CHANGE OF SCENERY WORKING FOR BETTAUER

DARREN STEINKE
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James Bettauer is proof of how a trade can provide a kick start.

On Oct. 24, the overage defencman was dealt to the Tigers along with a sixth round pick in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft to the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for overage forward Kellan Tochkin. Since arriving in Medicine Hat, Bettauer has become a power-play quarterback for the Tigers.

In 27 games with the Tabbies, the Coquitlam, B.C., product has 10 goals and 13 assists. Eight of those goals and seven assists have come with the man advantage.

While things have gone well in the Hat, Bettauer originally expected to be doing good things with the Raiders until the trade happened.

“I was pretty surprised,” said Bettauer, whose Tigers travel to Lethbridge on Friday to face the Hurricanes (7 p.m., Shaw TV). “When it first happened, I wasn’t really expecting a trade.”

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