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Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Erase 4 Goal Deficit

January 14, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB -- Wednesday night was the first game in the non Cole Sanford era and the youth movement officially kicked in against the Kamloops Blazers. Newly acquired Gary Haden made his WHL debut starting on a line with Mason Shaw and Ryan Jevne. Haden was the key piece to the Sanford trade to Regina at the deadline Sunday.

In the opening period Medicine Hat had the first glorious chance as Tyler Preziuso was left alone in front and got a pass from Alex Mowbray but his two whacks at the puck found the pads of Blazer starting goaltender Connor Ingram. Moments later the visitors would find the back of the net as Matthew Campese scored his 6th of the season on a high shot that fluttered over the shoulder of Mack Shields after he got a piece of the shot. Campese would follow his 6th of the season with his 7th just under a minute later as a wrap around attempt just snuck past Shields, giving Kamloops a 2-0 advantage into the break.

The second frame saw an early too many men penalty by the Tigers which translated into an early goal for the Blazers as Deven Sideroff netted his 12th of the season. The Blazers momentum continued on the next shift as they came back down on a 3 on 1, this time however Shields was up to the task and made a tidy save with the blocker. Chad Butcher would get the Tabbies on the board after he and Mason Shaw played give and go to cut into the lead 3-1. Butcher found some room far side on Ingram and potted his 12th of the season and team leading 41st point. Before the period ended the Blazers would add one more as Kamloops captain Matt Needham fired a quick wrister which found the 5 hole on Shields and prompted a goaltender change to try and spark the club heading into the final frame.

A comeback was brewing in the third period but many spectators at the Canalta Centre did not know it as the Blazers scored 38 seconds into the frame to increase the lead to 5-1. Then, led by Mason Shaw, the flood gates opened and the Tigers made an incredible comeback on the visiting Blazers. Shaw's 10th of the season was sparked by a windmill save by Nick Schneider as Matt Revel stared at a wide open cage.

By the 5 minute mark of the period the Tigers would hit 3 posts, on the power play as the score could have been easily tied early. Rookie Gary Haden made his debut in tonight's game and had a glorious chance to pot his 1st career goal but Connor Ingram stopped the 16 year old point blank. Just after that chance, Mark Rassell scored his 10th of the season as he continues to increase his career season. Rassell was setup with a nice dangle by Connor Clouston at the blue line and an even better pass by Alex Mowbray. Mowbray would also get in on the scoring, tipping in a point shot by Ryan Jevne as the second power play unit saw some action and cut into the lead 5-4.

Rassell would cap off a stellar night by scoring his 2nd of the game with just under 3 minutes left to play to tie the game at 5's. Schneider and the defense held their own in the final 2 minutes, almost ending the game multiple times as Kamloops just desperately tried to get it to overtime.

In the extra frame the new 3 on 3 format showed why it is a fan favorite as the fans that stayed in their seats got to see a show of talent and close chances. Five shots on goal would be fired by both teams, but the game held tied and settled on going to a shootout.

In the shootout the Tigers would get their first goal by Mason Shaw as he went upstairs on Ingram to tie the shootout score. Moments earlier Jake Kryski for the Blazers opened the shootout on their first attempt. In round 5 however it was Matt Bradley who wound up with the shootout winner as Schneider would successfully stop Matt Revel to pick up the victory in relief 6-5.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

1. CHAD BUTCHER - MH - (1G, 1A)

2. MARK RASSELL - MH - (2G, 1A)

3. MATT NEEDHAM - KAM - (2G, 1A)

The Tigers are back in action on Friday night against the Edmonton Oil Kings, before heading on a 5 game road trip to the west coast.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2016


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