By Scott Roblin

WHL Hockey

Sawchuk’s hat-trick sinks Tigers in matinee versus Oil Kings

Jan 19, 2020 | 7:08 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Medicine Hat Tigers forward Lukas Svejkovsky was firing on all cylinders at Rogers Place on Sunday afternoon.

The bad news was Riley Sawchuk was doing the very same for the Edmonton Oil Kings, snapping Medicine Hat’s four-game win streak with a 4-2 victory over the ‘Tabbies.’

Sawchuk scored three of Edmonton’s four goals in the win including a pair in the third period, while Svejkovsky netted Medicine Hat’s only two goals of the day.

It was Oil Kings defenceman Matthew Robertson breaking through initially however, opening the scoring four minutes into the first period for his ninth of the season.

Svejkovsky was able to answer Robertson’s marker with a goal of his own 10 minutes later, beating Oil Kings goalie Beck Warm to extend his point streak to five games and make it a 1-1 score.

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Treblemakers' gives learning musicians courage in Medicine Hat

17h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Diverse personal stories shared at 'Pecha Kucha' in Medicine Hat

23h ago

WHAT TO KNOW

Here's the date when Taco Bell is opening in Medicine Hat

Jan 17, 2025

The Point Roberts, Washington native wasn’t done there however, as he executed a perfect wraparound four minutes into the second period giving the Tigers their first lead of the afternoon.

Edmonton overager Ethan McIndoe was gifted a glorious chance midway through the frame with a penalty shot attempt, however Tigers goaltender Mads Søgaard stood tall to keep his team in front.

Pressuring with 13 shots over the second period, the dam finally burst with 30 seconds remaining before the intermission with Sawchuk picking up his 17th of the season to pull the Oil Kings even at the break.

A slashing penalty to Medicine Hat’s Corson Hopwo proved costly for the visitors, with Sawchuk wiring a one-timer past Søgaard 7:47 into the third on the power play for the go-ahead marker.

Sawchuk was able to complete the hat-trick with an empty net goal with just over a minute remaining on the clock, extending Edmonton’s record to 6-0-1-1 in their last eight.

Assisting on Svejkovsky’s second goal, captain James Hamblin increased his point streak to 15 straight games dating back to December 10.

Søgaard was handed the loss with three goals allowed on 34 shots against, while Warm finished the matinee duel with 30 saves in the victory.

Medicine Hat now trails Edmonton by nine points for first place in the Central Division, holding a 29-13-1-1 record themselves for 60 points.

Two games in Saskatchewan await the Tigers next weekend with stops in Saskatoon and Prince Albert on Friday and Saturday, before returning home on January 28 to host Swift Current.