NEWS FILE PHOTO
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Oasiz Wiesblatt looks to make a backhand pass in the first period of a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Giants at Co-op Place on Oct. 12.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers can’t seem to shake the injury bug.
The Tigers have four players out of the lineup with week-to-week timelines, as defencemen Josh Van Mulligen and Niiloepekka Muhonen are out with upper body injuries, and forward Hayden Harsanyi is month to month with a lower body injury.
Head coach Willie Desjardins told the News on Tuesday that forward Ryder Ritchie, previously day to day, is now week to week after taking a skate to the cheek in the second period of a 6-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Oct. 11.
Desjardins expects the Tigers to bring in an affiliate player to add another body to the lineup.
“We are going to be shorter bodies for sure, we’re just going to be short here for a little bit,” Desjardins said.
They did receive some positive news on the injury front as defenceman Matt Paranych is only day to day with an upper body injury and the 17-year-old was a full participant in practice Tuesday. He could potentially play tonight when they host the Calgary Hitmen at Co-op Place depending on how he feels ahead of the game.
They enter the game tonight off a 6-3 win last Friday at Moose Jaw against the Warriors. The Tigers arrived to late due to bus issues but were able to maintain momentum, scoring three third-period goals for the win. Desjardins liked how his group rebounded from late efforts in the 8-1 loss to the Prince George Cougars on Oct. 16.
“We were a little upset by how we played late in that game so we were probably pretty focused,” Desjardins said. “It was a really good performance and that started in practice on Thursday. We had a really good practice Thursday, which kind of showed where we’re at mentally, we knew we had to get better.”
They face a Calgary team that has picked up five points in their last three games, the most recent a 6-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Oct. 19. They’re also 0-3 on the road to start the young season.
The Hitmen won the season series last year, 4-2 over Medicine Hat, who won the first two games over opening weekend but did not beat the Central division opponent again.
Captain Oasiz Wiesblatt says it’s a tough matchup.
“They play hard hockey, they’re a great team,” Wiesblatt said. “They block lots of shots, they kind of collapse right in the middle all the time so it’s hard to create against them. But I think for us, it’s just sticking with it, focus on small details, getting pucks in, stay out of the box. The main thing is just get pucks in, no turnovers because they’re a quick transition team.”
Three Hitmen have already hit the double-digit mark offensively, led by 19-year-old forward Oliver Tulk with three goals and 12 points in nine games. Former Swift Current Broncos overager Connor Hvidston has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) and NHL Draft eligible froward Ben Kindel has four goals and 11 points in nine games.
The Hitmen also feature Ottawa Senators prospect Carter Yakemchuk, who had an extended stay in the nation’s capital and has since put up three goals and six points in four games. He offers a challenge for the Tigers that Desjardins says has to be matched with a team effort.
“When he gets the puck you have to have everybody there,” Desjardins said. “You have to be aware of him when on the ice, what he’s doing. But it’s more your overall work ethic. If you give high-end guys time, they’re going to beat you. If you don’t give them time, it’s going to be harder for them.”
The Hitmen were also in hockey news last week, signing 2023 first-round pick Noah Kosick. The 5-foot-10 forward previously committed to the University of Michigan in the NCAA and started the season with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede, where former Tiger Cole Sillinger played in 2020-21.
The 2026 NHL Draft eligible remains committed to Michigan for the 2026-27 season according to Elite Prospects. It’s a potential early sign of CHL players being eligible to play at the NCAA level after signing a junior contract, currently prohibited by NCAA eligibility rules. Kosick scored for the Hitmen in his WHL debut on Oct. 19.
Regina Pats overage forward Braxton Whitehead was the first CHL player to challenge the NCAA ruling, verbally committing to Arizona State in September.
With no official decision yet on CHL players and NCAA eligibility, there has been a lot of discussion but even more to be decided, Desjardins says.
“Time will tell on that one, there’s still a lot of unknowns and it still hasn’t been confirmed yet,” Desjardins said. “I do think there will be a change though if that goes through.”
