NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender prospect Ben Meyer squares up to a shot during practice at Co-op Place on Feb. 19.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
It wasn’t long ago Jordan Switzer was the young goaltender in blue pads at Medicine Hat Tigers practice.
The then Northern Alberta Xtreme net minder would work with Tigers Beckett Langkow and Evan May, picking up what he could from the older goaltenders before returning to his U18 club. It was a blast from the past last week when a pair of younger net minders turned to him for advice.
“It’s super special, you kind of go through those phases as a young guy and then you get to show them what you learned, it’s a really cool part of playing in the WHL,” Switzer said.
The one piece of advice he received when he was the prospect, looking to pick up anything he could, was the importance of habits on and off the ice. It’s been a focus he’s looked to pass on to the next generation of Tigers goaltenders.
“Those guys were so good to me when I was young, so it’s just trying to carry that on, teach these guys little things that they can pick up,” Switzer said.
With Carter Casey away at the WHL Prospect Game, the Tigers had South Alberta Hockey Academy goaltender Cash Christie and 2025 WHL Draft pick Ben Meyer, playing with the Regina Pat Canadians U18 team, suit up in practice during the week. The pair of 16-year-olds, Meyer still a year younger than Christie as an early 2010 birthday, both left the week with new looks at their own game.
Christie, a 2024 fourth-round pick by the Tigers, has practised with the WHL club a few times this season while playing for SAHA. At the U18 level, he’s run a 9-1 record with a 2.34 goals against average and .924 save percentage. From those practice opportunities to his first look at the WHL, making 20 saves in the Tigers’ 4-3 overtime win Feb. 21 over the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Christie says there’s been plenty of lessons along the way.
“You just have to be there mentally the whole game,” Christie said. “They bury their chances a lot more, and faster. So I think just staying focused the whole game.
“It’s so helpful, just off the ice, too, with the guys becoming closer with them and on the ice, adjusting the shots and speed, it’s been so helpful.”
Head coach Willie Desjardins was impressed by Christie’s efforts in his first WHL start.
“He was in control the whole night, even if they scored, he didn’t panic, he was pretty solid and made a big save in overtime,” Desjardins said.
Christie was with the Tigers during their playoff run last season, soaking in the experience en route to the WHL Championship and throughout the Memorial Cup run in Rimouski, Que. An opportunity, Desjardins says, that has paid off for the North Vancouver, B.C. product.
“It made a difference for Cash last year, going to the Memorial Cup with us and being our backup. I think that was huge for his development,” Desjardins said, “Whenever you can get up here, I think it can help.”
Meyer was in Medicine Hat for training camp, getting his first look at the WHL speed after being selected in the fourth round, 78th overall by the Tigers in the 2025 WHL Draft. Other than captain Bryce Pickford shattering his stick with a shot in his first practice back from injury, Meyer enjoyed his week with the Tigers, while sporting red and blue pads.
“It’s a bit of a faster pace than what I’m used to, took me a second to get used to shot speed, but it’s been great,” Meyer said. “It’s nice to be around the boys, just to see what the culture is like here.
“I was just trying to learn whatever I can, it’s a great experience. It’s just so nice to work with Matt Wong. Get his eyes on me, just to see what he has to say about my game and how I can progress.”
He’s picked up a couple of lessons seeing Switzer and goaltending coach Matt Wong work with one another.
“The way he talks with Matt, going over each save and the way he looks back at his games, just to analyze it, I feel I need to do a bit more of that,” Meyer said. “He’s great at it, so I’ll definitely take that from him.”
Meyer was at home with family when he got drafted by the Tigers, greeted by hugs from those around him and calls from friends to congratulate him on the moment. He was drafted from the Notre Dame Hounds’ U15 prep team, making the jump to the U18 level this season with the Pat Canadians. The Regina product enjoyed his time away from home with Notre Dame, but he’s liked being closer to home this season. His numbers have reflected the benefit of home cooking.
In 23 games with the U18AAA club, he has a 19-1-2 record with a 2.11 goals against average and a .922 save percentage, working four shutouts. The Pat Canadians have received a lot of attention this season, led by Regina Pats prospects Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue. Meyer says the duo has taken a lot of the heat and he’s enjoyed the year they’ve had as a group.
“I’ve been feeling great, the boys have been great, we’ve been winning lots of games and we’re feeling good going into playoffs,” Meyer said.
Meyer says Schultz and Pue, who have played over 20 games with the WHL Pats, have talked about the physicality of the WHL level.
“Thankfully, I don’t have to have all the guys coming and hitting me like they do, but it’s definitely a different level there,” Meyer said. “The shots are just a lot harder, way stronger.”
The Pat Canadians finished the SMAAAHL regular season atop the standings with a 38-3-3 record, capturing a second straight regular season title. Meyer led all goaltenders in GAA and SV%, trailing only 18-year-old Steven Wawryk of the Moose Jaw Warriors U18AAA in wins, with 25.
Regina will face the Saskatoon Contacts in a best-of-five quarter-finals series that starts Sunday. The Pat Canadians will host the West Regional tournament April 2-5 for the 2026 Telus Cup to be held in Peterborough, Ont. by the Jr. Peterborough Petes. Meyer is looking forward to the opportunity of facing the best in the West.
“It’s gonna be a great challenge, I’m really excited to see the teams out of Manitoba and Kenora or Thunder Bay, we have to play another team out of Saskatchewan no matter if we win playoffs or not, it’s nice to have that cushion, but we want to win fand we’re going to come for them,” Meyer said. “But it’s going to be tough this year. All the Saskatchewan teams are good, so whoever we’re playing against, it’s going to be tough.”
