Tigers for life
Butcher, Owre set for final WHL post-season
It’s a rare achievement to play out the entirety of a five-year WHL career with one franchise, and Medicine Hat Tigers forwards Steven Owre and Chad Butcher sure haven’t taken it for granted.
The pair of west-coast playmakers went from wide-eyed 15-year-olds to team leaders since being picked in the 2011 bantam draft.
“I think that’s the goal,” said Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston. “It doesn’t necessarily work that way all the time but it’s sure great to have guys who start with you and finish with you. They both played as 16-year-olds and have really, each year, taken steps. They didn’t get a ton of playing time and didn’t put up much for numbers in that 16-year-old year, but I think there’s a familiarity there and a trust level both ways now.
“I know they are, first of all, quality people, character people. And they’re also obviously very good hockey players. There’s a level of familiarity, comfort and trust, and I think when you get into tight, tough situations, those things are quite important. Those things, I think, help a hockey team.”
The pair admits joining the team as full-time 16-year-old players was an overwhelming experience but it undoubtedly paid off in spades.
“Coming in, I didn’t know much about it but I knew it was a pretty storied franchise with a lot of history and a lot of winning,” said Butcher. “To be a Tiger for my full five years here has been pretty cool, it’s something that a lot of guys don’t get to do so I’m thankful.”
“It was pretty crazy. Coming from California it was pretty eye opening to come to Medicine Hat for the first time,” added Owre, a Rocklin, Calif. product. “But it’s been a great experience. I’ve made a lot of memories here and had a lot of great years here.”
Owre became a staple on the Tigers in the 2014-15 season alongside Trevor Cox and Cole Sanford on the team’s top line. While Owre’s numbers slipped when his linemates were traded away the following season, he’s found some equally productive linemates, with Butcher amping up the speed and pressure and Zach Fischer adding size and grit, along with scoring touch.
“It was a little different. Me, Coxy and Sanny had some chemistry but those guys are gone now and I’ve transitioned to the wing,” said Owre, who posted 26 goals and added 62 assists this season. “Me and Butcher have always had chemistry, ever since we were young, so it’s been good so far. Fischer’s playing well too, he’s using his body and creating space for us.”
It’s been a bit of a different road for Butcher, who bounced around from line to line through the early stages of his career before stepping in as Medicine Hat’s leading point-getter last season, netting 74 points.
But Butcher’s improvements didn’t stop there. The Kamloops, B.C. native closed out his final regular season with career numbers — notching 27 goals and adding 76 assists for 103 total points, all while turning heads with his breakneck speed.
“I think a lot of it comes with maturing and building confidence, also getting a bit stronger. Coming in as a younger player you’re not sure quite how to play the game at this high of a level but you learn a lot of things from watching good players that you play with and pick things up,” said Butcher. “I watched some guys pretty closely. I got to play with Hunter Shinkaruk and Curtis Valk, two guys who have moved on and have pro careers going now, so I definitely picked up a lot from guys like that.”
Butcher, Owre and the Tigers open their playoff campaign Friday at the Canalta Centre with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarter-finals against the Brandon Wheat Kings. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.