Former Hitmen return
By Marty Hastings – Kamloops This Week
Chase Schaber and Austin Madaisky are going back to the Saddledome for the first time since being traded to the Kamloops Blazers from the Calgary Hitmen.
“Obviously, we’re looking forward to Red Deer [Oct. 20] and Edmonton [Oct. 22] first, but, I mean, when the time comes to go back to the Saddledome [Oct. 23], I’m sure both me and Chase will be really excited.”
Kamloops acquired Schaber, a centreman, and Madaisky, a defenceman, for forwards Tyler Shattock and Jimmy Bubnick and defenceman Zek Stebner in January.
Schaber, 19, and Madaisky, 18, played their former teammates once last season, a 4-3 loss to Calgary on Feb. 26, about one month after the trade.
“Even when we got traded here last year, we looked right away to see when the first game was going to be,” Madaisky said. “Last year was a good battle and I’m sure this upcoming one will make for an equally good game.”
Schaber, who was tied for 10th in WHL scoring (17 points) this season as of KTW’s press deadline on Wednesday, Oct. 20, scored twice against his former team last season.
Madaisky admitted it was a little tough watching the Hitmen make a run at the Memorial Cup after claiming a WHL championship last season, but he has no regrets.
“Coming here was one of the greatest things to happen to me,” he said. “It’s a great team and a great organization. Both me and Chase got a great opportunity here. We can’t complain.”
His first order of business Saturday night will be to help the Blazers take out the Hitmen, but Madaisky said it would be nice to rack up a few points of his own.
“I’d love to beat them first but, if I could personally have a good game, that would be the cherry on top.”
The Hitmen’s Matt MacKenzie, Cody Beach and Tyler Fiddler remain Madaisky’s friends off the ice and he expects the text trash talking to increase as the game approaches.
When the puck drops, however, the fun and games will be over.
“By the time game time comes there’s no friends out there,” Madaisky said.
