The Story Coming In The Medicine Hat Tigers finished the first half of the season with a 17-15-1-2 record. After a slow start to the season, the Orange and Black finished strong posting a 7-3-0-0 record in their last 10 games before the Christmas break. The Tigers continue their scoring by committee approach with every skater on the team lighting the lamp to score the team’s 110 goals. Leading the way for the Tabbies are veteran forwards James Hamblin with 38 points (17G, 21A) and Ryan Jevne with 34 points (16G, 18A). Tigers vs. ICE The Tigers and the ICE have met twice so far this season. The ICE took the first game 5-0 while the Tigers won the second game 4-3 in a shootout. Ryan Jevne scored the game-winning goal in the shootout and goaltender Jordan Hollett stopped 32 of 35 shots. Over the past five seasons, Medicine Hat has a 19-3-1-0 record against Kootenay and they will be looking to improve that record tonight. View from Kootenay The Kootenay ICE finished the first half of the season with an 8-25-5-1 record and they were 1-7-2-0 in their last 10 games before the holiday break. The ICE are led by 2019 NHL Draft Eligible Peyton Krebs with 38 points (13G, 25A) and veteran forward Jaeger White with 25 points (13G, 12A). After tonight’s contest, the ICE will return home to host the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Tigers Talent Josh Williams had his first WHL three-point game Friday, December 14th against the Red Deer Rebels. Williams scored twice and picked an assist in the Tigers’ 4-1 victory. The 17-year-old Langley, BC product has 40 points (20G, 20A) in 86 career WHL games including 8 goals and 11 assists from this season. Williams has a high-end skill set along with high hockey IQ and he will look to make an impact in tonight’s contest. Captain’s Corner In 2014, the Medicine Hat Tigers selected James Hamblin in the first round of the Bantam draft. Hamblin has since suited up for 229 games, scored 63 goals and picked up 90 assists as a Tiger. The 19-year-old Edmonton native plays with a lot of heart and hustle and he leads the team by example with his incredible work ethic. This season, Hamblin has 17 goals and 21 assists and he is currently the top point producer on the Tigers. Look for the Captain to get the Tigers going in tonight’s tilt. Quick Hits Rookie goaltender Mads Søgaard was named WHL & CHL goaltender of the last week before the holiday break. Søgaard is currently playing in the World Junior’s Tournament with Denmark. Affiliate player Garin Bjorklund has joined the Tigers in Søgaard’s absence. Bjorklund has a 9-3-1 record, 0.917 SAV% and 2.33 GAA with the Calgary Buffaloes in the AMHL so far this season. Goaltender Jordan Hollett’s cross-ice save on the PA Raiders made number 8 on the WHL Top 10 Saves of the First Half. Corson Hopwo was named the Medicine Hat Tigers’ WHL Academic Player of the Month in November. Daniel Baker is leading all Tigers rookies with 10 points (2G, 8A). Ryan Jevne scored his first career WHL goal against the Kootenay ICE October 16th, 2015, in a 6-3 Tigers victory. Jevne currently has 51 career goals and he is only four goals away from matching his career high of 20 from last season. Dylan MacPherson scored his first career WHL goal against the Kootenay ICE October 20th, 2017, in an 11-1 Tigers victory. MacPherson is a strong stay at home defenceman who scored a career-high of 4 goals in the 2017-18 season. Josh Williams and Mads Søgaard have been selected to play in the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospect Game in Red Deer January 23, 2019. They are both listed as B prospects by NHL Central Scouting. Ryan Chyzowski is listed as a C prospect. Captain James Hamblin is on a multi-game point streak is 4 goals and 2 assists in the Tigers’ last 5 games. Against the ICE the Tigers’ Penalty Kill has been 100% effective killing all 6 penalties in two games played. While the power play has only been 14.3% effective against the ICE, only scoring on the man advantage once out of seven attempts. 9 Tigers prospects are playing the Mac’s Tournament – Cole Sillinger & Ayden Third with the Regina Pats Canadians, Dru Krebs & Brayden Kapty with the Okotoks Bow Mark Oilers, Clarke Huxley with the Calgary Northstars, Noah Danielson & Brett Meerman with the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs and Caleb Willms & Damon Agyeman with the Airdrie CFR Bisons. Hut 8 Community Corner Hut 8 Mining Company is a cryptocurrency mining and blockchain infrastructure company established through an exclusive partnership with the Bitfury Group, the world’s leading full-service blockchain technology company that recently opened in Medicine Hat. The Redcliff Youth Centre is a non-profit organization that serves youth ages 10-17, providing free educational and recreational programming. Family Packs The Medicine Hat Tigers are excited to introduce Family Packs this season! Two adult tickets and two children tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 pops for $69.95. Family packs can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or in person at the box office. 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 48 seasons of playing major junior hockey, the Tigers have won 2 Scotty Munro Memorial Trophies, as well as, 210 playoff games which led to winning 43 playoff series, raising 33 banners, winning five Ed Chynoweth Cups and two Memorial Cups. .