The Medicine Hat Tigers have back-to-back home games this weekend. Lisa Parent/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

Struggling Medicine Hat Tigers aim for back-to-back wins at home this weekend

Oct 11, 2024 | 5:00 AM

The Medicine Hat Tigers are headed into a weekend of back-to-back home games that could bring them back to an even win-loss ratio if they are able to beat two strong visiting squads.

The Tigers will try rebounding from what has been a weak start to the season for what was the No. 1 ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League.

Head Coach Willie Desjardins acknowledged it will be “a really tough weekend” in an interview with Wild 94.5 radio’s Will Bryant.

The Tigers will first play the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday evening.

The Wheat Kings are ranked second in the East Division and have won four of their six regular season games so far.

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“Brandon’s got really good goaltending, they do some good things offensively,” Desjardins said.

“They’ve got a good team. They play hard, they’ve got really good structure.”

The Tigers will then on Saturday play the Vancouver Giants, who are hot off a 5-2 win against the very Red Deer Rebels the Tigers struggled to beat.

Desjardins said the Giants “have a really good power play” the Tigers will watch out for.

Tigers new captain Oasiz Wiesblatt will be looking to see the team stay undefeated with him wearing the “C”, he was named the teams 41st captain on Wednesday prior to the 3-0 win over the Red Deer Rebels.

Wiesblatt says he is super honoured knowing the Tigers rich history, with a log of great captains so it’s an honour.

“They [coaches] kind of just pulled me in for a little meeting in the morning, and then just broke the news,” Wiesblatt said.

“For me it’s just kind of being the same person I am. Being a fearless leader and making sure that I’m going hard at each game and demanding that out of my teammates too.”

A team vote was held to decide the captain.

Associate Coach Joe Frazer said that Wiesblatt is the spirit of the team, bringing passion every day whether it’s in the weight room or practice.

“He’s the guy driving us with his energy and you watch him play, and we talk about you have to go through our leadership group to beat us, and I think he’s a perfect example. You got to go through him if you are going to beat us,” Frazer said.

“I think he’s an outstanding Tiger. He has been his whole career, so just super thrilled that he’s the one leadin gus this year.”

An announcement on alternate captains for the season will be made next week.

Tune into both games live on Wild 94.5 radio with commentary from Will Bryant and Lance Doll. The pre game both nights starts at 6:30 p.m. with puck drop at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased in-person at the box office or at the Medicine Hat Tigers website.