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SEAC Tigers settle for tie with Okotoks in home opener

Sep 24, 2017 | 10:52 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It was a special home opener for the SEAC Bantam AAA Tigers on Saturday night, breaking in their new stomping grounds at the Hockey Hounds Recreation Centre.

Facing the Okotoks AAA Oilers, it was the first regular season game at Hockey Hounds for the Tigers since moving from the old Medicine Hat Arena.

Okotoks took a 1-0 lead early in the first period, with blueliner Dru Krebs putting one past SEAC netminder Marek Andres just 1:14 into the game.

That visiting lead was extended to 2-0 a few minutes later, as Adam Kirkpatrick got in on the action shorthanded to keep the momentum on Okotoks’ side.

Just after the midway mark of the first, SEAC forward Jase Fleury got his first goal of the season to close the Oilers lead to 2-1.

The Tigers knotted up the game at 2-2 with just over five minutes remaining in the period thanks to a marker from Roman Cherniak, with Fleury getting his second point of the night with an assist.

With 3:15 remaining in the first, the Tigers moved into the lead for the first time on Saturday with returning vet Caleb Wyrostok converting on the power play to give SEAC a 3-2 lead at the intermission.

More strong play from the Tigers early in the second, as Vaughn Strutt found the back of the net for the first time this season to make it a 4-2 lead for SEAC.

It remained 4-2 until the later stages of the second, with Okotoks closing the gap to 4-3 off the stick of Osten Barnhart with 5:09 left in the middle frame.

The Oilers eventually found the equalizer with 6:39 remaining in regulation, with Krebs being credited with his second goal of the night and the game-tying marker.

Both teams played out the remainder of regulation without anymore score, with the Tigers and Oilers settling for a 4-4 tie.

SEAC’s record on the season now sits at 0-1-1, and are tied for fourth place in the Ram South Division with Okotoks.

A weekend home stand continues on Sunday for the Tigers, welcoming the Calgary Bantam AAA Bisons to Hockey Hounds at 2:45 pm.