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By Scott Roblin

Tigers Fall 3-1

Late Tigers push extinguished by Hitmen in second half return

Dec 28, 2021 | 10:31 PM

CALGARY, AB – Garin Bjorklund was at the top of his game on Tuesday night, unfortunately his team’s offence came a bit too late in a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Hitmen.

Bjorklund made 37 saves in Medicine Hat’s first game back from the Christmas break, but the Tigers were only able to get one shot past Brayden Peters at the other end of the ice dropping their third in a row.

It was a goaltending duel between Bjorklund and Peters for much of Tuesday’s game, with Calgary’s Cael Zimmerman finally breaking the deadlock on the power play midway through the second period.

The Hitmen doubled their lead to 2-0 with 10:11 remaining in regulation, as veteran Riley Fiddler-Schultz jumped on a rebound off a Carter Yakemchuk point shot for his 14th goal of the season.

With Bjorklund on the bench and up a skater on the power play, the Tigers finally solved Peters with 1:44 remaining courtesy of a wicked wrist shot by Oasiz Wiesblatt off the right circle.

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Just over a minute later however, the Hitmen iced the game with a Tyson Galloway empty-net goal to secure the 3-1 victory over Medicine Hat.

Peters allowed just the one goal on 24 shots against, earning his 11th victory of the season.

Tigers moves

Tuesday’s game was the first in Tigers stripes for newly signed winger Carter Chorney, who was inked to a contract earlier in the day by Medicine Hat.

Chorney, a veteran of 181 WHL games with Spokane, Swift Current and Regina, was previously playing for the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

He filled an open overage spot on the Tigers’ roster following the trade of star Lukas Svejkovsky to the Seattle Thunderbirds on Monday.

Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins continued to make moves prior to Tuesday’s game as well, as Medicine Hat was involved in a large three-way trade with the Prince George Cougars and Saskatoon Blades.

Medicine Hat acquired Blades defender Pavel Bocharov and forward Brendan Lee, along with a 2025 fifth round pick from Prince George.

Bocharov has netted seven points in 30 games from the Blades back end already this season, while Lee recorded five goals and 11 points over that span as well.

In return, the Tigers sent forwards Cayden Glover and Carlin Dezainde to the Cougars along with a 2023 second round pick as part of Prince George’s package.

Tigers defenceman Ryan Nolan and a 2023 fourth round selection were also moved to the Blades in the 11-piece deal.

Prospect Cru Hanas also made his WHL debut for Medicine Hat on Tuesday night, after he was signed from the Dallas Elite U16 AAA Stars program last month.

Medicine Hat will get a chance at revenge against the Hitmen on Thursday evening for their final game of 2021, battling Calgary at home at 7:00 pm.