NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Oren Shtrom plays with a puck in warmups ahead of the Medicine Hat Tigers home opener on Sept. 24 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers lengthened their goaltending depth Tuesday morning in a trade with Everett.
The Tigers acquired 18-year-old goaltender Evan May from the Silvertips in exchange for 18-year-old forward Oren Shtrom, an eighth-round pick in the 2023 WHL draft and a ninth-round pick in the 2024 draft. Everett also sent a 2025 fifth-round pick along with May to Medicine Hat.
Tigers general manager Willie Desjardins says the team wanted more experience in the backup role to allow rookie net minder Ethan McCallum a chance to develop without being rushed into the position.
“We we’re looking for a guy to come in and give us two goaltenders with a little bit of experience,” Desjardins said. “Ethan was good but he’s young. You don’t want to bring a guy along too early, you’d rather bring them along too slow than too quick. It’s just getting a guy that has experience.”
May has two WHL games under his belt with the Silvertips, with a 2.83 goals against average and an .889 save percentage. He suited up for 17 games last season with the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the BCHL.
Desjardins confirmed the acquisition of a third goaltender means the 16-year-old McCallum will join the CSSHL’s U18 South Alberta Hockey Academy and play alongside fellow Tigers goaltending prospect Zach Zahara.
Shtrom was a 57th overall pick of the Tigers in the 2019 WHL draft and played a combined 89 games for the club through three seasons, putting up 14 goals and 37 points. Desjardins says the move will give the forward a chance for a new role and wished him the best in Everett.
“It’s a fresh start and we just felt that we had to find a goaltender. I think Oren wanted more opportunity, we weren’t able to give it to him, so it’s a fresh start for him,” Desjardins said. “He’s a really good young player and it wouldn’t surprise me if he does well out there. But I think it was a move we needed to make things (work), and it’s for both of us.”
He said May will join the club this week but couldn’t confirm if he would be between the pipes in either of the games this weekend. After returning from the U.S. trip the Tigers host the Red Deer Rebels on Friday and the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday.
The move likely means starting goaltender Beckett Langkow, who has played in all eight of the Tigers games to start the year, will get a game off at some point in the near future. The 19-year-old is happy and willing to play every game if needed but is also excited to be working with and learning from his new goaltending partner.
“It is going to be a lot of fun; it’s too bad for Ethan, I really liked having him here, but he’s back in midget where he’ll have a great year and develop lots,” Langkow said. “I’m looking forward to Evan, and just working together, sharing and pushing each other.”
The acquisition of May, who is from Nanaimo, B.C., is a welcomed addition for Brayden Boehm, who also hails from Nanaimo. Boehm and May played together on the North Island Silvertips U18 AAA in the 2019-20 and he says the goaltender is one of his best friends.
“He’s probably one of my closer friends from back home throughout playing against them,” Boehm said. “Through midget we played together, we were pretty close, and we stayed in touch quite recently. It’ll be nice to see him around the rink and be awesome to have him here.”
Boehm joked that the acquisition of May means he will score a lot more in practice, just as he claims he did when they played together.
Mrsic selected to Canada’s U17 team
Tigers forward Tomas Mrsic was named to Team Canada’s U17 team representing Team Canada Red at the upcoming U17 Championships in Langley, B.C. later this month. In a team release Tuesday afternoon Mrsic said he can’t wait to represent his country.
“I got the call during our U.S. Division road trip when we were in Everett last week,” he said. “It’s a dream come true to play for Team Canada. As a kid watching the World Juniors I’ve always had aspirations to play in that tournament, the U17’s is a step in that direction and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
Mrsic will depart for the U17’s on Oct. 31 before returning to Medicine Hat on Nov. 13.
