TIGERS VS HITMEN PREVIEW
The Story Coming In
The Medicine Hat Tigers fell to 2-2-0-0 on the season after dropping both ends of a home and home vs the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Tigers competed hard, putting up 34 shots on Sebastian Cossa in a 4-2 loss on Friday, but the steady netminder was equal to the task. It was a close, hard fought rematch in Medicine Hat on Saturday, but a key penalty in the third period would let the Oil Kings go up to stay.
The Calgary Hitmen started their season a week later than the rest of the Central Division after receiving their bye week in week 1. Calgary got out of the gates exactly as they were hoping, blanking the Red Deer Rebels 2-0 as Taber, AB product Brayden Peters registered the first shutout of the 2020-2021 regular season. The Hitmen picked up right where they left off taking a 2-0 lead in Saturday’s game against the Rebels late into the 2nd period. Chris Douglas would solve Calgary netminder Jack McNaughton who got the nod for game 2 with only :02 remaining on the clock in the period. Red Deer would complete the comeback in OT with Arshdeep Bains getting the winner with only 54 ticks left in the extra frame.
Tigers vs. Hitmen
This will be the first meeting of the 2020-2021 season between these two teams. The series was split 3 games a piece last year. Calgary has the edge in the series over the past five seasons 11-6-1-0. Special teams will likely be a key this weekend as the Tigers currently hold the 2nd most successful powerplay in the league currently sitting at 21% (4-19), while the Hitmen went 0-6 on the man advantange in their first weekend of play.
View from Calgary
The Calgary Hitmen finished the shortened 2019-2020 season in a wild card spot with a record of 35-24-3-1. They return 5 of their top 10 scorers, having lost overagers Mark Kastelic, Kyle Olson, and James Malm. The Hitmen will feature a top notch pair of netminders in 2001 born Jack McNaughton and Tabers Brayden Peters. Leading the way for the Hitmen through two games is Sean Tshigerl who has two goals so far this season, scoring in each of Calgary’s first two affairs.
Tigers Talent
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Cole Clayton currently leads the Tabbies in scoring with one goal and six assists in the 2020-2021 campaign. Forward Lukas Svejkovsky is currently riding a four game point streak having notched three goals and one assist through the first part of the season. Duncan BC native Corson Hopwo (3G, 1A), Yorkton’s Brett Kemp (1G, 4A) and Captain Ryan Chyzowski round out the top five in scoring for the Tigers.
Captain’s Corner
Returning to the Tigers for his overage season is first year Captain, Ryan Chyzowski. Chyzowski, a former 1st round bantam draft pick has played his entire career for the Tigers appearing in 261 regular season games for the Orange and Black. Chyzowski crushed his career best totals in 2019-2020, notching 34 goals and adding in 35 helpers for 69 points. Chyzowski is a high energy player with great hands and a dynamite shot. The Tigers Captain is on a four game point streak and has four points (2G, 2A) in four games so far this season.
Quick Hits
- Forward Lukas Svejkovksy was drafted in the 4th round of the 2020 NHL entry draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Goaltender Garin Bjorklund was selected in the 6th round of the 2020 NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals.
- Corson Hopwo recorded his first career WHL Hat Trick vs the Rebels on February 26, 2021
- Oasiz Wiesblatt scored his first career WHL Goal vs the Rebels on February 27, 2021
- Brayden Boehm also scored his first career WHL goal vs the Rebels on February 27, 2021
- Oren Shtrom had his first career WHL point (assist) on February 26, 2021
- Ryan Chyzowski has an eight game point streak dating back to the 2019-2020 season.
- Lukas Svejkovsky (PIT) is riding a six game point streak dating back to the 2019-2020 season.
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 50 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.