WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Medicine Hat wins 2-1

Published on November 21, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Tonight marks the first of two meetings between the Tigers and Prince George Cougars. Last season saw the clubs play twice as well but both matchups were at the Arena. This season sees the Tigers making 1 trip up to Northern British Columbia in January. Last year saw Medicine Hat split the two games, winning 5-4 on Jan.23. Cole Sanford had 3 points in those two games to lead the Tabbies and goaltender Nick Schneider started both times and sported a 2.52 GAA.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP: Cougars forward Jansen Harkins had 3 points against the Tigers last season and currently has 10 points in 18 games Both teams are coming off of victories Friday night, with Medicine Hat winning 2-1 over Everett and Prince George beating Lethbridge 4-2. Prince George is 5-4-1-0 in their past 10 games Tigers goaltender Nick Schneider picked up his first win since October 28th when the Tigers beat the visiting Spokane Chiefs, Schneider now leads the team in wins with 4

2015-16 WHL RANKINGS: Record (7-10-2-1). Central Div. - 5th Eastern Con. - 11th Home - (6-5-0-1) Away (1-5-2-0)

TIGERS FAST FACTS: Chad Butcher extended his point streak to 6 games last night, scoring a shorthanded marker and adding an assist, the 2 point performance now puts the 19 year old as the team leader in scoring with 24 points Tigers power play is running at a 29.2% clip at the Canalta Centre this season, meanwhile away from the new home of the Tigers, the man advantage only has scored 1 goal in 38 chances Only 6 of the Cougars 58 goals this season have come from defenseman, while Medicine Hat has 7 of their 68 goals from d-men

GETTING REVENGE: Medicine Hat just a few weeks ago were in search of a goaltender and found one as they struck a deal with the Cougars (tonight's opponent) and acquired Mack Shields for just a 7th round pick. Tonight will mark the first time the netminder faces his old club as Shields was picked up by the Cougars prior to the season. Shields played in 8 games sporting a 3.29 GAA and .880 save percentage going 3-3-0-0 with a shutout. With the Calgary Hitmen Shields went 1-1-0-0 against Prince George with a 0.921 save percentage. If Shields starts tonight, he will seek a bit of revenge from his former team.

PADDED SCHEDULE: For the Medicine Hat Tigers the next stretch of games are not only against tough opponents, including rematches with Red Deer and Brandon back to back next weekend, but their opponents goaltending are tops in the entire WHL. Medicine Hat's next 5 opponents have their starting goaltenders in the top 15 in GAA. Everett started 17 year old Carter Hart who leads the WHL with the lowest GAA with a 1.74 mark. Prince George goaltender Ty Edmonds has a 2.21 mark and ranks 5th, Red Deer's Rylan Toth sits 9th with a 2.70 GAA, both Jordan Papirny and Logan Thompson of Brandon are ranked 11th and 4th respectively and finally Victoria's Coleman Vollrath sits 3rd. It will be tough sledding for the Tigers over the next stretch but their depth offense will have to get the job done, something Tigers fans have seen glimpses of this season.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2015


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