GAME 31 @ PRINCE ALBERT
The Story Coming In
The Medicine Hat Tigers play four games in five days this week. They kicked off their busy week by defeating the Saskatoon Blades 11-3 Tuesday night at the SaskTel Centre. Seven different Tigers scored in the contest including Cyle McNabb who scored his first career WHL hat trick. The Orange and Black are now 21-8-1-0 and they are led by their Captain James Hamblin with 48 points (17G, 31A). After tonight’s game in Prince Albert, the Tigers will travel to Red Deer to play the Rebels Friday before returning home Saturday to host the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Tigers vs. Raiders
For the second time this season, the Tigers will faceoff with the Raiders. The first meeting between these two hockey clubs was Nov 23, 2019, in Medicine Hat where the Tigers won 4-2. Brett Kemp scored the game winning goal midway through the final frame before Corson Hopwo added the insurance goal. Over the past five years, the Tigers are 6-6-1-0 against the Raiders and 3-3-0-0 when playing in Prince Albert. The next meeting between these two clubs will be Jan 25, 2020, in Prince Albert.
View from Prince Albert
The Prince Albert Raiders defeated the Moose Jaw Warriors 5-1 on Saturday night. Rookie Michael Horon had his first two goal night in the contest and picked up first star honours. The Raiders are 19-6-3-1 and they are led by Alexei Protas with 42 points (18G, 24A). Protas is currently representing Team Belarus at the 2020 2020 U20 World Championship Division 1 Group A Tournament. After tonight’s battle, the Raiders will host the Winnipeg ICE Friday night.
Tigers Talent
Brett Kemp suited up for his 200th career WHL game last night against the Saskatoon Blades. In his WHL career, the 19-year-old Yorkton product has 65 goals and 79 assists. Kemp is a smart, fast forward that has good hands and a great shot. Look for him to control the play and create opportunities for the Tigers in tonight’s battle.
Captain’s Corner
Captain James Hamblin is leading the league in scoring with 48 points (17G, 31A) and he is leading the league in assists with 31. The 20-year-old Edmonton native is consistently the hardest working Tiger who leads his team by example. Look for Hamblin to make an impact in tonight’s contest.
Quick Hits
- Veteran forward Cyle McNabb scored his first career WHL hat trick Tuesday night against the Saskatoon Blades. The only other Tigers who have WHL hat tricks are James Hamblin (Nov 2, 2019, vs Victoria) and Brett Kemp (Mar 13, 2019, vs Red Deer).
- The Tigers made a deal with the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, December 7th where they acquired veteran defenceman Dylan Plouffe, forward Lukas Svejkovsky, a third round bantam draft pick in 2020 and a conditional third round draft pick in 2021 from the Giants in exchange for veteran forward Tyler Preziuso, defenceman Trevor Longo, a first round bantam pick in 2020 and a conditional fifth round pick in 2021.
- Both Svejkovsky and Plouffe picked up their first points with their new team Tuesday night against the Blades. Svejkovsky scored a pair of goals and Plouffe picked up an assist.
- Mads Søgaard and Jonathan Brinkman reported to Team Denmark for the 2020 U20 World Championship Division 1 Group A Tournament in Minsk, Belarus. Denmark fell 3-0 in their opening game against Latvia December 9th but defeated Slovenia 2-1 in overtime December 10th. Their next game will be December 12th against Austria.
- The Wawanesa Toy Drive in support of the Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Fund is December 14th when the Tigers host the Edmonton Oil Kings.
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 49 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.
