News Photo James Tubb
Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Jordan Switzer squares up to make a save during a scrimmage at the Tigers' training camp over the weekend at Co-op Place. Switzer is one of three 2007-born goaltenders looking to earn a full-time spot on the roster for the 2025-26 season.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Finishing up his fourth training camp with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Jordan Switzer’s in line to compete to be the starter, something he’s been chasing for the past two years.
It’s only fitting he’s got competition once again.
“It’s a different feeling, especially being a younger guy, this is my fourth camp now which is kind of weird to think about,” Switzer said. “It’s cool to have that momentum coming into camp, knowing that you are one of the front runners and just not getting complacent with it. Obviously, there’s guys pushing for your spot now, so it’s cool.”
The lone returnee in the crease for the Tigers is joined by two fellow 2007-born net minders in Cruz Chase, acquired via trade ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, and offseason signing Carter Casey from the USHL.
Switzer was one of three goalies at training camp last year, joined by then 19-year-old Zach Zahara and 18-year-old Ethan McCallum. None of the three jumped into the starter role, prompting head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins to swing a deal for Harrison Meneghin from the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Zahara was then sent to Wenatchee, reacquired at Christmas when Meneghin was injured and then released, playing the rest of the season with the BCHL’s Brooks Bandits. McCallum was traded to Saskatoon where he is one of three potential Blades’ starters this season.
For Switzer, he was able to learn from Meneghin, working behind the overage net minder while also holding the crease for a month while the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect was out with a lower-body injury. The Calgary product also picked up two playoff wins, showing he could step up when needed.
Switzer suited up in 32 games last season with a 23-6-2 record, running a 2.65 goals against average and a .901 save percentage, also recording four shutouts. The 18-year-old ran a three-game shutout streak that totalled 2:09:43 of play without allowing a goal, just 6:01 short of the Tigers’ record set by Kevin Nastiuk in 2004.
Entering his second full season in the WHL, with a championship ring now in tow, he’s looking to prove he can step up full time. He’s also not afraid of the competition, he welcomes it.
“It’s been really good, they had two good camps, kind of pushing me to be my best and I haven’t quite found it here yet, but I’m looking forward to what’s coming next,” Switzer said.
“I like that feeling that somebody is coming for my spot. It pushes me to be that much better every day.”
Like the rest of the returning group, Switzer is coming off a short summer following the Tigers’ run to the Memorial Cup final in Rimouski, Que. Despite not hearing his name called in the NHL Entry Draft at the end of June, Switzer attended the Calgary Flames’ development camp and received an invite back to the NHL club’s rookie camp this fall.
Switzer says the longer season helped him get more ice, giving him the reps he wasn’t getting in the backup role.
“Towards the end, you get that ice time that you would get in the summer and especially with the shooters we had last year, it was tenfold the development you got and it was really good for me,” Switzer said.
He was not in the lineup for the Tigers on Tuesday when they opened the preseason slate at Lethbridge against the Hurricanes. The Tigers host Lethbridge on Saturday at Co-op Place in the lone home preseason action before the team embarks for the Yukon Showcase in Whitehorse. They’ll face the Kelowna Rockets for two preseason games on Sept. 12 and 13 in the Yukon before opening the season Sept. 20 at Co-op Place against the Regina Pats.
