Mathew Ward will be looking for assist number 150 on his WHL career with his former team the Swift Current Broncos as his opponent for the next two games. Eli Ridder/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

SPORTS

Medicine Hat Tigers take on the Broncos in a home and home series

Jan 3, 2025 | 2:51 PM

The Medicine Hat Tigers will on Friday make the trip down Highway 1 to take on the rival Swift Current Broncos in the first game of a home and home series this weekend.

The Tigers sit in top spot in the Eastern Conference and Central Division heading into the game with a record of 21 wins, 14 loses and two overtime losses for 44 points.

Swift Current comes into the contest eighth in the Eastern Conference, and fourth in the Central Division with 18 wins, 16 losses and one shootout loss for 37 points.

This will be the second meeting this season between the two clubs, with the Tigers winning a close 4-3 contest in Swift Current in early December.

Tigers forward Mathew Ward will be returning to play his former team in the Broncos for the second time.

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“I kind of know how they approach those games,” Ward said.

“At the same point it’s just another game and both teams don’t like each other so it’s going to be competitive.”

Ward has 149 assists in his WHL Career and could hit the 150 milestone against his former team with an assist over the next two games.

Tigers defenseman Josh Van Mulligen said the InnovationPlex is a hard barn to play and the Broncos always start good there.

“I think we just got to be ready to go right from the start. We know it’s gonna be a 60-minute battle,” Van Mulligen said.

“I think there’s gonna be ups and downs throughout the game and I think it’s just staying focused and just being ready every single shift.”

Tigers captain Oasiz Wiesblatt said he expects high energy, high paced hockey over the two games.

“I think it’s going to be physical. There’s not going to be a lot of chances and you just got to kind of bury on your chances,” Wiesblatt said.

“Obviously, Swift’s going to have their fans here and making some noise. I think we got to use that to our advantage and win the home game. But obviously, go down there and play hard and play our game,” he added.

“Work away from the puck, be disciplined and capitalize on our power plays and kind of just play simple hockey.”

Medicine Hat has earned points in each of their last three games, splitting a pair with the Calgary Hitmen and beating the Lethbridge Hurricanes over three games in three nights before the new year.

The Broncos are coming off a 5-2 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on New Year’s day after dropping their first game of their home to home with the Wheat Kings, and also losing a pair in a home and home with the Prince Albert Raiders just prior to the new year.

The puck drop is at 6 p.m. Will Bryant will have the radio broadcast with the pre-game starting at 5:45 p.m. on Wild 94.5 radio.

Saturday’s game at Co-op Place with the Tigers hosting the Broncos goes at 7 p.m. Will Bryant and Lance Doll will have the call for that game starting with the pre-game at 6:30 p.m. on Wild 94.5.