NEWS FILE PHOTOS
The Medicine Hat Tigers over agers, Ethan Neutens, Josh Van Mulligen and Andrew Basha (not pictured) look to capture a second WHL Championship in their last season.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Andrew Basha has done a lot of reminiscing as of late.
The Calgary Flames prospect says the Medicine Hat Tigers’ last game of the regular season, with 6,084 in attendance, brought back a lot of memories from his five seasons in the orange and black.
“I remember the older guys talking to me when I was a first-year about how quick it goes and you don’t really think about it, but it just kind of sneaks up on you,” Basha said. “I think about my first days here like it was yesterday, and these halls, it’s crazy. But I’m very grateful that I have so many great memories and so many great people to share those with and just to talk about.”
For Basha, who started his first WHL season at the U18 level with the South Alberta Hockey Academy before joining the WHL club midway through the year, to this season, his last in the league, starting in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers before coming back to the Dub, his time with the Tigers been quite the middle chapter.
He worked his way into NHL Draft talks, with an injury in 2024 seeing him slide to the Flames in the second round. After missing most of last season with injury, he was able to join the club for the WHL Championship series, adding to the memories he accrued in his three prior seasons. Basha hopes to finish his Tigers chapter on the highest note.
“These are the years a lot of people say are the most fun you have in the game, so it’s bittersweet for sure,” Basha said. “Obviously I’m really excited for my next chapter, and hopefully that can be just as good as this one, if not better. I’ve loved it here.”
The Tigers’ three overagers, Basha, Ethan Neutens and Josh Van Mulligen, have all played five years in the Western League, combining for 718 games between them.
Van Mulligen, the local product, started his Tigers tenure as a fan, enjoying the atmosphere and nostalgia of The Arena. He served as a stick boy during the heartbreaking 2017, Game 7 overtime loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
After helping the Tigers to their sixth Ed Chynoweth Cup last year, he too has built up a memory bank that will last a lifetime. He’s allowed himself to reflect on those throughout the year.
“They hit me at different times, it’s crazy it’s gone by so fast,” Van Mulligen said. “But we have lots of hockey left here, I have lots of hockey left in me, so I’m just looking forward to the playoffs here.
“I’ve gotten to play with a lot of great players here over the years, there’s been a lot of incredible players come through this organization. It’s crazy that I’m already in that 20-year-old spot.”
Neutens hasn’t started his reflection period yet, the former Kelowna Rocket says he’s putting everything he has into being at his best.
“I just want to win, so anything that’s on my mind, I’m going to do whatever it takes to win,” Neutens said. “Put my body on the line, bring a lot of energy.
“Everything gets bigger and bigger, I’m super excited to just contribute where I can.”
As much as the overagers are playing to extend their own seasons and time in junior hockey, their teammates are even more anxious to win to spend more time with them.
Kadon McCann has grown up around all three 20s, from his time in Cochrane minor hockey with Netuens, living with Van Mulligen in his rookie year to picking Basha’s brain about the pro level. All three have left an impact on the third-year forward.
“JVM has been a role model for me ever since I was here and Neuty, growing up I looked up to him, and then Basha, he’s came back and he’s gave us his all for the second half, it’s really special,” McCann said. “Those 20s are my best friends and it’s going to suck that I lose them next year. But at the same time, we hopefully have a long postseason ahead of us and hopefully we can do it for them.”
