TIGERS TROUNCE HITMEN 5-1
The Tigers travelled to Calgary on Wednesday night to take on the streaking Hitmen. Coming into the game the Hitmen were the hottest team in the WHL having won their previous 8 games. The Tigers were coming off a big win against the second place Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday night. The Tigers played a great team game that saw them come away with a 6-3. The Hitmen weren’t the only ones with a big streak on the line in the game. Emerson Etem was riding a seven game goal streak and was looking to match his season high streak of 8 straight games with a goal for the third time. At the end of the night only Etem’s streak continued with the Tigers coming away with a 5-1 win.
Newly acquired Brendan Hurley opened the scoring for the Tigers with his first as a Tigers at 10:56 of the first. Matt Konan and James Bettauer picked up the assists. Emerson Etem would make it two goal game only 11 seconds into the second period. The short handed goal was his 38th of the season and was assisted by Dylan Bredo. Curtis Valk made it a three goal game only seconds later as he put away his own rebound for his 15th of the season. At the 6:27 mark of the second, Emerson Etem would add his second goal of the game. Etem picked off a Hitmen pass and then rifled a shot over Brandon Glover’s left shoulder. Captain Cole Grbavac finished off the scoring for the Tigers with his 6th of the season. Grbavac beat Glover with a quick wrister to the top right corner. Tyler Bunz picked up his 25th win this season in net for the Tigers. He played excellent saving 29 of 30 shots. The special teams went 0 for 9 on the power play and 7 for 7 on the penalty kill.
Jimmy Bubnick scored the lone goal for the Hitmen early in the second period. The goal was his 20th of the season and was assisted by Spencer Humphries and Cody Sylvester. Brandon Glover got the start in net but was pulled in the third period after allowing 5 goals on 34 shots. Chris Driedger finished off the last half of the third period saving all 11 shots he faced.
Earls Three Stars of the Night:
1) Emerson Etem – Medicine Hat Tigers
2) James Bettauer – Medicine Hat Tigers
3) Jimmy Bubnick – Calgary Hitmen
The Tigers’ next game is Friday night against the Regina Pats at the Brandt Centre. Game time is 7:00 (MST) and can be heard live on CHAT 94.5 FM at tigershockey.com or watched via webcast at livestream.whl.ca.
