WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Wrestle with Wheaties

February 17, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


The Medicine Hat Tigers welcomed the Brandon Wheat Kings to town for the fifth of six match-ups this season. The Tigers are coming into action after an extended rest, while the Wheat Kings are coming off a hard fought 3-2 overtime win against the Swift Current Broncos.

Garin Bjorklund got the nod for the Tabbies, while Ethan Kruger started between the pipes for the Wheat Kings.

Medicine Hat would get the first scoring chance of the night, but Ethan Kruger was equal to the early Logan Barlage challenge. The Wheat Kings would take advantage of the save only moments later when Riley Ginnell put his own rebound passed Garin Bjorklund to give BWK the early lead.

Just after the halfway mark of the period the Tigers would strike back. Andrew Basha dished the puck off to Teague Patton who cut to the front of the net and beat Ethan Kruger for his ninth of the season to knot the game up at one. Andrew Basha and Dru Krebs would get credit for the assists.

Garin Bjorklund would come up huge late in the frame, slashing across the crease to rob Marcus Kallionkieli and keep the game deadlocked heading into the dressing rooms.

Brandon has the slight edge in the shot department, leading 10-8 after 20 minutes

No scoring in the 2nd period thanks to some strong work by Tigers netminder Garin Bjorklund. Bjorklund stopped all 19 shots sent his direction in the period. Including absolutely stonewalling Brandon's Vincent Iorio.

It was a quiet start to the third period, but at 6:18 of the final frame the Wheat Kings would take the lead after some sustained Brandon pressure. Chad Nychuk deflected Marcus Kellionkeili's shot for his 13th of the season.

Nate Danielson put the Wheat Kings out in front by two with just under four minutes to go in the third period. Danielson streaked down the wing on a two on one, keeping and zipped the puck passed Garin Bjorklund.

Nychuk would then put the nail in the Tigers coffin, getting his 2nd of the night on the empty net with 2:18 left in the third period.

Garin Bjorklund made 37 saves on the night and was named the games 2nd star.

The Tigers next game action comes Friday when the team hits the highway and heads for Central Division showdown against the Swift Current Broncos. The puck drops on that one at 6:00pm MST.

Three Stars:

Chad Nychuk - Brandon Wheat Kings

Garin Bjorklund - Medicine Hat Tigers

Riley Ginnell - Brandon Wheat Kings

Shots Power Play Penalty Kill

Brandon 41 1/10 3/3

Medicine Hat 25 0/3 9/10

Check out the Medicine Hat Tigers Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2022


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