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FN AHL Report Cards: Andrew Basha’s split AHL and WHL season was the right call

Photo credit: David Moll/Calgary Wranglers

By Paige Siewert

Jul 12, 2026, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 12, 2026, 02:30 EDT

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Andrew Basha was a 2024 second round draft pick for the Calgary Flames who faced some injury setback last season but felt ready to try pro with the Wranglers in 2025-26. The left winger is a Calgary kid who played the last four seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers and served as an alternate captain in the 2024-25 season. His year was cut short by an ankle injury, but he was able to return in time for playoffs. He played among some highly talented NHL prospects such as Gavin McKenna, Markus Ruck and Liam Ruck and had some outstanding individual success himself.

What were the expectations for Andrew Basha in 2025-26?

Prior to Basha’s injury last season, he had 29 points in 23 games and was on pace to keep up with his previous high of 85 points in 63 games in the 2023-24 campaign. He was cleared in time for the playoffs and had a five point performance over five games. He appeared to have been very close, if not right where he left off earlier in the season and looked to be ready to make that next jump.

Basha was expected to spend the season with the Wranglers and start to evolve his game for professional hockey. Oftentimes high performing junior players have a bit of growing pains in their first year or two so he wasn’t expected to be a top point producer right off the bat but he felt like he’d be in good company to be successful.

How did Andrew Basha perform in 2025-26?

Basha’s transition to the AHL was a little slower than he would have liked and after a couple of months with the Wranglers, his confidence was starting to take a hit. He started off well with his first pro goal coming in just his third game against the Tucson Roadrunners on Oct. 19. Then he had an assist in the following game.

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Basha showing how it's done 🫡

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12:25 AM · Oct 20, 2025

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Basha got some brief opportunities up in the lineup with Sam Morton, Martin Frk, Aydar Suniev and Clark Bishop, but ended up playing most of the time on the fourth line with Alex Gallant, David Silye, and Carter King. Through November and December, Basha was getting a lot of games in with the Flames’ affiliate but sometimes would be the odd man out for a healthy scratch situation.

Andrew Basha ended up playing in a total of 27 games with the Wranglers last season and had a goal, four assists and 33 PIM’s. In early January of 2026, management made the decision to send Basha back to the Tigers to play the rest of the season in the WHL. The 20 year old was still eligible for one more year and ended up getting out of Calgary before the lowest parts of the Wranglers’ season.

Basha’s impact on the Tigers was immediate and his scoring came right back with a goal in his first game in Medicine Hat, eight points in his first four games and was only kept off the scoresheet for five of his 32 remaining regular season games in the WHL.

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Here is the shootout winner courtesy of… ANDREW BASHA!!! 💪🐅 Tigers improve their win streak to EIGHTEEN games! 🤯 @tigershockey | @NHLFlames | #Flames

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5:07 AM · Jan 15, 2026

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What’s the future outlook for Andrew Basha?

Basha no longer has eligibility in the WHL, so his career with the Medicine Hat Tigers has officially come to a close. His entry level contract was signed back in late September of 2024 but last season didn’t count against his ELC and slid for another year. This upcoming season, will be year one of his contract and he is set to join the Calgary Wranglers for the full year.

He has the advantage of knowing some of the guys personally and their playing styles from his half season with them so hopefully the transition is a bit easier on him this time around. In hindsight, it was much better for Basha to play competitive games with the Tigers and go on a lengthy playoff run while the Wranglers were struggling to find wins. It was the right call even though it was likely hard on Basha when he first found out. This year, he has the confidence back in his game and knows what it takes to be a pro hockey player, so he has the tools and potential to be a top performer in the AHL in 2026-27.

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