NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Andrew Basha carries the puck into the offensive end in the first period of a 12-1 win Jan. 6 at Co-op Place over the Tri-City Americans.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Andrew Basha is looking forward to showcasing his abilities against some of the top NHL draft prospects in a week, but before then, he’s just happy to be back on the ice.
The Medicine Hat Tigers forward took part in a full practice Thursday afternoon after missing three games due to a cut on his leg suffered from a check in a 10-4 win over the Spokane Chiefs on Jan. 7.
He missed a game earlier this season due to illness, but those last three due to a skate blade are his only other absences this year. He missed only one game in the 2022-23 season, also due to a minor injury. He doesn’t want to jinx his health but he’s glad to be back on the ice and in the lineup.
“Watching games kind of sucks, and practices every day, watching just puts everything in perspective,” Basha said. “You realize how quickly, just on that little play and I was out for a couple of weeks. So it’s good to be back and it’s all smiles this morning.”
Basha is expected to be in the lineup tonight when the Tigers host the Red Deer Rebels. He’ll play Saturday when they head to Regina to face the Pats but won’t dress in Sunday’s matinee against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Basha and Pats forward Tanner Howe will be flying to Moncton, N.B. for the CHL/NHL top prospects game next week. It’s three days of skates and a game on Wednesday that Basha says is a good opportunity for himself.
“I know a bunch of guys who are going to be there, so I’m super excited to get there,” Basha said. “I have lots of family in New Brunswick, so it’ll be cool to play in front of some family that I’ve never played in front of before. I just can’t wait and I’m really looking forward to the opportunities.”
Basha’s family on his mom Ronda’s side is from Janeville, a small town just East of Bathurst. He’s visited his family there before and will now get to enjoy one of the top moments of his young career with them.
“There’s just a bunch of uncles, aunts and everything who will be there, it’s super exciting and I’m pumped to be there,” Basha said.
Basha will arrive in Moncton on Sunday and will have a practice with fellow prospects. Tuesday is a skate and off-ice combine before the game Wednesday, which is streamed on TSN and CHL Live starting at 4:30 p.m.
He’s looking forward to playing alongside other WHL prospects, like Harrison Brunicke from the Kamloops Blazers who he’s known since their minor hockey days, and Howe from the Pats, a fellow 2005-born prospect.
There’s no specific player from the OHL or QMJHL he’s looking forward to playing with or against, he’s just looking to enjoy playing with and being recognized among the top prospects the CHL has to offer.
“Every guy is there for a reason, so it’ll be good to show what I’ve got against the best and it’s going to be a fun experience,” Basha said.
The 18-year-old Calgary product has put up 18 goals and 55 points in 38 games this season, good for second in points on the Tigers. In the fall, the NHL Central Scouting listed Basha as a ‘B’ prospect, projecting him as a second- or third-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Come December, Basha had been bumped up to an ‘A’ rating and was listed at 18th among all North American skaters in the scouting service’s rankings. He joins teammate Cayden Lindstrom with that ‘A’ rating. Lindstrom, ranked third by Central Scouting, was also selected to play in the top prospects game but can’t attend due to his 4-6 week timeline recovering from surgery.
Before then, the focus remains with the Tigers and building off their 5-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday. Heading into the busy weekend, three games in three days, Basha says they just have to stay focused in all aspects.
“We have to make sure we want the one at home tomorrow, it’s important, and then obviously in Regina and Brandon,” Basha said. “So a little bit of travel, but I think our group will handle it well. Just like any three-in-three, we have to make sure our bodies are ready and we’re mentally prepared.”
