WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

May Shines in Tigers' Loss to Rebels

Published on December 17, 2022 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB - Despite a 45 save effort from Tigers goaltender Evan May (Nanaimo, BC) the Medicine Hat Tigers couldn't hold off the Red Deer Rebels for a 6-4 loss Friday Night at Co-op Place.

The first period was in the majority of the Tigers zone and the Rebels would eventually solve May for the first time thanks to a Hunter Mayo shot from the right circle beating May high glove for a 1-0 Rebel lead.

Despite the shot racking up towards the Rebels favour, it would be the Tigers with a late push in the 1st and Cayden Lindstrom (Chetwynd, BC) would find the smallest of openings to beat Rebels start Rhett Stoesser for his 8th of the season from Andrew Basha (Calgary, AB) at 17:29.

Off to the second period the Rebels would re-take the lead thanks to Jace Isley on a Tigers power play beating May shorthanded just 2:23 into the 2nd but Oasiz Wiesblatt (Calgary, AB) on the same power play would tie the game once again for Medicine Hat at 3:07 for his 14th of the season and 7th power play goal of the campaign, Reid Andresen (Saskatoon, SK) would draw the lone assist on the goal. The Tigers would take their first lead of the night over 6 minutes later as Tyler MacKenzie (Red Deer, AB) would counter on a Red Deer turnover for his 11th tuck of the season from Lindstrom and former Rebel Dallon Melin (Czar, AB). The Tigers would take that 3-2 lead into the third period and would have a daunting task off killing off a five minute major penalty to newcomer Brett Calhoon (Oliver, BC) making his WHL debut for the Tigers this night.

In the third, the Tigers were successful in killing off the 5 minute penalty but the Rebels would eventually tie the game a goal was disallowed after a Jayden Grubbe high stick but Kai Uchacz responded almost immediately for the game tying goal at 3-3. The Tigers would come right back though with 5:34 left in regulation as Brayden Boehm (Nanaimo, BC) off the rush would bury his 12th of the season to make it 4-3 Tigers from Pasha Bocharov (Escondido, CA) & Shane Smith (Cessford, AB). But the Tigers would give the Rebels an opportunity just moments later as Craig Armstrong would be obstructed from a breakaway chance at 15:20 which would give Red Deer their 3rd straight game with a penalty shot against Medicine Hat. Armstrong would take his chance but couldn't beat Evan May to keep the Tigers lead in tact.

But moments later at 14:52, Frantisek Formanek would tie the game at 4-4 from a shot off the rush leading into a furious final 3:30 of regulation time but the Rebels would score thanks to Jace Isley pouncing on a loose puck in the slot beating May to give the Rebels a 5-4 lead at 16:49.

Medicine Hat would the goaltender but it wouldn't make a difference on this night as Craig Armstrong would slide the final puck over the line to give the Rebels a 6-4 win on the road.

Evan May faced 50 Rebels shots in the loss while the Tigers only managed 24 on Rhett Stoesser. The Tigers penalty kill would go 3/4 against Red Deer while scoring on1/2 chances on their own man advantages.

The loss drops the Tigers record to 12-17-4-1 but still sitting 8th in the Eastern Conference standings. Next up is the final game before Christmas as the Kelowna Rockets make their return to Medicine Hat for the first time in almost 4 years. Get your tickets now at tixx.ca and support the Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society by bringing a donation and have your holiday picture taken with Rroary.

Game time is 7 PM.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2022


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