NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Ethan Neutens battles for net-front position in the first period of a 5-1 win Nov. 15 at Co-op Place over the Victoria Royals.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Ethan Neutens got a welcomed first taste of Tigers’ hockey.
The newest member of Medicine Hat’s WHL club had a welcoming debut in the orange and black, suiting up for the first time as a Tiger in a 5-1 win Nov. 15 over the Victoria Royals at Co-op Place.
Neutens, acquired from the Kelowna Rockets the day prior, says facing a familiar B.C. division team and coming in on a win made the early transition easier.
“They’re a pretty familiar team, so it’s nice to beat them and it was good to get the first win with this group of guys,” Neutens said. “They’re all so welcoming.”
The 19-year-old Cochrane product was acquired alongside a 2025 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick in a trade that sent 18-year-old defenceman Nate Corbet to Kelowna. Neutens spoke with the News ahead of the Tigers’ road trip to Saskatchewan and says he’s adjusted well early to his new team, something he credits his new teammates with.
“They’ve been really welcoming, it was good after a win, they’re all coming up to me, giving me butt taps and saying, ‘good first game as a Tiger,” Neutens said. “It’s just nice to see and it’s great to see how good the culture is here. All the guys just really get into it.”
The 6-foot-3.5 power forward was surprised at how quick the trade process can be. He was scratched in a Rockets’ 5-3 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Nov. 13 and found out about the deal later that night. He was able to reflect on his time in Kelowna, 135 games played with 11 goals and 25 points in three seasons.
“It’s a great organization, they’ve done definitely some good things, they’ve given me some chances,” Neutens said. “It was time for a fresh start, they could see it too, so it was pretty mutual.”
He debuted in Medicine Hat alongside centre Kadon McCann and has remained on the wing of the NHL Draft-eligible forward. They’ve added 18-year-old Carter Cunningham to the trio that can only enthuse old-time hockey fans. Both Neutens and McCann tower over 6-foot-3, with Cunningham the shortest of the group at 6-foot-2.
Associate coach Joe Frazer has liked that line for the Tigers and he’s enjoyed watching Neutens in his first games with the club.
“He’s brought some speed to the lineup, he’s a big guy who can skate on that line with Cunningham and McCann, it’s a big line,” Frazer said. “They’re playing physical, they’re getting the puck into the O-zone and really cycling below the dots, playing that heavy game. That’s kind of a different line than we’ve had in the past. It gives us a different look up front.
“All three guys, that line has been great for us, especially just creating more O-zone time and helping us wear teams out.”
Neutens takes pride in his defensive game but he also looks to be a two-play player. He’s hoping to contribute more offensively on a team that, when healthy, is loaded to the teeth with offensive options.
“I think my speed really, really matches their style of play and I’ve definitely got the skill to contribute offensively here,” Neutens said. “They brought me in for some size and I’m looking forward to adding some size and some physicality to their game, too.”
Off the ice, Neutens is looking forward to getting to know his new teammates even more as they look to play for as long of a season as possible. Whether that be playing video games, winning hands of poker at the back of the bus or training in the gym, he just wants to be part of the Tigers and join the family.
“That’s especially important when you’re with a new group of guys and just trying to get to know them,” Neutens said.
