Tigers End 2015 Strong with 6-2 Victory
January 1, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release
Medicine Hat, AB - The Medicine Hat Tigers were looking ahead to the new calendar but their first task was to take care of the Moose Jaw Warriors, playing on New Years Eve.
The opening frame was quite even by the two clubs with the Warriors firing 12 shots on Tigers netminder Mack Shields and 8 on Warriors goaltender Brody Wilms. Rookie sensation Max Gerlach would get the scoring started on the power play as he buried his 21st of the season. Just 12 seconds later the Warriors got themselves on the board as Brett Howden netted his 15th of the season past Shields. Medicine Hat played a good road period and held the slight edge heading into the intermission.
The second period was all Tigers as the orange and black came out strong. Six minutes into the frame Ty Schultz scored his 1st goal of the season to give Medicine Hat the one goal lead. Cole Sanford would add his 18th of the year just before the midway point as he was recipient of a pass from Mason Shaw, extended the lead to 3-1. The period saw fast paced action and 20 shots on goal by the Tigers compared to just 9 for Moose Jaw. More notably was the addition of James Hamblin into the lineup. Hamblin had missed the past few games with an upper body injury and his presence was felt by his teammates.
In the final frame, it was all Tigers once again as they potted 3 goals in the 20 minutes allotted. It was kickstarted just 15 seconds in as Tyler Preziuso scored his 2nd goal of the year off the opening faceoff, both Sanford and Shaw picked up the assists on the play. Another rookie who has played well over the past 3 games has been Baxter Anderson. The 2015 Bantam Draft Pick has made his presence felt with some large body checks and offensive prowess. On Thursday he would net his 1st career WHL goal taking a feed from Caleb Fantillo to put the Tabbies up 5-1. To end the frame Medicine Hat would score one more on the power play as the red hot Matt Bradley potted his 12th of the year, sealing the game and extending the lead to 6-1. Moose Jaw would score late to add to the scoreboard 6-2 but Mack Shields would stop 32 pucks his way for the victory and great end to 2015.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME:
1. DAVID QUENNEVILLE - MH - (2A)
2. COLE SANFORD - MH - (1G, 2A)
3. NIKITA POPUGAEV - MJ - (1G)
Medicine Hat will ring in the New Year Friday before heading back to the Canalta Centre for the first game in 2016 against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
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Western Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2016
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