GAME 69: TIGERS @ LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES

VS LETHBRIDGE: This is the seventh of eight meetings between the two Central Division rivals. So far this season, Medicine Hat has posted a 3-3-0-0 record versus the Hurricanes (1-2-0-0 at home and 2-1-0-0 in Lethbridge). James Bettauer (3G,8A) leads the Tigers with 11 points in the season series. Goaltender Tyler Bunz (3-3-0-0) has allowed 16 goals (2.68 G.A.A) on 181 shots (.912 Save %) in his six starts. On the power play the Tigers have gone 12 for 47 (25.5%), while killing off 22 of 30 penalties (73.3%).

 

VS CENTRAL DIVISION: So far this season, the Tigers are 16-11-0-1.                                           

 

LAST GAME: The Tigers defeated the Kootenay Ice 3-1 in the backend of the home and home series. Emerson Etem scored a pair of goals to bring his league leading total up to 58 and Hunter Shinkaruk added his 46th of the season into the empty net. James Bettauer also added to his season totals with a pair of assists. Tyler Bunz played great in net to pick up his 38th win of the season. He saved all but one of Kootenay’s 27 shots.  

 

2011-12 WHL RANKINGS:

• Record (41-22-2-3)      
• Central Div. – 2nd 
• Eastern Con. – 3rd    
• Home (19-12-1-1)     
• Away (22-10-1-2)

 

MILESTONES: The Tigers’ two 20 year old defencemen are having fantastic seasons. James Bettauer and Matt Konan have both surpassed the 50 point plateau for the first time in their careers. Bettauer has also scored 20 goals which is a career high. Konan is also closing in on another impressive milestone. He currently sits at 297 games played and has a chance to hit the 300 game plateau before season’s end. Emerson Etem recently scored his 100th point of the season. This is the first time that Etem has hit the century mark. Curtis Valk also joined Bettauer and Konan with his 50th point of the season. Valk has been having a break out year and has almost tripled his production from last season. Tigers broadcaster Bob Ridley will also celebrate his 3000th regular season game with the Tigers against the Hurricanes on Saturday night.

 

STREAKS: Emerson Etem is currently riding a six game point streak. Etem has collected 6 goals and 5 assists over the span. Hunter Shinkaruk’s 13 game point streak came to an end on Wednesday night against the Ice. Over his streak he’d scored 14 goals and added 13 assists.

2011-12 CLUB LEADERS:

• Goals (58) Emerson Etem                   
• Assists (45) Emerson Etem                           
• Points (103) Emerson Etem
• PIM (145) Kale Kessy                                
•  Plus/Minus (+27) Emerson Etem                        
•  Wins (38) Tyler Bunz

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

• POWER PLAY: 84 – 340 – 24.7%           
• PENALTY KILL: 214 – 276 – 77.5%

 

TIGERS ROSTER MAKEUP: The Tigers currently have 23 players on the roster – 2 goaltenders, 7 defencemen and 14 forwards, including 7 rookies.

AGE BREAKDOWN: 3 – 20 year olds, 5 – 19 year olds, 8 – 18 year olds, 4 – 17 year olds and 32 – 16 year old.

 

NHL DRAFTED / SIGNED PLAYERS: Kale Kessy (Phoenix Coyotes), Alex Theriau (Dallas Stars), Tyler Bunz (Edmonton Oilers) and Emerson Etem (Anaheim Ducks).

 

TIGERS SCHEDULE:

LAST FIVE:	RESULTS
@ Prince George Cougars	3-2 Win
@ Prince George Cougars	4-1 Win
@ Vancouver Giants	6-4 Win
Vs Kootenay Ice	2-1 Loss
@ Kootenay Ice	3-1 Win

 

NEXT FIVE:	TIME:
@ Lethbridge Hurricanes, Sat. Mar 10	7:00 PM (MT)
Vs Red Deer Rebels, Tues. Mar 13	7:00 PM (MT)
Vs Edmonton Oil Kings, Fri. Mar 16	7:30 PM (MT)
Vs Lethbridge Hurricanes, Sat. Mar 17	7:30 PM (MT)

 

 HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS