Tigers close out pre season with 10-3 win over the Broncos
Swift Current, AB – The 2023 pre season came to a close for the Medicine Hat Tigers finishing with a 10-3 win against the Swift Current Broncos Saturday night.
The Broncos would open the scoring with Maddix McCagherty 3:59 into the first on an odd bounce off the end wall behind the Tigers net leading.
The Tigers would draw even at 1-1 as Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, YT) would break-in for his first of the pre season beating Broncos goaltender Berney Weston on the back-hand at 13:06.
Swift Current would regain the lead on a Tiger power play as Clarke Caswell would make the special teams pay for Medicine Hat with his 3rd of the pre season to give the Broncos the 2-1 advantage heading to the 2nd period.
Medicine Hat would take matters into their own hands 15 seconds into the 2nd as Cayden Lindstrom (Chetwynd, BC) would walk to the top of the slot and beat Weston high glove to tie the game up at 2-2. Bogdan Hodass (Jelgava, LAT) in his first pre season tilt would draw the lone assist.
Hunter St. Martin (Edmonton, AB) would help get the Tigers their first lead on a four-on-four situation for Medicine Hat, using his speed to get away from a check and beating Weston far-side blocker to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead at 10:22.
Once again it would be the road side getting involved in scoring chances and Shane Smith (Cessford, AB) would go to the net and take a feed from Brayden Boehm (Nanaimo, BC) to double the Tiger lead to 4-2 at 14:32.
The Tigers would pour on the offence late in the second period as St. Martin would get his second of the period at 18:26 on a Tiger power play. Followed shortly after by Hodass’ first of the pre season 32 seconds later. Medicine Hat would take a 6-2 lead to the third period.
More of the same in the final period of pre season as the Tigers would score three more times in the first 10:12 of the third with goals from Andrew Basha (Calgary, AB) on the power play, Hunter St. Martin would complete the hat-trick and Cayden Lindstrom’s breakaway tally would make it 9-2
Swift Current would respond at 10:23 just 11 seconds after the Tigers ninth goal from Brady Birnie to make it 9-3. Beating Ethan McCallum (Brandon, MB).
Brett Calhoon would be final scorer of the night with just 21 seconds left in the game to make it 10-3.
The Tigers finish the pre season with a 4-0 record while the Broncos go 1-3.
Next up, the 2023-2024 WHL Regular Season kicks off for the Tigers against the Calgary Hitmen. Starting Friday, September 23 at the Scotiabank Saddledome before the home opener on Saturday, September 23. Puck-drop is set for 7 PM both nights.
