Meneghin brings back learning opportunities from NHL camp

By Lethbridge Herald on October 2, 2024.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes goalie Harrison Meneghin chats with teammates while taking a break from practice on Wednesday.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Hurricanes goaltender Harrison Meneghin has returned from an invaluable learning experience at the Tampa Bay Lightning’s rookie and main camps

“I played well (and) kind of showed them what I can do when I’m at my best ,” said Meneghin.

“It always feel good  being able to show off your best attributes and what it looks like when you’re at your best stage in hockey.”

He felt his strong attributes were his athletic ability, his compete for rebounds and how he uses his size.

Meneghin picked up while in Lightning camp that you need to learn how to adapt to things if want to move to a professional level.

“So it’s always nice to know what you need to work on and how you need to go about the stuff you need to work on,” said Meneghin.

Meneghin felt he was able to get his feet under himself after the first few practices.

“I think you learn how quickly and how fast the play is,” said Meneghin.

“It was nice to kind of  get that confidence level and use it in the rookie tournament games and I played good in those games.”

Tampa liked Meneghin’s potential.

“They liked what I could already do with my frame now,” said Meneghin.

“He plans on bringing what he learned in Tampa Bay to Lethbridge.

“Just keep working on those same things and just thrive down here and bring that up to the professional hockey level when I’m ready for that,” said Meneghin.

Meneghin is now a 20-year-old on the Canes and feels this year especially he will need to take on a leadership role.

“I think especially being a 20-year-old goalie, the team looks a lot … to you,” said Meneghin.

Meneghin will look to set an example and expects the younger guys look up to him in terms of routines and scheduling.

“I think he’s come back with a good pro mentality,” said Ryan Aasman, Canes assistant coach.

“He seems hungry, he (seems) ready to have a big year and we’ve seen what he did last year. He’s an elite goalie in our league and really strengthens our goalie depth.”

Aasman sees Meneghin as a player who has had to survive throughout his career, whether that was through him being an undrafted goalie in the WHL that signed at 17 years old or attending an  NHL camp.

“When you look at his path, he came in at 17 and all of his practices were eye opening for him, and then he figures out a way on how to adjust to the level and then he learns how to be really great at that level,” said Aasman.

“I think it’s no different for his path with being an NHL draft pick. He needed to get into a camp to see what it’s all about, and then he learns what it’s like to be at that level, and then he learns how to adjust and find a way to survive at that level. He’s an interesting guy that way because he’s always survived his career through and now we want him to get ahead and start to dominate.”