Tigers defenceman Bogdans Hodass (left) and forward Steven Arp (right) posing with stuffed animals thrown onto the ice in Saturday's Teddy Bear Toss game against Brandon (Photo courtesy Randy Feere / Medicine Hat Tigers)

By Scott Roblin

Teddy Bear Toss

Hodass buries Teddy Bear Toss goal in 14th straight Tigers loss

Dec 4, 2021 | 11:14 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Bogdans Hodass’ goal to rain down the teddy bears from the rafters at Co-Op Place was the highlight in another tough evening for the black and orange Saturday.

The Tigers ran into a red-hot Ethan Kruger at the other end of the ice, dropping their 14th consecutive game by a 4-1 final on home ice to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

That 14th consecutive loss for the slumping Tigers has now tied their longest losing streak dating back over the last quarter century.

Prior to the game, Tigers veteran defenceman Daniel Baker was named captain for the remainder of the 2021-22 WHL season and played his first game with the ‘C’ on his chest on Saturday.

Baker, who has played his entire five-year WHL career in Medicine Hat, follows Ryan Chyzowski as Tigers captain with 186 career regular season games for the Tigers under his belt.

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Medicine Hat played Brandon tough over the opening 20 minutes, coming close to opening the scoring with Dru Krebs ringing a shot off the crossbar late in the first.

The Wheat Kings finally broke through just over five minutes into the second frame, as a Nolan Ritchie pass was accidentally put into his own net by Krebs.

Brandon doubled their lead less than three minutes later, as Chad Nychuk took the puck around the net and converted on the wraparound for the quick 2-0 goal.

After buzzing all game long, the dam finally burst for the Tigers as a deflected puck in the slot fell onto the blade of Hodass who went backhand to score Medicine Hat’s Teddy Bear Toss goal for 2021.

Following the cleanup though, it was the Wheat Kings halting the Tigers’ momentum with a 3-1 goal under a minute later courtesy of a perfectly placed tip by Ritchie on a Nychuk point shot.

Medicine Hat had their opportunities in the third period to get themselves back into the game with late power play chances, however the Wheat Kings put the final nail in the coffin with 3:03 to play.

Brandon winger Marcus Kallionkeli was sprung on a partial breakaway and scored a highlight-reel goal top shelf while falling to the ice to secure the victory for the Wheaties.

Kruger was dynamic for Brandon with a 34-save performance in the win, while Garin Bjorklund came up with some stops himself in the loss with 33 saves.

Still without a win since October 22, the Tigers will go for some revenge against Brandon on Tuesday night kicking off a mid-week road trip at Westoba Place at 6:00 MST.