,” Desjardins said. “I didn’t know he was that good, but since watching him, he’s a special player.”
The McBride, B.C. product has four goals and 24 points in 26 games in the orange and black, added to four goals and 21 points in 21 games as a Blade, giving him eight goals and 45 points in 47 games.
He went 13 games without a goal before scoring the 4-2 marker in a 6-5 comeback overtime win at Lethbridge over the Hurricanes on March 14. He added two assists in that game for good measure, tallying a goal and assist a night later in a 7-3 win at home over the Red Deer Rebels. Molendyk says he isn’t one to watch for his points, he keeps the focus on his game.
“If I am playing good hockey then I’m playing good hockey, if I’m not getting points well then I’m not getting points,” Molendyk said. “You get lit up about it a little bit, my parents were on me about it but it’s not a big deal. I just go out there and play.”
Molendyk talks with his parents at least four times a day, speaking a majority of the time with his mom Nicole. He also talks with his sister when he can, begrudgingly over the last week as she’s enjoyed time in Mexico and he’s endured ‘second winter’ in Medicine Hat.
He’s enjoyed the city, getting more of a chance to explore it following the U.S. road trip in January, seeing more than just the rink and hotel he would have while with the Blades. There have been a lot of trips to Mucho Burrito for the signed prospect, with an order that might have to change as pro hockey nears.
“I’m basic, cheese, meat and then some sauce.”
Veggies?
“No veggies, maybe some lettuce.”
While not exactly a meal plan parents would layout for their children, it’s worked for Molendyk who has battled through heavy minutes since being acquired by the Tigers. From Jan. 18 leading up to play last weekend, Molendyk averaged 24:36 a night, with the next closest teammate defenceman Jonas Woo (22:48) who missed a month of action.
The next closest blue liner, Medicine Hat product Josh Van Mulligen (22:17), has been impressed with the experience Molendyk has brought to the team and his play.
“He’s really incredible player, such a good skater and just controls the game,” Van Mulligen said. “He’s a really smart player, really high compete, he’s been a really good leader for us, too.
“He’s got that playoff experience, he’s been on a really good team the past couple years and already he’s done so much for us. He’s been helping us win a lot of games lately.”
No better example than that comeback win over Lethbridge, single handily flying up ice with the puck before scoring on a shot beside Jackson Unger’s head, putting some life back into the Tigers’ with a 4-2 goal, sparking the comeback.
That was a night associate coach Joe Frazer was double-shifting Molendyk and his D-partner Veeti Väisänen.
“They’re in such great shape that they don’t really get tired,” Frazer said. “They almost get better when they play that amount.”
Molendyk agreed, having played north of 30 minutes a night while in Saskatoon. He says it makes it easier for him to get into the game. He admits though he’s happy to see Bryce Pickford and Woo return, eating up some of those minutes he’s underused.
But in a week’s time, when playoffs arrive and he gets what will likely be his last run at a championship, Molendyk is ready to empty the tank every night.
“It’s the best part of hockey, I’ve showed it when the games become important,” Molendyk said. “I showed it in Lethbridge, as I was playing a lot of minutes, a lot of hard minutes. It’s the hardest part of the year when you come down to playoffs and the last two games are always the toughest.”
