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WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Lotz of Love

October 18, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB -- The Calgary Hitmen and the Tigers met on Saturday night in front of the largest crowd at the Canalta Centre since the home opener on September 26th. The 4494 in attendance were not disappointed in the effort given by their team, scoring six times in a shutout victory.

The last time these two met was in the 2015 Playoffs with Calgary taking the series 4 games to 1. Majority of the series was physical and feisty, despite Calgary having the larger team. Saturday the Tabbies were out for revenge and came out with a physical style of play, creating energy and buzz in the building. The period would end scoreless but the highlight of the frame was a save made by Hitmen goaltender Kyle Dumba as he robbed Chad Butcher coming out of the penalty box. For Butcher however, he would have his revenge later in the game.

In the middle frame, things didn't go so well for the Tigers as they lost leading scorer Cole Sanford to injury just 43 seconds in. Sanford took a somewhat blind side hit from Hitmen forward Taylor Sanheim, sending Mark Rassell in to defend his teammate. Rassell only had 2 penalty minutes all season last year, racked up an impressive 17 on the play including an instgator as Sanheim was penalized for charging.

It didn't take long for the Tabbies to feed off the Rassell fight, just 2 minutes later rookie Caleb Fantillo potted his 1st career WHL goal as he scooped up a loose puck from Mason Shaw and fired home a wrister. Just before the midway point in the frame, Butcher made amends from his breakaway chance in the 1st period by streaking down the wing and firing home a wrister that changed direction and caught Dumba by surprise, increasing the lead to 2-0. Not before the period was over, David Quenneville showed off one of his patented blasts from the point on the power play and the Tabbies took a 3-0 lead into the break.

Physical play was on display all night by both teams but the Tabbies didn't back down, once again finding a hole in the Hitmen defence. Rassell was recipient of a pass from linemate Steven Owre to pot home his 3rd of the season. The scoring slowed down until the final minutes of the game as the Tigers would break through with goals from Butcher (his second of the night) and Max Gerlach (a late power play marker) and seal the game from the visitors who have now allowed 16 goals in their last 2 games.

On display was the goaltending performance by Austin Lotz. The newly acquired goaltender picked up his first win of the season and as a Tiger just 24 hours prior to puck drop Saturday. The 20 year old made 27 saves for his 11th career shutout.

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