GAME 42: JAN. 14 VS. REGINA

VS. PATS: This will be the second of four meetings this season between the Pats and Tigers. The first meeting of the season came November 14^th in Regina, when the Tigers kicked off a small road trip with a 6-2 loss. The Pats are ranked 3^rd in the Eastern Conference, just 7 points back of the Tigers despite trading their top 4 players at the deadline.     

 

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP:

• Dryden Hunt and Kyle Burroughs will play their former team for the first time since being traded just a week ago
• The Pats have lost 2 straight games and 3 of their last 4 and will kick off an Alberta road trip tonight at The Arena
• The Tigers have the most home victories in the WHL with 17

 

2014-15 WHL RANKINGS:

• Record (29-10-1-1).        
• Central Div. – 1st 
• Eastern Con. – 2nd   
  
• HOME (17-4-1-0)
• AWAY (12-6-0-1)

TIGERS FAST FACTS:

• Chad Butcher has been great since coming back from injury after the holiday break. Butcher has recorded a point in four straight games
• Dryden Hunt currently has the WHL’s longest assist streak going, it sits at 13 games and also has a 13 game point streak dating back toDecember 10^th when he was with the Regina Pats (3G, 17A for 20 points over 13 games)
• Medicine Hat will look for win number 30 on the season tonight, last season it took until February 4^th to reach the 30 win plateau
• Tigers fans will be happy Dryden Hunt is in Medicine Hat, the 19 year old recorded a hat trick against the Tabbies this season

 

LAST GAME: The Tigers headed to Kelowna on Saturday night to face off against the #1 ranked Rockets. The Tigers were playing their third game in as many nights on a gruelling road trip which saw them get stranded in Revelstoke on their way out to Victoria. The Tigers got off to the early start on a Chad Butcher goal, and would take lead, along with a favorable edge in shots into the break. Kelowna, known for it’s goal scoring came back in the second period just a minute in, on the power play Justin Kirkland scored followed three minutes later by Madison Bowey. But the Tigers, always dangerous shorthanded would pot 2 shorties on the same Rockets power play, Cole Sanford and Markus Eisenschmid would give the Tigers the lead. Rockets would later tie the game on another power play in the third period, but the Tigers would answer with a power play goal of their own to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish, winning the game 5-3.

 

SPECIALTY TEAMS: In tonight’s game, specialty teams will be key for both teams as the Pats have the 18^th ranked power play in the league, close to the bottom, while the Tigers have the 13^th ranked power play and currently draw the WHL’s 3^rd most penalties with 193 opportunities. Both teams are skilled while shorthanded however, as the Pats and Tigers have 10 shorthanded goals this season, good for 2^nd in the WHL.

 

CLUB LEADERS:

Goals (34) Cole Sanford                         Assists (55) Trevor Cox                         Points (70) Trevor Cox

PIM (76) Tyler Lewington                       Plus/Minus (+34) Kyle Burroughs          Wins (21) Marek Langhamer

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

• POWER PLAY: 39/193 – 20.2% (ranked 13th in WHL)
• HOME: 21.8% (Ranked 14^th in WHL), AWAY: 18.1% (Ranked 10^th in WHL)
• PENALTY KILL: 116/140 – 82.1% (ranked 7^th in WHL)
• HOME: 87.2% (Ranked 4^th in WHL), AWAY: 76.8% (Ranked 14^th in WHL)

 

TIGERS ROSTER MAKEUP: The Tigers currently have 24 players on the roster – 2 Goaltenders, 8 Defenseman and 14 forwards

AGE BREAKDOWN: 3 – 20 year olds, 10 – 19 year olds, 4 – 18 year olds, 5 – 17 year olds and 2 – 16 year olds

 

NHL DRAFTED / SIGNED PLAYERS: Marek Langhamer (Phoenix Coyotes), Tyler Lewington (Washington Capitals), Tommy Vannelli (St. Louis Blues) and Kyle Burroughs (New York Islanders)

 

ATB FINANCIAL – TIGERS BROADCAST:Listen to legendary Bob Ridley broadcast all Tigers games on CHAT 94.5 FM. Bob Ridley has called all but one Tigers’ Game in Team history since the Medicine Hat Tigers came into the league in 1970.

 

LAST FIVE:	RESULTS:
VS. Kootenay Ice	5-4 SOW
VS. Swift Current Broncos	2-1 WIN
@ Victoria Royals	3-2 WIN
@ Vancouver Giants	5-3 LOSS
@ Kelowna Rockets	5-3 WIN

 

NEXT FIVE:	TIME:
VS. Regina Pats Wednesday January 14	7:00 PM (MT)
@ Saskatoon Blades Friday January 16	6:05 PM (MT)
@ Prince Albert Raiders Saturday January 17	6:00 PM (MT)
VS. Vancouver Giants Wednesday January 21	7:00 PM (MT)
VS. Prince George Cougars Friday January 23	7:30 PM (MT)