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INTERVIEWS: Tigers claw into busiest month of the season

Jan 3, 2018 | 12:14 PM

CALGARY, AB — After ringing in 2018 with an overtime victory in Cranbrook, the Medicine Hat Tigers hope to turn recent success into a streak.

But they know it won’t be getting easier from here out.

Not only are they amidst a critical eight-game stretch against Central Division opponents, but they’ve barely dipped their toes into the busiest month of the WHL season.

16 games in 31 nights. More game-days than days off, let alone time for full practices.

That’s a ton of work over what’s actually a fairly long amount of time.

Tonight the Tigers set sail to Calgary, their first of five Wednesday contests in January, battling the Hitmen at Scotiabank Saddledome. That’s a team the Tigers have historically dominated. 

Medicine Hat is 2-0 this season, and 16-3-1-0 over the last five years against Calgary.

But the Tigers are reeling in a swarm of injuries to top-minute players. Rookie Josh Williams has been upgraded to day-to-day with a broken collar-bone, which he sustained in early November, while forward Hayden Ostir remains week-to-week with a broken hand.

The latest comrade to fall is defenceman Linus Nassen, who’s newly listed week-to-week with an upper body injury. Nassen’s absence means more playing time for fellow import blue-liner Kristians Rubins.

CHAT Sports caught up with Rubins to hear his thoughts on battling Central Division rivals. Plus, Airdrie-native Gary Haden sheds light on cheering on the Hitmen growing up, and how playing in front of friends and family at the ‘Dome is both nerve-racking and exhilarating.