The Story Coming In The Medicine Hat Tigers kicked off their WHL campaign by splitting their home and home series against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. After winning 4-3 in a shootout last Friday, the Tigers fell 3-1 at home on Saturday night. This weekend the Orange and Black will play three games in three days, starting with a home and home series against the Broncos before traveling to Calgary for an afternoon tilt with the Hitmen on Sunday.
Tigers vs. Broncos With the relocation of the Kootenay ICE to Winnipeg, Swift Current joins Medicine Hat in the Central Division this season. The two hockey clubs will face off eight times including this weekend’s home and home series. Over the past five years, the Tigers are 8-4-0-0 against the Broncos.
View from Swift Current The Swift Current Broncos opened their season by defeating the Calgary Hitmen 3-2 in overtime last Saturday night. Second year Finnish forward Joona Kiviniemi scored the game winner with one second left to play in overtime. Goaltender Isaac Poulter stopped 34 of 36 shots faced during the contest. After this weekend’s home and home series with the Tigers, the Broncos will return to the Innovation Credit Union I-Plex for a five game homestand starting Wednesday against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Tigers Talent Jonathan Brinkman in the Tigers’ first round 2019 CHL Import Draft pick fom Aalborg, Denmark. The 18-year-old forward is highly skilled with great speed. Brinkman uses his intelligence and creativity to generate opportunities offensively. Look for Brinkman to drive to the net and create scoring lanes Friday night.
Captain’s Corner Captain James Hamblin led the Tigers in scoring last season with 77 points (33G, 44A) in 67 games. The 20-year-old Edmonton native is hardworking, two-way centre who embodies what it means to be a Tiger. “The key to success will be outwork our opponents. We have the skill and we have speed, so if we can outwork them as well, we should do great,” said Hamblin.
Quick Hits After two games, the Tigers are (2/7) 28.6% on the power play and (0/6) 100% on the penalty kill. Mads Søgaard was drafted in the 2nd round, 37th overall by the Ottawa Senators. He is the third highest goaltender drafted in Tigers franchise history. Nick McCarry scored his first career WHL goal against the Swift Current Broncos January 19th, 2019, in a 5-3 Tigers victory. Captain James Hamblin had 5 points (3G, 2A) in 4 games played against the Broncos during the 2018-19 season. The Tigers and the Broncos were Central Division Rivals from 2001-02 to 2005-06. During the 2006-07 season, the Broncos moved into the East Division because the Chilliwack Bruins joined the league. The Bruins took the Kootenay ICE’s spot in the BC Division and the ICE moved into the Central Division. The Tigers’ Annual Home Depot Street Hockey game will be Tuesday, October 1st from 6:30 to 8:30 PM
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.