WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Game 52: February 2 vs. Swift Current

Published on February 2, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


VS. BRONCOS: Tonight marks the first meeting of the season between Swift Current and the Tigers as the two clubs will meet for their 4 game season series over the next month. The Broncos are the last East Division team to visit the Canalta Centre. Last season the Tigers swept the 4 game series, outscoring the Broncos 15 to 6. Steven Owre leads all Tigers in scoring against the Broncos from last year, with 6 points in 4 games.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP:

The Broncos come into tonight's game 10 points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 39 points, but have won 2 consecutive games, both in overtime over the weekend

Swift Current are on a streak as of late, winning 5 of their last 6 games after going on a 5 game losing streak earlier in January, the Broncos and Tigers are both 5-5-0-0 in their past 10 games

Matt Bradley is on a 3 game point streak, recording 6 points in that span (3G, 3A), David Quenneville has a 4 game point streak heading into tonight also with 6 points in that span

2015-16 WHL RANKINGS: Record (20-27-3-1). Central Div. - 5th Eastern Con. - 9th Home - (11-12-1-1) Away (9-15-2-0)

TIGERS FAST FACTS:

Ty Schultz missed last game with an undisclosed injury which snapped a span of 91 consecutive regular season games played, with Schultz out of the lineup Sunday, only 3 Tigers skaters have played in every game this season

In the month of January the Tigers scored just 6 goals in the opening period out of 14 games, Medicine Hat was 2-4-0-0 in those games. Overall, the Tigers have been outscored 66-37 in the 1st period this season

Max Gerlach snapped a 9 game goalless drought on Sunday with his league tying 12th power play goal on the year and team leading 23rd of the season

FEBRUARY 2ND TEAM HISTORY: On this date in Tigers history, during the 2002-2003 season, Medicine Hat took on rival Lethbridge Hurricanes in a high scoring affair. The Tigers couldn't take advantage of a shorthanded Hurricanes squad which boasted the likes of Brent Seabrook and Kris Versteeg and would fall in overtime. For the Tigers, Joffrey Lupul had 3 points including his 22nd goal on the year, a shorthanded marker. Clarke MacArthur had 2 points and Cam Barker chipped in with an assist. The overtime winner was scored by Seabrook, just before the extra frame would expire.

JANUARY IS GONE: Medicine Hat had a consistent month of January this season, with a 7-7-0-0 mark during the month, including a 3 game win streak and 2 back to back streaks as well. Medicine Hat climbed back into the playoff race with big victories over Edmonton January 2nd and 15th.

NEWCOMER MARTIN: Broncos forward Jon Martin is one to watch tonight as the 20 year old currently leads the entire WHL in goals scored with 33 in 47 games. Martin came over in a trade with the Kootenay Ice before the season started and has made an immediate impact with the club with 19 more point than Lane Pederson, the team's second leading point getter.

FEBRUARY RECORD: Medicine Hat historically have had a good record in the month of February, with the exception of last year when the Tabbies had their first losing record in the Valentines month posting a 4-9-0-0 mark. Overall in the past 5 seasons, Medicine Hat has a 39-23-2-4 record with their best season taking place in 2013-14 when they posted 11 victories out of 15 games.

2015-16 CLUB LEADERS:

Goals (23) Max Gerlach Assists (33) Chad Butcher Points (50) Chad Butcher

PIM (107) Connor Clouston Plus/Minus (+1) Steven Owre Wins (12) Nick Schneider

SPECIAL TEAMS:

POWER PLAY: 43/218 - 19.7% (ranked 13th in WHL)

HOME- 27/102 - 26.5% (ranked 2nd in WHL)

PENALTY KILL: 152/200 - 76.0% (ranked 21st in WHL)

HOME- 60/82 - 73.2% (ranked T21st 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 February 2, 2016


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