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WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Game 37 vs Victoria

December 29, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


The Story Coming In

The Medicine Hat Tigers return to action after the holiday break by playing three games in three days. Last night the Tigers kicked it off with a 4-1 victory over the Kootenay ICE. Captain James Hamblin scored a pair of goals while goaltender Jordan Hollett turned aside 26 of 27 shots faced. The Tigers are 18-15-1-2 and led by Captain Hamblin with 40 points (19G, 21A) and Alternate Captain Ryan Jevne with 35 points (17G, 18A).

Tigers vs. Royals

Tonight marks the first and only meeting this season between these two hockey clubs. Over the past five years, Medicine Hat is 2-3-1-0 against Victoria and the last time the Tigers defeated the Royals was December 1, 2017, when Linus Nässén scored 1:18 into overtime to win the game 4-3. Nässén's game-winning goal was his first career WHL goal.

View from Victoria

The Victoria Royals are on a six-game road trip as they return to action after the break. The Royals played the first game of their road trip last night in Lethbridge and won 6-2. Victoria is 17-13-1-0 and led by veteran forward Dante Hannoun with 33 points (17G, 16A). Hannoun scored 4 times and picked up an assist in last night's tilt against the Hurricanes. After tonight's contest, Victoria will pay a visit to the Western Financial Place to play the Kootenay ICE.

Tigers Talent

Elijah Brown rejoined the Tigers after being sidelined with an injury before the break. The 18-year-old Edmonton native had a jump in his step and did not miss a beat out there. Brown plays with a big presence and he is often a thorn in the opposition's side. The veteran forward sees the ice well, he is creative and he is not afraid to mix it up. Look for Brown to drive to the net and create scoring opportunities tonight.

Captain's Corner

The Medicine Hat Tigers' former first-round bantam draft pick, James Hamblin, was selected by his teammates to lead the 49th Edition of the Tigers. The 19-year-old Edmonton product leads by example with his hard work ethic, hustle and heart. Last season, Hamblin set a career high of 43 assists and this season he is demonstrating his goal-scoring abilities by lighting the lamp 19 times already. Hamblin is currently just 4 goals shy of his 2016-17 career high of 23. In his career as a Tiger, Hamblin has suited up for 230 games, scored 65 goals and picked up 90 assists including 19 goals and 21 assists so far this season.

Quick Hits

Affiliate player Garin Bjorklund has joined the Tigers while Mads Søgaard is playing for Team Denmark at the World Juniors. Bjorklund has a 9-3-1 record, 0.917 SAV% and 2.33 GAA with the Calgary Buffaloes in the AMHL so far this season.

Captain James Hamblin has a multi-game point streak going with 8 points (6G, 2A) in the last 6 games.

The Medicine Hat Tigers' power play is 23.9% effective and ranked 8th in the league. James Hamblin leads the team with 8 power play goals while Linus Nässén has 12 power play assists.

The Tigers' penalty is 81.0% effective and ranked 6th in the league. The Tigers also have 5 shorthanded goals this season (Hamblin - 2, Jevne - 2, Preziuso - 1).

Daniel Baker is leading all Tigers rookies with 10 points (2G, 8A).

James Hamblin is leading all Tigers in +/- with 10 Hut 8 Community Corner

Hut 8 Mining Company is a cryptocurrency mining and blockchain infrastructure company established through an exclusive partnership with the Bitfury Group, the world's leading full-service blockchain technology company that recently opened in Medicine Hat.

The Be YOUth Centre is a non-profit society that provides social and recreational opportunities for youth in Medicine Hat and area. Their mission seeks to improve the physical, social, mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural reality of youth in Medicine Hat and the surrounding area.

Family Packs

The Medicine Hat Tigers are excited to introduce Family Packs this season! Two adult tickets and two children tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 pops for $69.95. Family packs can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or in person at the box office.

About the Medicine Hat Tigers

The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) who play out of Medicine Hat, AB and were established in 1970. In 48 seasons of playing major junior hockey, the Tigers have won 2 Scotty Munro Memorial Trophies, as well as, 210 playoff games which led to winning 43 playoff series, raising 33 banners, winning five Ed Chynoweth Cups and two Memorial Cups.

Check out the Medicine Hat Tigers Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2018


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