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WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Come up Short against Rebels

November 28, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB - The Medicine Hat Tigers had a week off to recharge the batteries before playing two of the tougher teams in the WHL in the Red Deer Rebels and Brandon Wheat Kings. Friday night saw a huge push by the 2016 Memorial Cup hosts and a great game by Mack Shields.

The opening period saw the Tigers get out to good start as Cole Sanford buried his 9th goal of the season after great work by linemates Alex Mowbray and Mark Rassell. Only one of the two Tiger forwards would pick up the assist (Mowbray) on the play but Rassell was given the always respectful "3rd assist" for his efforts. However the Tigers lead would be squashed as Red Deer would score back to back goals in under 50 seconds, which seems to be a trend for the Tabbies defensively as of late. Brandon Hagel scored his 4th of the year and first of 3 points on the night, while Austin Pratt also scored as the visitors took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

Mack Shields was having a good night, after facing 18 shots in the opening period, the Tigers would help out the netminder as much as they could, but the 20 year old stood his ground facing 12 shots in the second. The Rebels had a relentless attack that was "Shielded" by the Tigers netminder, but with all the shots on goal the visitors would score twice in the frame. Medicine Hat native Presten Kopeck would score on the power play and Grayson Pawlenchuk would net his 11th of the year as his deke barely trickled over the line. Sanford would cut into the lead before the period ended, hitting the double digit mark. Rassell would finally get his assist on the play for his 9th point of the year.

Last time these two played at the Canalta Centre, the Tigers would come back on the Rebels from a 5-2 deficit and were looking to do the same Friday. Medicine Hat would dominate from the faceoff as the Rebels seemed to let off the gas a bit, as every shot was dangerous and seemed to fool Rebels starter Rylan Toth. Unfortunately, the Tigers effort in the final frame was not rewarded as Red Deer scored two goals as Haydn Fleury and Conner Bleackley both found the back of the net off Tiger turnovers to make it 6-2.

Medicine Hat didn't back down despite the deficit and were rewarded for their effort, finally as Max Gerlach scored his 10th of the year on the power play, Mason Shaw found the Texan with a nice pass to cut into the lead with under 4 minutes to go. Then, it was a first for defenseman Brad Forrest as he took the puck by himself and fired a low shot on net which fooled Toth and snuck under the left pad trickling behind the goal line for his 1st career WHL goal. That would be the closest the Tigers would get on this night and fell 6-4.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

1. BRANDON HAGEL - RD - (1G, 2A)

2. GRAYSON PAWLENCHUK - RD - (1G, 1A)

3. COLE SANFORD - MH - (2G)

Medicine Hat is back in action tomorrow night when the Brandon Wheat Kings comes to the Canalta Centre, their final home game before a 4 game road trip to the West Coast.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2015


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