Tigers Open Season With 5-2 Victory Over Canes
Medicine Hat, AB – The Tigers were on the road to kick off the 2026-27 regular season with a Highway 3 rivalry matchup on Friday, September 18th.
The two teams started the first period feeling each other out, and turning up the heat as time went on.
Some big hits from both sides continued to raise the energy on the ice as the two divisional rivals went at it.
Mace’o Phillips was right in the mix of it all for the Tigers, laying big hits and crashing the crease with his 6-foot-6 frame.
Both creases were guarded heavily in the first period with neither team breaking through the goaltenders. Carter Casey stood tall, making some tremendous saves to keep the game tied 0-0 heading into the first intermission.
Medicine Hat outshot Lethbridge 12-8 in the first frame.
Just over the halfway point of the second period, Medicine Hat native Josh Evaschesen scored his first goal as a Tiger to break the scoreless tie. He crashed the crease to score the first Tigers goal of the season at 12:35.
Just before the end of the middle frame, Tyson Moss picked up a rebound for his first of the year at 19:00 to make it 2-0 Tigers.
The Tigers narrowly outshot the Canes 12-11 in the second period.
The third period was by far the busiest period of the night as the Tigers tallied three goals while the Hurricanes scored their only two goals of the night.
Evaschesen scored his second of the night on the power play early in the final period at 0:20.
Dayne Beuker got Lethbridge on the board with his first career goal at 2:41 on the power play.
Cam Parr scored a quick goal off the draw to once again extend the Tigers lead at 11:27.
Owen Berge brought the Canes back within two with his first of the season at 13:43.
The final nail in the coffin came from Kadon McCann as Phillips deflected a shot off of his skate and into the empty net at 18:44.
The Tigers closed out their first game of the season with a 5-2 victory over their Highway 3 rivals.
Special Teams:
- PP: 1/3 – 33.3%
- PK: 4/5 – 80.0%
Stringam Law Three Stars:
- Josh Evaschesen (2G) – Medicine Hat
- Logan Stuart (1A) – Lethbridge
- Carter Casey (27SH, 25SV) – Medicine Hat
The Tigers are back in action on Saturday, September 19th for their Home Opener in Co-op Place as they welcome the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
