Medicine Hat Tigers look to ride momentum into game with Rebels

The newest additions to the lineup will look to be a factor.

Tigers Defenseman Tanner Molendyk describes his game as lots of speed and pocket movement, and hard work.

One game into his time with the Tigers, he is excited to be with the team, re-united with his Canadian world junior teammate Gavin McKenna.

“I mean I was pretty pumped, obviously Gav gave me a text and told me I was coming so yeah it was pretty special,” Molendyk said.

“Obviously a sweet place to play, good group of guys and I think we’ve got a really bright future ahead of us.”

Tigers forward Misha Volotovski takes a draw against the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday. Jesse Gill/CHAT News

Newly acquired Tigers forward Misha Volotovskii was able to get a pair of assists in his first game with the Tigers on Wednesday night.

It was a quick turn around for Molendyk and him, not being able to get into a full practice with the team prior to, but he was happy with the result.

“It’s always nervous playing your first game whether it’s in the league, or with a new team, so yeah then just getting the W got the confidence going,” Volotovskii said.

“I want to play meaningful minutes. Play the PK, help the team win.”

Molendyk, also picking up an assist in Wednesday’s game, is happy with how his Tigers debut went.

“I think it was big to kind of get that one under my feet, obviously it’s tough coming in, I mean I wasn’t even here for 24 hours and I was already playing,” Molendyk said.

“Obviously big team win, we needed those two points, just happy I could contribute.”

Volotovskii originally from Russia moved to Canada at the age of six, and is fluent in both English and Russian.

Knowing that Desjardins has had him on the radar to acquire for a few years already, Volotovskii is happy to be a Tigers.

“Excited to be here, fun to be here and help the team win,” Volotovskii said.

“It’s nice going somewhere where you are wanted. That’s really good.”

Veeti Vaisanen stands by Ryder Ritchie who had just scored an empty net goal in the Tigers game Wednesday night. Jesse Gill/CHAT News

Also back with the Tigers for Wednesday’s game is defenseman Veeti Vaisanen, he says it was a great experience for him at the World Juniors playing for Finland.

“Big thing for our country, of course, that we got the silver medal. It was really nice,” Vaisanen said.

“I knew all the guys there. The atmosphere was really good. Everybody was helping each other,” he added.

“Everybody was ready to sacrifice themselves for the game. It was really nice.”

He also enjoyed playing against a couple current teammates to start the tournament, especially McKenna.

“We weren’t that good in the first game. Maybe because there was like 20,000 people watching against Canada,” Vaisanen said.

But after that loss, we got better, like way better. It was kind of fun playing against him.”

Vaisanen was happy with his game at the tournament, is happy to be back and feels playing that level of competition could help him for the rest of the season.

“Maybe because the game there is really fast. Maybe a bit faster than here because there’s like top players.,” Vaisanen said.

“I think I played pretty well. A lot of PK, not that much offense,” he added.

“Everybody had their own roles, and you have to accept that.”

Tiger general manager and head coach Willie Desjardins could reach the 500 win mark on his WHL career on Friday night as the Tigers host the Rebels for the sixth of eight meetings with Red Deer this season.

Game time for the new-look Tigers will be Friday at 7 p.m.

Will Bryant and Lance Doll on the call with the pre-game on Wild 94.5 radio starting at 6:30 p.m.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat Tigers look to ride momentum into game with Rebels

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