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Sillinger, Steele shine as Tigers earn first pre-season win in Taber

Sep 2, 2018 | 12:06 PM

TABER, AB – It was a coming out party for Jaxon Steele and Cole Sillinger on Saturday night, combining for four goals to help give the Medicine Hat Tigers their first pre-season win of the year.

The Tigers netted three goals on the power play, taking advantage of an undisciplined Lethbridge Hurricanes club to pick up a 6-3 victory at the Taber Civic Centre.

Much like in the pre-season opener on Friday evening, Medicine Hat got out to an early 1-0 lead as Steele carried the puck into the attacking zone and went top shelf on Akira Schmid 2:16 into the game.

With just over a minute left in the opening frame, Jalen Price fed Steele in the slot for his second goal of the period to double the Tigers’ lead to 2-0 after 20 minutes.

After being released to the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks partway through the season last year, Steele said he’s getting used to the WHL-style of hockey once again.

“A lot more confident today,” said Steele. “I think yesterday was just getting my feet wet again with the Tigers uniform back on. But, today I felt a lot more confident and got two quick ones in the first period, so it felt good.”

Early in the second period Lethbridge winger Brendan Stafford was booked for hooking, sending Medicine Hat to their second power play of the night.

After a shot was deflected by Corson Hopwo, Baxter Anderson hopped on the rebound and lined one into the open cage to extend the lead to 3-0 with 17 minutes to play in the second.

Noah Boyko came through with Lethbridge’s first goal of the night less than 30 seconds later, beating Tigers 2017 first-round pick Garin Bjorklund.

Near the end of the frame, Medicine Hat’s Henry Rybinski was called for a knee-on-knee hit with Hurricanes star Dylan Cozens.

Cozens and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Calen Addison took exception and went after Rybinski, with both taking roughing minors after the scrum dispersed.

That started a string of penalties from the Hurricanes side in the third period, which was kicked off by a slew-footing double-minor to Koletrane Wilson.

Medicine Hat took advantage 5:43 into the third, as 15-year-old Cole Sillinger continued to show his scoring touch with his second goal of the pre-season to put the Tigers up 4-1.

Midway through the period Hurricanes defender Ty Prefontaine beat Bjorklund with a laser beam from the point, but the Tigers responded with another power play marker from Josh Williams.

Taylor Ross cut the deficit to 5-3 with 3:38 left in regulation, but Sillinger sniped his second of the night just over a minute later to give the Tigers the win.

Williams led the team with a three-point evening, while Sillinger and Steele combined for four of the Tigers’ six goals.

Playing in his first game since winning gold with Team Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Williams said it was a nice return to the black and orange.

“It’s always nice to get your legs going with your team,” said Williams. “We had a good performance tonight and we’re happy with the way we’ve played, so it’s a good start to the year.”

Between the pipes, Bjorklund played the entire 60 minutes in his first taste of pre-season action this year, stopping 29 of the 32 shots he saw to earn the victory.

Medicine Hat outshot the Hurricanes 33-32, but Anderson said the difference Saturday was their ability to capitalize on their offensive chances.

“I think we just went in there with the right mindset, got pucks deep and shot the puck lots,” said Anderson. “And, things just went our way.”

Now 1-0-1 in pre-season action, the Tigers are off until Friday when they face the East Division champion Moose Jaw Warriors at 7:00 pm.