Game Preview: Game 43 @ Calgary Hitmen
Tonight’s Matchup:Tonight’s matchup is the sixth of eight matchups between the Tigers and Calgary Hitmen. Both teams are battling for the top seed and made significant roster moves prior to the trade deadline. The Tigers hold the edge in the season series having won four of the previous five games and picking up a point in an OT loss. Gavin McKenna has led the way for the Tigers with nine points (6G, 3A) in three games.
2024-25 Season Series:
- Calgary 2 @ Medicine Hat 4 (Oct 23 2024)
- Medicine Hat 4 @ Calgary 3 (Oct 30 2024) SO
- Calgary 3 @ Medicine Hat 7 (Nov 30 2024)
- Medicine Hat 3 @ Calgary 4 (Dec 29 2024) OT
- Calgary 2 @ Medicine Hat 5 (Dec 30 2024)
Previous Game: The Tigers won their fourth consecutive game with a 6-1 road victory in Edmonton on Saturday night. The special teams shone scoring a pair of power play and short-handed goals. A pair of Edmonton born players led the way for the Tigers with Hunter St. Martin scoring two goals and Jordan Switzer saving 21 of the 22 shots he faced. It was a true team win with 14 Tigers finding the score sheet.
2024-25 Standings:
- 25-15-2-0
- Central Div. – 1st
- Eastern Con. – 1st
- Home (17-5-1-0)
- Away (8-10-1-0)
2024-25 Tigers Statistical Leaders:
Skater Stats | Goalie Stats |
Goals – Hunter St. Martin (28) | Wins – Jordan Switzer (16) |
Assists – Gavin McKenna (46) | Save % – Harrison Meneghin (.892) |
Points – Gavin McKenna (66) | GAA – Harrison Meneghin (2.81) |
PIMs – Oasiz Wiesblatt (106) | Shutouts – Harrison Meneghin / Jordan Switzer (1) |
Plus/Minus – Gavin McKenna (+30) |
Special Teams:
- Power Play: 41 – 159 – 25.8%
- Penalty Kill: 134 – 174 – 77.0%
League Leaders:
Stat Categories | Player (Rank) |
Points | Gavin McKenna – 66 (Tied 3rd) |
Points (Defencemen) | Bryce Pickford – 39 (5th) |
Goals | Hunter St. Martin – 28 (Tied 5th) |
Goals (Defencemen) | Bryce Pickford – 18 (1st) |
Assists | Gavin McKenna – 46 (2nd) |
Assists | Oasiz Wiesblatt – 39 (Tied 7th) |
Short Handed Goals | Hunter St. Martin – 5 (1st) |
Game Winning Goals | Oasiz Weisblatt – 5 (Tied 6th) |
Game Winning Goals | Hunter St. Martin – 4 (Tied 8th) |
Plus/Minus | Gavin McKenna – +30 (Tied 8th) |
Penalty Minutes | Oasiz Wiesblatt – 106 (1st) |
Wins | Jordan Switzer – 16 (Tied 6th) |
Goals Against Average | Harrison Meneghin – 2.81 (Tied 4th) |
Goals Against Average | Jordan Switzer – 3.06 (10th) |
Roaring Runs:
Player Name | Streak |
Gavin McKenna | 17 Game Point Streak – 37 Points |
Jonas Woo | 8 Game Point Streak – 10 Points |
Oasiz Weisblatt | 6 Game Point Streak – 9 Points |
Ryder Ritchie | 4 Game Point Streak – 5 Points |
Upcoming Milestones:
Player | Upcoming Milestone | Currently At |
Cayden Lindstrom | 100 Career Games | 99 Career Games |
Cayden Lindstrom | 50 Career Goals | 46 Career Goals |
Cayden Lindstrom | 100 Career Points | 88 Career Points |
Gavin McKenna | 200 Career Points | 181 Career Points |
Tanner Molendyk | 150 Career Points | 137 Career Points |
Marcus Pacheco | 200 Career Games | 193 Career Games |
Bryce Pickford | 50 Career Assists | 49 Career Assists |
Josh Van Mulligen | 50 Career Points | 42 Career Points |
Misha Volotovskii | 200 Career Games | 198 Career Games |
Mathew Ward | 250 Career Points | 237 Career Points |
Oasiz Wiesblatt | 250 Career Points | 242 Career Points |
Jonas Woo | 100 Career Points | 90 Career Points |
Roster Makeup: 24 players on the roster – 2 Goaltenders – 7 Defencemen – 15 Forwards
20 Years Old (2004) | Meneghin, Ward, Weisblatt |
19 Years Old (2005) | Pacheco, St. Martin, Basha, Van Mulligen, Neutens, Molendyk, Volotovskii |
18 Years Old (2006) | Cunningham, Lindstrom, Ritchie, Vaisanen, Muhonen, Pickford, Woo |
17 Years Old (2007) | McCann, McKenna, Switzer, Moss |
16 Years Old (2008) | M. Ruck, L. Ruck, Gordon-Carroll |
Recent Transactions: The Medicine Hat Tigers have acquired Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk and forward Misha Volotovskii from the Saskatoon Blades in a blockbuster trade. In exchange, the Tigers send forward Hayden Harsanyi, defenseman Jack Kachkowski, and five draft picks, including a 2025 first-round pick. The Tigers also traded a 2028 8th round pick to Regina for 2007 born goalie Cruz Chase.
