WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Game 11: October 24 vs. Saskatoon

Published on October 24, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


VS. BLADES: Tonight will mark the second of four meetings by these two clubs as they already have met in Saskatoon in the third game of the season, a 3-2 overtime victory as Steven Owre got the game winner. The Blades are in their final game of a four game road trip, while the Tigers are playing just their second game in as many nights, coming off a 3-1 loss to the Red Deer Rebels Friday. This will be the Blades first trip to the Canalta Centre of the season, with their next visit not until February.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP:

Medicine Hat had their mini 2 game winning streak ended last night in Red Deer with a 3-1 loss

Blades second leading scorer Connor Gay is out of tonight's lineup serving the 2nd of a 2 game suspension handed down by the WHL after the game in Red Deer

Goaltender Austin Lotz recorded his first loss of the season last night in Red Deer, meanwhile between Blades starters Amundrud and Hamm, they only have 1 career victory against the Tigers combined

2015-16 WHL RANKINGS: Record (4-5-1-0).   Central Div. - 4th Eastern Con. - 10th Home - (3-2-0-0) Away (1-3-1-0)

TIGERS FAST FACTS:

The Blades have been streaky so far this season, recording the league's most overtime games played and sporting a 2-3 record in those games, capturing 7 of their 13 points through the 3 on 3 frame

Cole Sanford will miss tonight's game, it marks his first game in two seasons the 20 year old Vernon, BC native will be scratched for a back to back regular season games, last time that happened was the 2012-13 season

Saskatoon holds the 5th best power play in the WHL this season, running at a 83.6% paces in 11 games played and have the 3rd most opportunities as well

INJURY BUG: Just like last season, the injury bug has hit the Tigers as the past few games have seen leading scorers Trevor Cox and Cole Sanford leave the game with injury. Last year the Tabbies had multiple injuries to their depth players including Tommy Vannelli, Anthony Ast and Mason Shaw, keeping the top line intact for career numbers year. The opposite has occurred this year with both Cox and Sanford on the shelf, it has been Mark Rassell and rookie Max Gerlach, Mason Shaw and Alex Mowbray picking up the slack on the scoring front. Rassell jumped up to the top line and has 4 points in his last 3 games playing alongside Steven Owre. The Tigers will need a team effort offensively to pick up a victory tonight.

HELP ON THE WAY: The Tigers are in need of bodies at this time of the season, as like last year the Tabbies used some of their affiliate players and on tonight's roster will be 15 year old Josh McNeil. The Sylvan Lake, AB native played with the Red Deer Black squad in the AMBHL last season posting 37 points in 32 games and also joined their Minor Midget program for 6 games recording 5 points in those contests. McNeil also this offseason signed a standard WHL player agreement with the orange and black.

2015-16 CLUB LEADERS:

Goals (5) Steven Owre Assists (9) Steven Owre   Points (14) Steven Owre

PIM (20) Connor Clouston Plus/Minus (+5) Cole Sanford, Steven Owre Wins (2) Nick Schneider, Austin Lotz

SPECIAL TEAMS:

POWER PLAY: 8/48 - 16.7% (ranked 18th in WHL)

HOME - 7/23 - 30.4% (ranked 8th in WHL)

PENALTY KILL: 37/49 - 75.5% (ranked 16th in WHL)

HOME - 16/19 - 84.2% (ranked 12th in WHL)

TIGERS ROSTER MAKEUP: The Tigers currently have 23 players on the roster - 2 Goaltenders, 7 Defenseman and 14 forwards

AGE BREAKDOWN: 4 - 20 year olds, 4 - 19 year olds, 8 - 18 year olds, 5 - 17 year olds and 2 - 16 year olds

NHL DRAFTED / SIGNED PLAYERS: Matt Bradley (Montreal Canadiens), Nick Schneider (Calgary Flames)

ATB FINANCIAL - TIGERS BROADCAST:Listen to legendary Bob Ridley broadcast all Tigers games on CHAT 94.5 FM. Bob Ridley has called all but one Tigers' Game in Team history since the Medicine Hat Tigers came into the league in 1970.

Check out the Medicine Hat Tigers Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 24, 2015


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