By Scott Roblin

Medicine Hat Tigers

Hamblin hits 30-goal mark, Tigers win third straight in Swift Current

Feb 1, 2020 | 12:23 PM

SWIFT CURRENT, SK – James Hamblin joined some elite company on Friday night, reaching a pair of milestones in a 4-1 Medicine Hat Tigers victory over Swift Current.

Hamblin scored his 30th goal of the season in Friday’s win, marking the second straight season of 30 or more goals for the Tigers captain.

He joins former teammates Mark Rassell, Max Gerlach, and Cole Sanford as the last Tigers players to record back-to-back 30-goal seasons.

Medicine Hat found themselves trailing 1-0 after the first period however, as Swift Current’s Eric Houk opened the scoring off a Garin Bjorklund rebound with 4:21 left in the period.

The Broncos held onto that one-goal lead late into the second period, but quickly vanished with Bryan Lockner taking a drop pass from Nick McCarry and netting his ninth of the season.

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Midway through the third frame, the Tigers caught a break with a Ryan Chyzowski pass hitting the skate of a Broncos defender and giving Medicine Hat their first lead of the night.

Hamblin netted the insurance goal just over a minute later, while defensive stalwart Parker Gavlas went backhand with 4:40 remaining for his second of the season to put the game away.

Bjorklund recorded his second straight win over Swift Current with 23 saves on 24 shots to improve to 17-3-0-0 on the year.

As for Isaac Poulter in the Broncos net, he allowed four goals on 39 shots against.

Friday’s win provided a big two points for Medicine Hat, as they leapt past Lethbridge for second place in the Central Division with 66 points and a 32-14-1-1 record.

The Tigers are back on home ice Saturday for a tilt against the Brandon Wheat Kings, game time from the Canalta Centre goes at 7:30 pm.