Game Day Preview - September 24 vs Lethbridge
September 24, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release
VS LETHBRIDGE: It's finally the regular season. After months of waiting and four pre-season games, the wait is over. The Medicine Hat Tigers will host the Lethbridge Hurricanes this evening in the Tabbies first regular season contest of the 2022-23 campaign. The Tigers and Hurricanes are very familiar with one another, as the two teams faced off in two exhibition matches. Lethbridge took the opener 7-3, with Medicine Hat winning the second contest 5-4 thanks to an overtime goal from Oren Shtrom. Medicine Hat and Lethbridge will play another seven times in the regular season after this evening, and the Tigers are looking to put their 0-8 record from last season against their division foes behind them.
2021-22 WHL RANKINGS: Record (11-53-3-1). Central Div. - 6th. Eastern Con. - 12th. Home (8-25-1-0). Away (3-28-2-1).
VS CENTRAL DIVISION: The Tigers had an 8-31-1-0 record vs Central Division opponents last season.
VS EAST DIVISION: The Tigers had a 3-21-2-1 record vs East Division opponents last season.
LAST GAME: The Tigers finished up their pre-season schedule with a 3-0 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Sept. 17. Josh Van Mulligen, Shane Smith and Tyler MacKenzie all scored their first goals of the pre-season while Beckett Langkow turned away all 26 shots he faced in his first full game of the exhibition season. After losing in their pre-season opener, the Tigers reeled off three consecutive wins heading into the first regular season game.
MILESTONES: Forwards Oasiz Wiesblatt needs 13 more games played to reach 100 for his WHL career while Owen MacNeil needs just 19 games to surpass 150 in his WHL career, where his time in the league has been shared between the Spokane Chiefs and Medicine Hat Tigers. Defenceman Dru Krebs needs just 6 games and 7 points to reach 150 games and 50 career points respectively. Forward Dallon Melin who recently joined the Tigers after four seasons spent with the Red Deer Rebels, is 13 games away from reaching 200 games played. Melin garnered his 50th career WHL point with a goal on April 13th against the Calgary Hitmen while he was a member of the Rebels. Forward Brendan Lee is 7 points away from 50 in his WHL career. Goaltender Beckett Langkow needs 19 more games in order to hit 50 on his career.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Oren Shtrom was drafted by the Tigers in the third round with the 57th overall pick in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft. In the COVID-shortened season in 2020-2021, Shtrom registered five goals and 14 points in 22 games. He followed that up last season with nine goals and 19 points in 60 games last season. Shtrom had a solid pre-season as well, scoring two goals in three games including the overtime winner against Lethbridge on Sept. 10.
CLUB LEADERS - PRESEASON PRESEASON LEADING SCORERS:
- Goals Dallon Melin (2) - Dallon Melin 2G, 2A, 4 PTS
- Assists Brendan Lee (3) - Brendan Lee 1G, 3A, 4 PTS
- Points Dallon Melin (4) - Gavin McKenna 1G, 3A, 4 PTS
- PIMs Bogdans Hodass (10) - Andrew Basha 2G, 1A, 3 PTS
- Plus/Minus Bogdans Hodass (+5) - Bogdans Hodass 1G, 2A, 3 PTS
- Wins Beckett Langkow (1) - Blake Ekren-Bratton 0G, 3A, 3 PTS
SPECIAL TEAMS LAST SEASON:
POWER PLAY: 39 / 233 - 16.7% - 19th
PENALTY KILL: 210 / 286 - 73.4% - 20th
TIGERS ROSTER MAKEUP: The Tigers have 25 players on the preseason roster - 2 Goaltenders, 7 Defencemen and 16 Forwards
AGE BREAKDOWN: 4 - 20-year-olds, 5 - 19-year-olds, 5 - 18-year-olds, 7 - 17-year-olds, 3 - 16-year-olds, 1 - 15-year-old
NHL DRAFTED / SIGNED PLAYERS: Dru Krebs (Washington Capitals)
TIGERS SCHEDULE:
LAST FIVE: RESULTS: NEXT FIVE: TIME: (MST)
@ Lethbridge Loss 7-3 Vs Lethbridge 7:00
Vs Lethbridge Won 5-4 @ Lethbridge 7:00
@ Swift Current Won 6-3 Vs Winnipeg 7:00
Vs Swift Current Won 3-0 @ Everett 8:05
@ Portland 7:00
Western Hockey League Stories from September 24, 2022
- GAME Preview: Wheat Kings Open Regular Season Versus Ice - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Winterhawks Weekly: September 26 - October 2 - Portland Winterhawks
- Winterhawks Reassign Donavan Bodnar to MJHL - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Day Hub: September 24 at Kelowna - Portland Winterhawks
- Warriors and Mosaic Partner on Goals for Food Program - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Chiefs Get Season off to Hot Start with 7-5 Win over Victoria - Spokane Chiefs
- Hurricanes Name 2022-2023 Leadership Group - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Game Preview: Cougars vs Americans (Game #2) - Prince George Cougars
- Americans Look to Rebound in PG - Tri-City Americans
- Chiefs Look to Carry Momentum into Saturday's Rematch against Victoria - Spokane Chiefs
- Pats Head to the Moose Jaw Events Centre Saturday - Regina Pats
- Game Day Preview - September 24 vs Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Americans Stumble in Opening Night Loss - Tri-City Americans
- Hitmen Win First Regular Season Game - Calgary Hitmen
- Chiefs Get Season Off To Hot Start With 7-5 Win Over Victoria - Spokane Chiefs
- Broncos Fall in Season Opener to Hitmen - Swift Current Broncos
- Hawks Blank Blazers for Season-Opening Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Pats Drop 2022-23 Home Opener - Regina Pats
- Oil Kings Fall to Red Deer in Home Opener - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Highlights: September 23, 2022 - Swift Current Broncos
- Cougars Collect Win Number One in Season Opener vs. Tri-City - Prince George Cougars
- Spokane Spoils Season Opener with 7-5 Win over Victoria - Victoria Royals
- Hawks Blank Blazers 3-0 in Season Opener - Portland Winterhawks
- Warriors Open Season with Comeback Win in Regina - Moose Jaw Warriors
- T-Birds Begin with Road Win - Seattle Thunderbirds
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