
Tigers Dispatch Hurricanes 7-2
December 17, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release
Medicine Hat, AB - A four goal second period proved to be the difference in the Medicine Hat Tigers 7-2 triumph at home against the Lethbridge Hurricanes Saturday night.
The first period scoring started early just 35 seconds in as it would be the Hurricanes drawing first blood as Miguel Marques beats starting goaltender Ethan McCallum (Brandon, MB) to make it 1-0 Hurricanes.
After the Hurricane goal, the Tigers would find some momentum but couldn't solve Brady Smith firing 13 shots but would trail 1-0 heading to the second.
39 seconds into the middle frame it would be the Tigers tying things up at 1-1 as Tyler MacKenzie (Red Deer, AB) would beat Brady Smith from Andrew Basha (Calgary, AB) & Josh Van Mulligen (Medicine Hat, AB). The homeside would continue their pressure in the second as Kadon McCann (Cochrane, AB) would benefit on a two-on-one situation with Basha sliding home his 5th of the season. Matt Paranych (Edmonton, AB) would benefit with a secondary assist.
Lethbridge would strike right back as Joe Arntsen would lean into a slapshot of an offensive draw to tie things up at 2-2 at the 10:10 mark of the middle stanza.
But the Tigers would be phased as Tomas Mrsic (Surrey, BC) would one-time home his 6th of the season and the second in as many nights from Basha for his third point of the period at 18:35. 38 seconds later, the Tigers were coming again as Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, YT) would have all kinds of room in the middle of the slot to hit his 11th of the season from Cayden Lindstrom (Chetwynd, BC) & MacKenzie to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead heading to the third period.
Medicine Hat would continue their onslaught of offence into the third as Hunter St.Martin (Edmonton, AB) would send a seeing eye shot through past Smith to push the lead to 5-2 in St.Martin's 100th career WHL game, just 1:02 into the third from Lindstrom & Van Mulligen.
Shane Smith (Cessford, AB) would add to his goal total of 16 and second goal of the week against Lethbridge at 6:28 from Basha & Dru Krebs (Okotoks, AB). With the assist Andrew Basha would notch his 4th point of the night.
The scoring would conclude with Kadon McCann's 2nd of the night and 6th of the year as Vasyl Spilka (Liberec, CZE) would set him up while Rhett Parsons (Cremona, AB) would get a secondary helper.
With the the Tigers move to 21-9-2 and atop the Central Division heading into the holiday break. With the winn, Tigers Head Coach & General Manager Willie Desjardins (Climax, SK) would record his 450th win in the Western Hockey League.
The Tigers will be off until December 27th when they travel to Red Deer to face the Rebels. The next Tigers home game will come on December 29 against Swift Current.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2023
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- Preview: Oil Kings vs. Regina Pats - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Winterhawks to Battle Seattle at Climate Pledge Arena on March 17 - Portland Winterhawks
- Thunderbirds Announce Climate Pledge Arena Game - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Cowan, Spokane Dominant in 3-1 Victory over Winterhawks - Spokane Chiefs
- Pats Score Twice in Third to Comeback and Grab Point - Regina Pats
- Tigers Dispatch Hurricanes 7-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Warriors Earn Hard Fought Win in Brandon Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Wheat Kings' Win Streak Ends at Six on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Hawks Fall 3-1 on Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Earn 5-4 Win Over Blades - Kelowna Rockets
- Liske Nets First Career Goal as Tips Rout T-Birds 7-1 - Everett Silvertips
- Blades Keep Point Streak Alive, Fall in Overtime vs Rockets - Saskatoon Blades
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