ROUND 1 GAME 3 VS EDMONTON
The Story Coming In
The Medicine Hat Tigers opened their 2019 WHL Campaign by splitting the first two games of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals with the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Tabbies won 2-1 on Saturday night in Edmonton before falling 4-3 on Sunday. Rookie goaltender Mads Søgaard stopped 86 shots on 91 shots faced in the two contests. The Tabbies are led by James Hamblin (1G, 1A), Brett Kemp (1G, 1A), Linus Nassen (2G) and Ryan Chyzowski (2A) all with two points in two games played.
Tigers vs. Oil Kings
During the 2018-19 season, the Tigers posted a 1-3-2-0 record against the Oil Kings. The Tabbies’ lone victory was January 16th, 2019, when they won 4-3 in a shootout. These two Central Division Rivals have had a few recent postseason battles. They met in the 2016 Tie Breaker game with the Oil Kings winning 6-4 and the last time they faceoff in a playoff series was the Conference Final in 2014. The Oil Kings won the series 4-1 and they went on to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup that year.
View from Edmonton
The Edmonton Oil Kings hosted the Medicine Hat Tigers for games one and two of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals. The Oil Kings lost 2-1 on Saturday before rebounding on Sunday night to win 4-3. NHL Draft Eligible Josh Williams is the Oil Kings top point producer with 2 points (1G, 1A) in the two games played.
Tigers Talent
Linus Nassen is a smooth skating, highly skilled defenceman in his final season with the Orange and Black. The 20-year-old Norrtalje, Sweden native was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 2016 NHL Draft. He has sharp puck skills and a high hockey IQ. Nassen is currently one of the Tigers’ top point producers in the playoffs after scoring a pair of goals on Sunday night. Look for Nassen to make an impact on both ends of the ice in tonight’s tilt.
Captain’s Corner
After being the team’s top point producer in the regular season with 77 points (33G, 44A) in 67 games, the Tigers will look to their Captain, James Hamblin, to lead the way in the playoffs. The 19-year-old Edmonton product opened the scoring in this series with a shorthanded goal which is the first WHL playoff goal to be scored in Rogers Place. He currently has 2 points (1G, 1A) in two games played during the playoffs. Hamblin is a skilled, two-way forward in his fourth season with the Orange and Black. Hamblin brings energy and passion to the Tigers lineup as he leads the team by example with his hard work ethic.
Career Highs
The following Tigers set new career highs in goals and assists
- James Hamblin (33G, 44A)
- Ryan Jevne (32G, 36A)
- Brett Kemp (33G, 27A)
- Trevor Longo (5G, 8A)
- Tyler Preziuso (21G, 29A)
- Linus Nassen (7G, 39A)
- Cole Clayton (4G, 16A)
New Kids on the Block
Logan Christensen joined the Tigers October 25, 2018, and he scored his first goal as a Tiger Oct 26, 2018, vs Regina. Christensen scored 7 goals and picked up 15 assists in 67 games played this season. Out of those 22 points, he scored 6 games and picked up 13 assists in 54 games with the Orange and Black.
Brett Kemp became a Tiger at the trade deadline and he scored his first goal for his new team Jan 11, 2019, vs Regina. Kemp scored 33 goals and picked up 27 assists this season in 64 games. In the 24 games as a Tiger, Kemp netted 11 goals and picked up 10 assists.
Youth Movement
Our Tigers Rookies contributed to the success of the season putting up a combined total of 15 goals and 36 assists during the regular season.
Protecting the Paint
About the Medicine Hat Tigers
The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) who play out of Medicine Hat, AB and were established in 1970. In 48 seasons of playing major junior hockey, the Tigers have won 2 Scotty Munro Memorial Trophies, as well as, 210 playoff games which led to winning 43 playoff series, raising 33 banners, winning five Ed Chynoweth Cups and two Memorial Cups.