NHL Drafted / Signed Players: Andrew Basha (Calgary Flames), Cayden Lindstrom (Columbus Blue Jackets), Harrison Meneghin (Tampa Bay Lightning), Niilopekka Muhonen (Dallas Stars), Ryder Ritchie (Minnesota Wild), Hunter St. Martin (Florida Panthers), Veeti Vaisanen (Utah Hockey Club), Tanner Molendyk (Nashville Predators)
NHL Central Scouting Midterm Ranking: Three Medicine Hat Tigers players have earned spots on NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Rankings for the 2025 NHL Draft. Bryce Pickford (73rd), Kadon McCann (101st) and Jonas Woo (147th) were each ranked among the North American skaters.
Push To The Playoffs:
OPPONENT | GAMES AGAINST | SEASON SERIES | OPPONENT RECORD | PAST 10 GAMES |
Brandon Wheat Kings | 1 | 2-1-0-0 | 20-13-3-2 | 5-4-0-1 |
Calgary Hitmen | 3 | 4-0-1-0 | 24-11-3-1 | 8-2-0-0 |
Edmonton Oil Kings | 2 | 3-3-0-0 | 22-16-1-2 | 6-3-0-1 |
Everett Silvertips | 1 | N/A | 30-5-3-3 | 6-1-1-2 |
Kamloops Blazers | 1 | N/A | 15-21-3-0 | 3-5-2-0 |
Kelowna Rockets | 1 | N/A | 15-20-2-1 | 2-8-0-0 |
Lethbridge Hurricanes | 3 | 2-3-0-0 | 24-14-1-1 | 7-3-0-0 |
Portland Winterhawks | 1 | N/A | 24-15-2-1 | 6-3-0-1 |
Prince Albert Raiders | 2 | 2-0-0-0 | 21-15-3-0 | 6-4-0-0 |
Red Deer Rebels | 2 | 2-4-0-0 | 15-21-3-2 | 0-8-2-0 |
Regina Pats | 3 | 2-0-0-0 | 12-22-4-2 | 4-5-1-0 |
Saskatoon Blades | 1 | 1-1-1-0 | 22-14-2-3 | 5-4-0-1 |
Seattle Thunderbirds | 1 | N/A | 13-25-2-1 | 2-8-0-0 |
Spokane Chiefs | 1 | N/A | 28-14-0-0 | 6-4-0-0 |
Swift Current Broncos | 1 | 2-1-0-0 | 20-17-1-1 | 4-5-1-0 |
Tri-City Americans | 1 | N/A | 21-14-3-1 | 2-7-1-0 |
Wenatchee Wild | 1 | N/A | 15-20-3-1 | 6-4-0-0 |
Tigers Schedule:
LAST FIVE | RESULTS | NEXT FIVE | TIME |
@ Swift Current | 4-1 Loss | @ Calgary – Fri. Jan 17 | 7:00 PM (MST) |
Vs Swift Current | 5-2 Win | Vs Calgary – Sat. Jan 18 | 7:00 PM (MST) |
Vs Prince Albert | 7-4 Win | Vs Regina – Tue. Jan 21 | 7:00 PM (MST) |
Vs Red Deer | 8-1 Win | @ Spokane – Fri. Jan 24 | 7:05 PM (PST) |
@ Edmonton | 6-1 Win | @ Tri-City – Sat. Jan 25 | 6:05 PM (PST) |
Gametime is 7:00 PM (MST) You can listen live on Wild 94.5 FM or watch on watch.chl.ca