GAME 59 VS REGINA
The Story Coming In
After defeating the Regina Pats 8-2 last night at the Brandt Centre, the Medicine Hat Tigers return home for their final meeting with the Pats this season. Medicine Hat is 3-0-0-0 against Regina in their season series and will look to finish the series off on a high note. Tonight’s game will be the first game in a five game homestand for the Tabbies. After tonight, they will host the Swift Current Broncos Tuesday, the Calgary Hitmen Friday, the Edmonton Oil Kings next Saturday and the Red Deer Rebels March 10th. The Orange and Black are 36-19-2-1 this season and they are led by their Captain James Hamblin with 86 points (35G, 51A).
Tigers vs. Pats
For the final time this season, the Tigers will host the Pats. Tonight’s game is the second game in this weekend’s home and home series that saw the Tabbies defeat the Pats 8-2 last night at the Brandt Centre. Veteran forward Brett Kemp had a four goal performance while rookie forward Cole Sillinger collected three points (1G, 2A). Medicine Hat is 10-5-0-0 against Regina over the past five years and 4-3-0-0 when playing at home.
View from Regina
After falling 8-2 last night to the Tigers, the Regina Pats will be looking to rebound tonight when they take on the Tigers at the Canalta Centre. After tonight’s meeting with the Tabbies, the Pats will finish their season by playing nine games in March, all against East Division rivals starting Tuesday when they host the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Pats are 20-34-4-2 and they are led by their Captain Austin Pratt with 52 points (19G, 33A).
Tigers Talent
Rookie forward Cole Sillinger returned to the Tigers’ lineup after missing 10 games due to an injury and he immediately made his presence known collecting three points (1G, 2A) in the contest. The 16-year-old Regina product has been having a strong rookie campaign with the Tabbies posting 49 points (19G, 30A) in 43 games played. He is a skilled, hardworking forward with a lethal shot. He displays tremendous puck skills and possesses a high hockey IQ. Look for Sillinger to make an impact in tonight’s game.
Captain’s Corner
Captain James Hamblin has been the Tigers top point producer all season with 86 points (35G, 51A). The 20-year-old Edmonton product was drafted in the first round of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft by the Tigers and since then he has suited up for 319 games, scored 114 goals and collected 164 assists. Hamblin is a solid 200 foot player who protects his zone and takes care of his responsibilities. He is a smart, speedy centre with great playmaking skills and who is not afraid to light the lamp himself. Look for the Tigers Captain to lead his team by example in tonight’s battle.
Quick Hits
- Today is veteran defenceman Cole Clayton’s 20th Clayton is the only current player in the WHL who is born on February 29th.
- In their head to head series, the Tigers are (7/18) 38.9% on the power play against the Pats and (1/13) 92.3% on the penalty kill.
- Brett Kemp scored four goals against the Pats last night and he is the second Tiger this season to have a four goal game. Captain James Hamblin scored four goals against the Lethbridge Hurricanes Jan 18, 2020. Hamblin scored a first period natural hat trick before adding the fourth in the third period. The Tigers defeated the Hurricanes 6-2.
- The last time the Tigers played a game on February 29th was in Prince George in 2012. The Tabbies defeated the Cougars 4-1 and Hunter Shinkaruk had a hat trick in the contest.
- The Tigers will play their WHL Suits Up to Promote Organ Donation Presented by RE/MAX game on Saturday, March 7th when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings.
- Tigers’ legendary play by play announcer Bob Ridley is set to call his 4,000th Tigers game on March 14th when the Tabbies host the Swift Current Broncos.
- Tigers Alumni Kyle Becker and the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds fell 3-2 to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the first game of the Canada West Men’s Hockey Finals last night.
Game Sponsor
The first Canadian A&W restaurant opened in Winnipeg, MB in 1956. The Canadian restaurants were part of the American chain until 1972 when they were sold to Unilever. Since 2009, A&W’s dedicated operators, enthusiastic staff and loyal guests have raised more than $15 million for the MS Society with their Annual Burgers to Beat MS campaign. This year the local A&W restaurants sponsored the Tigers’ Skills Competition and all the proceeds from the competition went to the local chapter of the MS Society. Together, the Tigers, A&W and the community raised $3,713.45 for the MS Society at this season’s event.
CF Industries Community Corner
CF Industries is a global leader in transforming natural gas into nitrogen. The chemical processes used ensures they have the nitrogen they need to support life on earth – from fertilizer that feeds the crops that feed the world to products that remove harmful emissions from industrial activities.
Kidsport Medicine Hat & Redcliff believes that no kid should be left on the sidelines and all kids should be given the opportunity to experience the positive benefits of organized sports. KidSport provides financial assistance to deserving families for registration fees and equipment for kids up to the age of 18. Families can apply for up to $300 per child per calendar year. In 2019, KidSport helped 273 kids in our community play 29 different sports.
Montana’s BBQ & Bar Birthday Party Package
The Medicine Hat Tigers along with Montana’s BBQ & Bar are excited to introduce Birthday Party Packages this season. There are three different packages that fans can choose from and all packages include two adult tickets and eight child tickets. To inquire about Montana’s BBQ & Bar Birthday Party Packages please call the Tigers Office at 403.526.2666.
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 49 seasons of playing major junior hockey, the Tigers have won 2 Scotty Munro Memorial Trophies, as well as, 212 playoff games which led to winning 43 playoff series, raising 33 banners, winning five Ed Chynoweth Cups and two Memorial Cups.