Goaltending prospect Harrison Meneghin battles on after family loss

BRANDON Harrison Meneghin probably wouldnt be playing hockey if it wasnt for his father, Derek.

And he certainly wouldnt be climbing up the Lightnings goaltending depth chart without the influence of his dad.He was everything, Meneghin said.

Hed bring me to every practice, wake up super early and bring me to the rink before he went to work.

He funded the whole operation, too.

So I couldnt have done anything without him.Meneghin, a player to watch in this weeks Lightning development camp, has many qualities needed in a great goaltender: size, instinct, competitiveness ...

and resilience.On March 23, Meneghin was playing in the biggest game of his junior league season with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

It was the last game of the season, and his team could clinch the Western Hockey Leagues Eastern Division.After the game, Meneghin was called into a room and told his father had died unexpectedly while attending the game.I wasnt really sure whats going on, Meneghin said.

My mom was kind of frozen.

She didnt really know how to tell me, and then she told me, and I was shocked.

And I didnt really believe it at first, and then you kind of let it sink in for a moment.

I was just, I was frozen.

I didnt really know what to think.Meneghin was in the midst of a dream season, acquired by a Medicine Hat team full of drafted junior hockey stars that was poised to win the WHL.

But in the moment, none of that mattered.

After the shock set in, Meneghins mind raced.He went home to Surrey, British Columbia, to be with his family.

He contemplated staying as his teammates started the playoffs, but he knew his father would want him to return to the Tigers.Everyone in my family told me its what my dad would have wanted, so I knew that I had to continue, Meneghin said.

I think you want to do it for your teammates as well, because at the time, they were my family, too, and they supported me.Meneghins coach, Willie Desjardins, sent a group of teammates to Surrey to accompany him back to Medicine Hat.He was super supportive throughout the whole situation, and he helped out my mom (Samantha) a ton, Meneghin said.

So its just you cant take people like that for granted.

People like that are super special to you.Five days after his fathers passing, Meneghin recorded a 21-save shutout against Swift Current, the beginning of a remarkable postseason run that ended with a WHL championship for the Tigers and Meneghin named the playoff MVP.Meneghin went 14-1 with a 2.35 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.

He then led the Tigers to the Memorial Cup final before losing to London.

The Tigers wore stickers on their helmets to honor Meneghins father throughout their playoff run.Less than a year after the Lightning took Meneghin with the last of their seven draft picks at 206th overall, deep in the seventh round, Meneghin received a three-year entry-level contract.

He will begin his pro hockey career this season and is on a path to becoming the latest of the Lightnings late-round finds.His team relied on him to make some big saves, Lightning amateur scouting director John Rosso said.

They wanted to play a high-flying, high-scoring game.

So they would give up a Grade-A chance, and then hed see nothing for five minutes.

Thats not an easy position for a goalie.Everyone we talked to about him, it was just like, When we win games, hes a big reason why we win games, and thats the bottom line, Rosso added.Even though Meneghin shined on a Medicine Hat team full of stars, headlined by top 2026 NHL draft prospect Gavin McKenna, he climbed the ladder with a chip on his shoulder.

He was 17 in his first junior season in Lethbridge and didnt start until injuries allowed him to take the crease.

He ran with the opportunity, but went undrafted in his first eligible year.

And even last year he was among the final 20 players drafted.Now, in his second development camp, its clear to the Lightning how far Meneghin has come.It was a shock for him, I think, last year to come here and see the work you need to put in and all that, said Lightning director of player development J.P.

Cote.

He soaked it in and really moved forward and made some steps towards the right direction this year.Meneghin could start the season in AHL Syracuse, though the Crunch already have veterans Brandon Halverson and Ryan Fanti in the crease, so he could go to ECHL Orlando to get more playing time early.Well make sure we have a plan for Harrison, and we want him to play games, obviously, at the pro level, Cote said.

So well make sure that he gets all of the experience he can.

...

I have full confidence in whats coming for Harrison; hes in good hands, for sure.What would Meneghins father think about him being a high-rising prospect, on the verge of his pro debut?Hed be super proud, Meneghin said with a smile.

I think hed also be proud of himself for being able to get me here.

But yeah, hed definitely be proud.And I think hed also just kind of tell me not to be an idiot and keep being smart.

I think thats what hed kind of think.

Im sure hes watching right now and kind of laughing.Lightning development campFriday, TGH IcePlex, BrandonFinal day of 3-on-3 games, open to the public, 1:30-2:30 p.m.Streaming: Lightnings YouTube channel Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams.

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