After an extremely successful 2010-11 season, hopes are high for the Medicine Hat Tigers for the 2011-12 campaign.  A number of high profile players are likely to move on, meaning more will be expected of those remaining on the roster.

One player who is embracing that opportunity is Tigers forward Cole Grbavac, who recently stopped in Medicine Hat en route to Regina to visit his billets.  The 6'2" 200-pound Calgary product had a breakout year last season, totalling 13 goals and 15 assists to go along with 148 penalty minutes.  But it was in the playoffs that the hard-charging Grbavac really unleashed his potential, as he tallied 10 goals and 7 assists in just 13 post-season games. 

Cole is anticipating another great year for the Tigers, but isn't taking anything for granted.  He'll be battling for one of the overage spots on the club, something the big right wing takes in stride.

"It's tough to be a 20-year-old in the league," says Grbavac.  "Only three spots per team so it's definitely a challenge, but you've got to love a challenge and work every day in the summer to try and earn that spot."

In order to secure his place on the roster, Grbavac has been training hard in a variety of ways.

"Training's been going well.  I've been skating a lot," stated Grbavac.  "I was at NSD (National Sports Development) and training there for a bit and now I'm training with (Tigers Strength and Conditioning Coach) Chris Osmond.  It's been going really well.  I've been out doing a lot of skills, stickhandling and shooting and like I said just skating lots."

Cole also recently took part in the Dallas Stars Development Camp where he skated alongside some names familiar to Tigers fans.

"(Jace) Coyle and (Alex) Theriau were out there and Scott Glennie and Matt Fraser.  With Fraser playing for Kootenay and them knocking us out last year, there was a bit of a rivalry there for sure."

"It was a real good experience.  I was out there for a week and it was a lot of practicing, learning different kinds of skills to use on the ice.  Even nutrition and how you should be training so it was a great learning experience."

The always humble Grbavac knows the bar was set high by last year's squad, but is confident this year's team will be one the fans will be thrilled to watch.

"I'm real excited.  You look at the roster and we're going to be missing some guys that played big roles last year for sure, but that just opens up opportunities for other guys and I know that we've got a lot of guys that are working hard this summer trying to fill those roles.  I couldn't be more excited."

With leaders like Cole on the team, the Tigers will have the mindset to compete with the best in the Western Hockey League, continuing to build on the winning tradition that has seen the club qualify for the playoffs every season going back to 2002-03.