SPOTLIGHT: Tanner Lam
“I want to be the player who is depended on to make plays, score the big goals, and be there for my team. As a younger guy, I am trying to contribute in the offensive zone to help my teammates score and get them on the scoreboard. My time will come to evolve into a legitimate goal-scorer.”
The mix of a fresh season presents new opportunities. For the Kitchener Rangers, who have seen a ton of turnover this year, the opportunity has struck for a mere newcomer to the league Tanner Lam. This up-and-coming superstar has already shown flashes of his potential, with a level of intensity that belies his freshman status.
Standing at 5-foot-10, 145 pounds, the versatile forward is embracing the challenge of Junior hockey while garnering the attention of fans alike. Lam, the Brampton, Ontario native, is already beginning to turn heads as one of the most naturally gifted players in the draft, playing an instrumental role in the Rangers’ early success.
His relationship with the sport began at the age of three when he would attend his local arena with his parents and take part in open ice, where he would grab a stick and never look back as a young hockey star in the making.
“I started when I was about 3 years old. I got into skating with my parents and they would take me to open ice skates on rinks in Brampton. From there, I grabbed a stick and fell in love with hockey.”
Lam would soon join Brampton’s U5 select team and played through until his U9 season as an eight-year-old. Growing up just 30 minutes away from Toronto, Lam was a massive Leafs fan and loved watching the games as a student to learn from the professionals. He particularly followed Mitch Marner and Patrick Kane, two players known for their eye-popping plays, an attribute Lam has attempted to model his game after.
Lam spent his minor hockey days split between the Mississauga Senators in the GTHL and the Halton Hurricanes in the OMHA at the AAA level, where he would develop a knack for scoring goals and an uncanny ability to always be one step ahead. His line of expertise did not end there, however, as he holds himself to a high proficiency in playmaking, which has elevated his team’s success in the past.
More specifically, Lam played a sound role with the Halton Hurricanes over the past two seasons, being a leading factor in winning back-to-back championships for the organization after winning the regular season and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Championship. Notably, Lam led the OMHA – South Central Triple A with 38 goals and 71 points, cumulating for an astounding 132 points (73 goals, 59 assists) in 69 total games at the U16 level.
“It was amazing. We had a great group of guys and a great group of staff in Halton. The coaching staff was equal to everyone on the team and I think that is what made us successful.”
Through his ability to propel his team to new heights, scouts and general managers across the OHL took notice. When the Rangers were on the clock, general manager Mike Mackenzie had no hesitation when he realized Lam was still on the board in the second round at the 41st overall pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection.
On a day that Lam describes as a feeling like no other, he was bound to be a Blueshirt and was excited when the opportunity was presented.
“It was exciting. Getting signed and drafted by the Kitchener Rangers is a feeling like no other, it’s an honour. It is the best team you could get drafted to in the OHL and I’m so happy that I ended up here. The facilities and coaches are also one of a kind here, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Now as a freshman playing with players who are older than him, he has had to adapt and adjust on the fly as he has been eager to feed off of everyone else’s experiences in the locker room. Despite scoring a ton of goals in his career, none compare to his first in the OHL in an 8-0 win against the Barrie Colts.
“It was so awesome. I got a lucky bounce off of a turnover and thankfully I had enough time to put it around the goalie. It was an unbelievable experience, I want to do it over and over again.”
As a young up-and-comer, Lam is prioritizing building his physical structure and play in the defensive zone while being there for his teammates. Already with 11 points in 17 games, he is advancing his game one shift at a time and carving his path to success in what he can contribute to the team on a nightly basis.
Overall, his development is key but his priority remains with the focus on the team’s success and consistently sticking to the basics by keeping the game simple.
“We want to keep focusing on consistency. If we do that, we will be just fine throughout the year.”
The future looks exceptionally bright as he continues to shine in the light of a promising start to his Rangers career.
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Written by Evan Doerfler