ETEM MEETING EXPECTATIONS
Medicine Hat, AB. – Emerson Etem has caught fire at just the right time for the Medicine Hat Tigers. The 6’1″ 197 lb. product of Long Beach, California is on an 8-game point streak in which he has posted 9 goals and 7 assists for a total of 16 points, a 2 points-per-game average. Not bad by anyone’s standards.
“My linemates are doing a great job of creating open space with me,” says Etem. “Kale (Kessy) with the big hits, taking their guys out of the play to clear more ice for me and Linden and obviously Linden’s skill kinda takes over and makes it easy on me.”
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| Etem is one of two Tigers to notch more than 40 goals this season |
As Etem mentioned, playing alongside the Western Hockey League’s scoring leader Linden Vey does tend to open things up a little. Vey is currently on a 12-game point streak of his own, one that has seen the L.A. Kings draft pick tally 22 points in that span. The two standouts feed off of each other, something the coaching staff is making the most of.
“He has good chemistry with Linden and those guys have done a lot of scoring together,” says Tigers Head Coach Shaun Clouston. “He’s effective in different situations and areas of the game; 5-on-5, powerplay and dangerous on the penalty kill.”
Dangerous indeed. Etem, selected 29th overall in last year’s NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, leads the WHL with 9 short-handed goals this year, while linemate Vey is tied for third with 5. It’s the ability to provide his team a spark in any situation that the Etem says he has been working on all season.
“One of my goals this year was a to be a lot more of an all-around player. It started with trying to finish all my checks and being a little more gritty especially along the walls and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of having that mindset going into every game. And then just staying in front of the net, not worrying about getting crosschecked, being a strong net-front presence and burying those greasy goals.”
Coach Clouston agrees. “He’s competing at a high level right now which is helping him and it’s definitely creating more chances.”
With the post-season a mere handful of games away, Tigers fans are no doubt pleased to see the “California Kid” take his game to the next level and hopefully help lead the team on a long playoff run.
Says Etem, “It’s an exciting time of the year. We’re focussed on the these last games here in the stretch and hopefully we can build some momentum going to the playoffs.”
Watch Etem’s Shaw Player Profile by clicking here.
Check out Etem’s roster page and stats here.
Get an Emerson Etem desktop background here.
Listen to “Better Know A Tiger – Emerson Etem” here.
Tim Machan – Tigers webTV
