WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Game 42: January 13 vs. Kamloops

Published on January 13, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


VS. BLAZERS: Tonight marks the second and final meeting of the season as the Kamloops Blazers make their first and only visit to the Canalta Centre this season. Medicine Hat beat the Blazers early in December in the final game of their BC road trip with a 5-4 victory. The win also snapped the Tigers 6 game losing streak at that time and sparked a 4 win in a 6 game span for the Tabbies, moving up the standings, closing the gap on a playoff spot.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP:

Max Gerlach and Mark Rassell had 2 goal nights against the Blazers in their last meeting, while 3 other Tigers had 2 point nights as well (Bradley, Shaw, Quenneville)

Tigers forward Matt Bradley had his point streak snapped last Saturday in Prince Albert, however the 18 year old still has 11 points in his last 12 games recording 7G and 5A

David Quenneville comes into tonight with a 5 game point streak recording 8 points in that span and had 20 shots on goal during the 2 game road trip in Saskatchewan.

2015-16 WHL RANKINGS: Record (15-22-3-1). Central Div. - 5th Eastern Con. - 9th Home - (8-11-1-1) Away (7-11-2-0)

TIGERS FAST FACTS:

Medicine Hat has drawn the 3rd most penalties in the WHL with 182 power play opportunities, trailing only Victoria (189) and Calgary (200), although both teams have played 3 more games than the Tigers

Newly acquired Kamloops Blazer forward Jiri Smejkal will make his debut tonight after he was dealt on Sunday from Moose Jaw, in 4 games against the Tigers in his career, Smejkal has yet to record a point

Kamloops is unbeaten in their past 6 games, sporting a 4-0-1-1 record and have not lost in regulation in 2016

JANUARY 13TH TEAM HISTORY: During the 2005-2006 season the Medicine Hat Tigers and Vancouver Giants renewed their rivalry Pacific Coliseum. On this night however the Tigers would get the best of the Giants, winning 3-2 on a power play marker from Roman Psurny as they scored the winner on just 3 shots in the third period. Milan Lucic and Jordan Bendfeld dropped the mitts in a rough 2nd period, which saw 30 penalty minutes handed out. Darren Helm scored his 29th of the season just 30 second in and Kris Russell was named the game's 1st star.

LONG HISTORY: Medicine Hat boasts the best winning percentage in the entire WHL in any franchises history. With a 54.49% mark not including this season, is the best among the 5 other teams who have played more than 3000 games in their history (Brandon, Portland, Regina, Prince George, Saskatoon)

BLOCKBUSTER: At the annual trade deadline the Medicine Hat Tigers pulled the trigger on one of the bigger trades in the WHL, sending Cole Sanford to the Regina Pats for high end prospect Gary Haden, Brian Williams and 3 draft picks. It is the first big trade on the January 10th deadline since acquiring Nick Schneider, ironically enough, from Regina in 2013-2014.

HADEN DEBUT: Medicine Hat made their only trade at the deadline to acquire high end prospect Gary Haden from Regina. The 16 year old Haden is having a great season with the CFR Chemical Bisons of the Alberta Midget Hockey League, leading the league in scoring with 44 points in 26 games. Haden has lots of upside for a 9th round bantam draft pick in 2014 and will make his WHL debut tonight.

2015-16 CLUB LEADERS:

Goals (22) Max Gerlach Assists (29) Chad Butcher   Points (40) Chad Butcher

PIM (90) Connor Clouston Plus/Minus (+2) Connor Clouston, Ty Stanton   Wins (8) Nick Schneider, Mack Shields

SPECIAL TEAMS:

POWER PLAY: 33/182 - 18.1% (ranked 15th in WHL)

HOME - 22/89 - 24.7% (ranked 4th in WHL)

PENALTY KILL: 127/169 - 75.1% (ranked 21st in WHL)

HOME- 52/72 - 72.2% (ranked 22nd in WHL)

TIGERS ROSTER MAKEUP: The Tigers currently have 22 players on the roster - 2 Goaltenders, 7 Defenseman, 13 forwards

AGE BREAKDOWN: 3 - 20 year olds, 5 - 19 year olds, 7 - 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 January 13, 2016


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