Game Day Preview January 17 vs Prince George
January 17, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release
LAST GAME 8-3 L @ Winnipeg ICE: Despite taking an early 2-0 lead from a power play goal from Bogdans Hodass and Cayden Lindstrom's 11th of the season, the Winnipeg ICE would score 7 unanswered goals on route to an eventual 8-3 at the Wayne Fleming Arena, Tomas Mrsic added a goal and an assist in a loss along with a two assist night from Dru Krebs
VS PRINCE GEORGE: It's the 1st and only meeting of the season for the Tigers and the Cougars. These two foes haven't faced each other since November 16, 2019 at the CN Centre in Prince George where it was the Tigers coming away with 5-4 win over the Cougars. Former Tiger and current Edmonton Oiler James Hamblin scored a pair of goals in the win while the only remaining Tiger from that game is Dru Krebs who had an assist in the victory.
The only Cougar remaining from the roster is Blake Eastman who suited up for the Cougars on that very game.
All-time since the 1996-1997 WHL Season, the Tigers have a 29-13 record with 3 ties in 46 games played and at home the Tigers are 14-8 with one tie in 23 match-ups against the Cougars.
HEAD TO HEAD
January 17 @ MH -
TALE OF THE TAPE
MEDICINE HAT TIGERS (14-21-5-1) 36pts
5TH in Central Division
10TH in Eastern Conference
PP - Overall 36/179 - 20.1% - Home 16/80 - 20.0%
PK - Overall 138/185 -74.6% - Home 61/79 -77.2%
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS (17-18-4) 38pts
2ND in BC Division
6TH in Western Conference
PP - Overall 48/171 - 28.1% - Away 31/90 - 28.1%
PK - Overall 108/149 -72.5% - Away 58/75 - 77.3%
2022-23 REGULAR SEASON STAT LEADERS
Goals - Lee (20) Assists - Basha (28)
Points - Lee (38) +/- Basha (+9)
PIMS - Parsons (56) Wins - Langkow (13)
Shutouts - N/A Save % - May .884%
GAA - Langkow (3.36)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Andrew Basha 41 GP: 7-28-35 PTS - Oasiz Wiesblatt 42 GP: 16-16-32 PTS
- Brayden Boehm 42 GP: 16-12-28 PTS - Dru Krebs 39 GP: 5-17-22 PTS
- Cayden Lindstrom 35 GP: 11-10-21 PTS - Dallon Melin 41 GP: 10-14-24 PTS
- Shane Smith 42 GP: 12-5-17 - Reid Andresen 42 GP: 5-16-21 PTS
MILESTONE WATCH
- Rhett Parsons: 26 GP from 150 Career GP - Oasiz Wiesblatt: 22 GP from 150 Career GP
- Hunter St. Martin: Playing in Career Game #50
NEWS & NOTES
Latvian Leap: Second year defenceman Bogdans Hodass represented Team Lativa at the completed 2023 World Junior Hockey Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the second straight year. Hodass had 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists. As he returns to the Tigers line-up in 27 GP, Hodass has 4 goals & 11 assists for 15 points.
Defenders Attacking: The Tigers defence core of Kurtis Smythe, Rhett Parsons, Bogdans Hodass, Dru Krebs, Pasha Bocharov, Josh Van Mulligen & Reid Andresen have contributed to 103 points (21 goals, 69 assists)
The Chetwynd Kid: Tigers Centre Cayden Lindstrom is 10th in WHL Rookie scoring with 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 35 games played.
From Cessford with Love: Tigers Rookie Forward Shane Smith is 5th in Rookie goal scoring with 12.
Man Down, No Problem: Going into tonight's game against Swift Current, the Tigers are 6th in shorthanded goals for in the WHL with 7, (Smith, St. Martin, Bocharov, Boehm x2, MacNeil, Lee)
Latvian Leap: Second year defenceman Bogdans Hodass represented Team Lativa at the completed 2023 World Junior Hockey Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the second straight year. Hodass had 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists. As he returns to the Tigers line-up in 27 GP, Hodass has 4 goals & 11 assists for 15 points.
Mr. 400: Tigers Head Coach & Willie Desjardins notched his 400th win as a Head Coach with the Medicine Hat Tigers December 10th in a 6-3 win at home against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Desjardins record in his 13 seasons coaching in the WHL. Desjardins first win as Tigers Head Coach was a 4-3 win on September 24, 2002 against the Saskatoon Blades.
Silver Lining: Tigers forward Tomas Mrsic returns to the Tigers after taking home a silver medal at the World U17s in Langley, BC. Mrsic had one goal and one assists for Team Canada Red. Cayden Lindstrom also participated in the U17s as a member of Team White scoring two goals and two assists in the tournament.
MacNeil's Navy: The Tigers announced their leadership group for the 2022-23 WHL Season, Owen MacNeil was named the 39th Captain in Tigers history, while Rhett Parsons, Dru Krebs, Tyler MacKenzie & Dallon Melin will all wear alternate captain's A's on their jerseys this season.
HOW THE TIGERS WERE BUILT
WHL Draft (12): Andresen, Parsons, Wiesblatt, MacKenzie, Krebs, St. Martin, Boehm, Van Mulligen, Mrsic, Lindstrom, Basha, Harsanyi
Trade (5): Bocharov, Lee, MacNeil, Smythe & May
CHL Import Draft (1): Hodass
Listed/Signed (2): Langkow, Hanas
Waivers (1): Melin
ROSTER AGE BREAKDOWN (* indicates rookie):
Alberta - 12 - Parsons, Wiesblatt, MacKenzie, Krebs, Langkow, St. Martin *, Smith *, Melin, Van Mulligen *, MacNeil, Basha, Harsanyi (AP)
BC - 5 - Smythe, Lindstrom *, Mrsic *, Boehm & May
Saskatchewan- 1 - Andresen
Yukon-1-McKenna*
USA - 3 - Lee, Hanas & Bocharov Latvia - 1 - Hodass
PREVIOUS THREE GAMES NEXT THREE GAMES (all times MT/SD
Tue Jan 10 @ Swift Current Broncos (3-1 L) Tue Jan 17 Vs Prince George Cougars (7pm)
Fri Jan 13 @ Brandon Wheat Kings (4-3 W) Wed Jan 18 @ Swift Current Broncos (6pm)
Sat Jan 14 @ Winnipeg Ice (8-3 L) Sat Jan 21 Vs Calgary Hitmen (7pm)
Western Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2023
- Cougars Drop 5-2 Decision in Medicine Hat - Prince George Cougars
- Tigers Pounce on Cougars in 5-2 Win - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Warriors Strike First in Home-and-Home Against Blades - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blades Can't Complete Comeback Against Warriors - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Announce Jersey Auction Details for RE/MAX Presents: Nickelodeon Night - Regina Pats
- January 17 - Canes Chatter - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Wheat Kings to Host RE/MAX: Nickelodeon Night for Children's Miracle Network February 10th - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Preview: January 17th at Medicine Hat - Prince George Cougars
- Game Day Preview January 17 vs Prince George - Medicine Hat Tigers
- 2022-23 Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for Week 15 Announced - WHL
- Warriors Set for Big Four Games this Week - Moose Jaw Warriors
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