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Medicine Hat Tigers

Road to the WHL Draft: 2022

May 7, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB - After an 11 win season, the Medicine Hat Tigers did something at the WHL Draft that hadn't happened since 1998... have the first overall pick at the WHL Prospects Draft. Jay Bouwmeester was selected that season and went on to winning a Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold Medal & more... The Tigers could potentially see a repeat offender of these accolades with selection they made.

With the first pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, the Tigers selected Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, YT) from the Rink Academy in the CSSHL at the U18 Prep ranks, usually a U15 draft class, McKenna was granted exceptional status at Rink to play at the U18 level. Where he scored 65 points in 35 games as a 13-14 year old on the roster.

McKenna would not apply for exceptional status but still made an impact in his 16 games as an affiliate with the Tigers scoring 18 points (4 goals, 14 assists) including a four assist WHL debut in a 9-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

After completing his rookie season with the Tigers in 2023-2024, McKenna lead the team in scoring with 97 points, (34 goals, 63 assists) he was named Co-MVP of the Tigers as well as Rookie of the Year, earning league honours for the Central Division. McKenna has played for Canada at the U17's & U18's in Finland this spring winning a gold medal and breaking a U18's record among Canadian skaters with 10 goals and 10 assists.

After the McKenna selection, the Tigers were back on the draft clock in the first round with the 16th pick in the 1st round after acquiring the pick in the Lukas Svejkovsky trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds and took Hayden Harsanyi (Calgary, AB) from the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep program in the CSSHL where he had 31 goals and 35 assists in 25 games, In his first season with the Tigers, he played in all 68 games with the Orange & Black scoring 12 goals and 16 assists.

Just a handful of picks later it would be the Tigers back to select the opening pick of Round 2, centre Kadon McCann (Cochrane, AB) the former captain of Team Alberta would be off the board after playing at the Rink Academy U15 Prep team scoring 45 points in 30 games. He like Harsanyi would play in all 68 games during the regular season for the Tigers in 2023-2024 notching 20 points.

om When round three hit, the Tigers had defence on the selection taking Matt Paranych (Edmonton, AB) at pick 45 from OHA Edmonton U15 Prep of the CSSHL where in 56 games a rookie for the Tigers would have ten points in 56 games played.

Into the later rounds the Tigers went with Jack Kachkowski (St. Albert, AB) at round five, 89th overall. Despite starting the season in Junior A hockey, the Tigers signed Jack before the Christmas Break, he adjusted to the major junior game scoring a goal and four assists in 27 games in 2023-2024.

One last Tiger that did get into game action this season was the Tigers selection in Round 6, 111th overall taking goaltender Jordan Switzer. In two appearances with the Tigers this season, Jordan won his first game coming in relief in a 7-4 triumph over the Edmonton Oil Kings March 6, 2024.

As we get closer to draft day for the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, we'll take a look at the 2023 Draft Wednesday, May 8.

For the complete list of draft picks from 2022. Visit the table below.

RD Pick Name Hometown Position 2021-22 Team Ht Wt

1 1 Gavin McKenna Whitehorse, YT LW Rink HA Kelowna U18 Prep 5'10 160

1 16 Hayden Harsanyi Calgary, AB C Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep 5'7 140

2 23 Kadon McCann Cochrane, AB C Rink HA Kelowna U15 Prep 6'2 178

3 45 Matt Paranych Edmonton, AB D OHA Edmonton U15 Prep 5'7 141

4 77 Hudson Gainer Medicine Hat, AB D SEAC Tigers U15 AAA 5'6 140

5 89 Jack Kachkowski St. Albert, AB D St. Albert Sabres U15 AAA 5'11 155

6 111 Jordan Switzer Edmonton, AB G Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep 5'11 160

6 114 Carter Cohen Drayton Valley, AB D Leduc Oil Kings 5'11 162

7 133 Brody Green Winnipeg, MB RW Rink HA Winnipeg U15 Prep 5'11 157

7 135 Kyle Heger Eagan, MN D Minnesota Blades 14U 5'10 165

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