Tigers Add 20 Year Old Defenceman
October 19, 2022 – Western Hockey League (WHL) – Medicine Hat Tigers News Release
Medicine Hat, AB – The Medicine Hat Tigers have struck a deal with the Portland Winterhawks acquiring 20 year old defenceman Kurtis Smythe (Cloverdale, BC) in exchange for an 8th round pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft Wednesday morning.
Smythe comes to the Tigers spending his entire WHL career south of the border and most recently played the Orange and Black during the Tigers US Division road trip where his then team defeated the Tigers 4-3 in overtime on October 8th where marked an assist on the scoresheet that night. Smythe comes into the Tigers organization with 121 games under his belt scoring two goals and adding 29 assists. Smythe also has a career +/- rating of +48 along with 145 penalty minutes. Kurtis was originally as Saskatoon Blades draft pick during the 2017 WHL Prospects Draft but was traded to Portland shortly after.
Tigers Head Coach & General Manager Willie Desjardins says the coaching staff is looking forward to adding experience on the Tigers back-end.
“Kurtis is a very versatile player that can come in and have an immediate impact on our team,” he says. “He’ll help improve our penalty kill, he was an alternate captain when we played Portland last week so he’ll bring some strong leadership qualities to our locker room as well.”
With the addition of Smythe to the team, the Tigers released 20 year old forward Alex Drover from the roster.
Drover was acquired as a free agent from the QMJHL this summer and did suit up for the Tigers in 6 WHL games scoring 2 two goals and 2 assists, in his time in the QMJHL he played in 178 games with Rimouski, Saint John & Cape Breton, scoring 29 goals and adding 48 assists.
Smythe is expected to make his way to Medicine Hat this week and could be in the Tigers line-up this weekend against Red Deer & Brandon. The Tigers will welcome the Central Division leaders Friday night, get your tickets right now on www.tixx.ca
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