TIGERS BEAT WHEATIES 4-3 IN OT

The Tigers returned to action on Wednesday night against the Wheat Kings after their two previous games were postponed. It was the fourth of six games between the two clubs this season. Brandon had come away with the three previous games but the Tigers were looking to capitalize on home ice to come away with their first victory in the season series.

The Tigers’ power play struck early in the first to give them the early lead. Standing at the side of the net, Ashton Ferster tapped in his eight of the season off some nice passing from Oasiz Wiesblatt and Tyler MacKenzie. The Wheat Kings would tie things up nine minutes later when Rylen Roersma redirected Logen Hammett’s point shot just inside the right post. Brandon would take their first lead of the game less then a minute later while on a power play. Ridly Greig put home his 15^th of the season off a give and go with Nate Danielson.

The Tigers would strike again early in the second period to even the game at two apiece. Pavel Bocharov let go a snapshot in the slot that took a bounce off a Wheat Kings defender that found the back of the net for his first as a Tiger. Tyler MacKenzie picked up his second assist of the game on the goal. Brandon would respond quickly though retaking the lead only a couple of minutes later. Ridly Greig let a great wrister go from the left wing that found the top corner for his second of the night.

The defences took over for the remainder of the second period and the first half of the third period. The Tigers were able to break the goal drought 11:55 into the third to tie the game 3-3. Brendan Lee came down the right wing and cut hard to the goal. He was able to outwait the goalie and wrist home his sixth of the season and first in the orange and black. Brayden Boehm and Oasiz Wiesblatt picked up the helpers on the tying goal that sent the game to overtime.

3:44 into overtime, Tyler MacKenzie found Owen MacNeil all alone on the right side and he let a wrister go that beat the Wheat Kings goaltender five hole for his fifth of the year. Dru Krebs picked up the secondary assist on the game winner goal.

Garin Bjorklund (5-14-2-0) played fantastic in net for the Tigers to pick up the win. He made 19 saves including the WHL Save of the Night when he stopped Ridly Greig on a breakaway in the first.

Three Stars:

1. Ridly Greig – Brandon Wheat Kings
2. Ashton Ferster – Medicine Hat Tigers
3. Owen MacNeil – Medicine Hat Tigers

The Tigers’ next game is Friday, January 14th when the Tigers travel to Moose Jaw to take on the Warriors at Mosaic Place. Game time is 6:00 PM (MST) and can be heard live on CHAT 94.5 FM at tigershockey.com or watched via webcast at watch.chl.ca.