CLARKWATCH: Follow news and updates regarding sanctions on Mayor Clark.

Tigers open four-game road trip in Cranbrook

Feb 6, 2019 | 2:43 PM

CRANBROOK, B.C. — The Medicine Hat Tigers defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings 5-0 on Saturday night. Five different players scored while rookie goaltender Mads Søgaard earned his second career WHL shutout. Captain James Hamblin picked up his 100th career WHL assist while Ryan Chyzowski picked up his 100th career WHL point in the Tigers’ victory. The Orange and Black are 28-18-2-2 and they are led by Hamblin with 59 points (28G, 31A). After tonight, the Tabbies will travel to Everett Friday, Seattle on Saturday and finish the road trip in Portland on Sunday.

Tigers vs. ICE

For the fifth time this season, these two Central Division rivals will face off. The Tigers are 3-1-0-0 against the ICE so far this season. The last time the Tigers and the ICE played was January 4th, 2019, in Medicine Hat and the Tabbies won the contest 5-3.

View from Kootenay

The Kootenay ICE defeated the Swift Current Broncos 3-2 on Friday night. Connor McClennon had a two-goal game while Jaeger White scored the game-winning goal with less than a minute to play in regulation. The ICE are 11-32-7-1 this season and they are led by 2019 NHL Draft Eligible Peyton Krebs with 56 points (16G, 40A) and veteran forward Jaeger White with 41 points (21G, 20A).

Tigers Talent

Logan Christensen is an intelligent, solid two-way veteran forward who joined the Tigers early this season. The 20-year-old Lundar, MB is a hard worker who is dependable in faceoff circles. Christensen has skilled hands and recently won the most accurate shooter event at this year’s ATB Financial Tigers Skills Competition. Look for Christensen to make an impact in tonight’s tilt.

Captain’s Corner

Captain James Hamblin is the Tigers’ top point producer this season with 59 points (28G, 31A). The 19-year-old Edmonton native was selected by the Tigers in the first round of 2014 Bantam draft. In his career as a Tiger, Hamblin has 74 goals and 100 assists in 244 games played. He is a speedy, intelligent, two-way player who works hard every game to help set the tone for the team. “The keys to this road trip are to have a lot of energy, continue to play as quick as possible, manage the puck and play as a team,” said Hamblin of this week’s four games in five days’ road trip.

Quick Hits

Mads Søgaard has been ranked 3rd among North American goalies in the NHL Central Scouting Midterm ranking.

Søgaard is also ranked 4th in the WHL among goalies with 2.43 GAA and 0.930 save percentage.

Brett Kemp has been ranked 156th among North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Midterm ranking.

Tyler Preziuso has been the most dangerous Tiger against the ICE this season with 6 points (2G, 4A) in 4 games.

James Hamblin’s first career WHL assist was on Ryan Jevne’s second career WHL goal in a 6-3 Tigers victory over the Kootenay ICE Nov 14, 2015. Hamblin picked up his 100th career WHL assist on Jevne’s 57th career WHL goal when the Tigers defeated the Wheat Kings 5-0 on Saturday.

Ryan Chyzowski’s first career WHL point was the first career goal that he scored against the Saskatoon Blades Sep 30, 2016, and it was assisted by Ryan Jevne. Chyzowski picked up his 100th career WHL point on Jevne’s 22nd goal of this season Saturday night against the Brandon What Kings.

The Tigers continue to score by committee with all 20 skaters lighting the lamp at least once to score the team’s 165 goals.

Daniel Baker is the Tigers’ top point producing rookie with 14 points (2G, 12A).

James Hamblin is tied for 3rd in the league for insurance goals (6) and he is ranked 15th in the league for points.

Linus Nässén is ranked 13th in the league for defencemen with 37 points (5G, 32A).

It is the second season for the WHL Suits Up with Don Cherry to Promote Organ Donation – Presented by RE/MAX campaign. The Medicine Hat Tigers will Suit Up on March 9th when the Wheat Kings are in town. The team will have a new design and the jerseys will be auctioned off for charity.

The Tigers’ road record is 12-11-0-1.

About the Medicine Hat Tigers
The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) who play out of Medicine Hat, AB and were established in 1970. In 48 seasons of playing major junior hockey, the Tigers have won 2 Scotty Munro Memorial Trophies, as well as, 210 playoff games which led to winning 43 playoff series, raising 33 banners, winning five Ed Chynoweth Cups and two Memorial Cups.