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GAME NOTES: Tigers to close out regular season with Highway 3 rivalry versus ‘Canes

Mar 16, 2019 | 2:22 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Tigers paid their final visit to Western Financial Place in Cranbrook and defeated the Kootenay ICE 5-2 last night. The Tigers had five different goal scorers en route to their victory. Medicine Hat has now secured 7th place in the Eastern Conference and the first wild-card spot for playoffs. The Orange and Black are led by veteran forwards James Hamblin with 77 points (33G, 44A) and Ryan Jevne with 66 points (31G, 35A). Tonight’s game will be the Tigers’ final game of the season and it is Fan Appreciation Night.

Tigers vs. Hurricanes

The Tigers and the Hurricanes will meet tonight for the tenth and final time this regular season. The Tabbies are 3-6-0-0 against the ‘Canes this season and 12-17-1-0 against them over the past five years. The last time Medicine Hat defeated Lethbridge was Dec 30, 2018, in a 5-4 shootout game. Ryan Jevne scored the game-winning goal in the fourth round of the shootout.

View from Lethbridge

The Lethbridge Hurricanes defeated the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 last night. The Hurricanes are 39-18-5-5 and they are tied with the Edmonton Oil Kings with 88 points on the season. Lethbridge will play their final game of the season in Medicine Hat tonight against the Tigers. Pittsburg Penguins signed prospect Jordy Bellerive and NHL Draft Eligible Dylan Cozens have been the most effective players for the Canes against the Tigers this season. Bellerive has 14 points (7G, 7A) and Cozens has 12 points (6G, 6A) in 9 games played.

Tigers Talent

Ryan Jevne has been heating up for the Tigers and he has 5 goals and 6 assists in his last 5 games played. The 20-year-old Edmonton native is an intelligent player who plays both sides of the puck well. He has an explosive first step and a hard shot that makes opposing goaltenders cringe. The former second-round draft pick in 2013 has played his whole career with the Tigers and he has 66 goals and 85 assists in 272 games played.

Captain’s Corner

Captain James Hamblin has been the Tigers’ top point producer all season while having a banner year. The 19-year-old Edmonton product has set new career highs in goals (33) and assists (44) this season. Hamblin is a speedy, two-way forward who leads the Tigers by example with his hard work ethic. The former 2014 first round bantam pick has played in 261 career games, scoring 79 goals and picked up 113 assists. Look for Hamblin to make an impact in tonight’s tilt.

Quick Hits

James Hamblin has been the Tigers’ most effective player against the Hurricanes this season with 11 points (4G, 7A) in 9 games played.

Mads Søgaard picked up his first career WHL assist against the Lethbridge Hurricanes when he passed the puck to James Hamblin to score the teddy bear toss goal on the power play in Medicine Hat Dec 1, 2018.

A handful of Tigers have current multi-game point streaks – Ryan Jevne has 11 points (5G, 6A) in 5 games, Brett Kemp has 11 points (5G, 6A) in 6 games, James Hamblin has 9 points (1G, 8A) in 6 games and Ryan Chyzowski has 7 points (4G, 3A) in 3 games.

The Tigers’ three overagers will play their final home game of the regular season tonight.

Ryan Jevne is a former second-round draft pick of the Tigers in 2013. Jevne played his first career game for the Tigers Dec 30, 2014, in a 5-4 Tigers’ victory over the Kootenay ICE. He scored his first career WHL goal Oct 16th, 2015 against the ICE and recorded his first career WHL hat-trick Nov 28, 2018, against the Red Deer Rebels.

Dylan MacPherson was listed by the Tigers during the 2015-16 season and he suited up for his first game Jan 31, 2016, in Moose Jaw, SK. MacPherson scored his first career goal against the Kootenay ICE Oct 20, 2017. The 6’3 Redcliff product is a shutdown defenceman and he was invited to the 2018 Florida Panthers Development Camp.

Linus Nassen was drafted by the Tigers in the 2017 CHL Import Draft. The Norrtalje, Sweden native is a 2016 Florida Panthers Draft Pick. Nassen suited up for his first game with the Tigers Sep 22, 2017, against the Hurricanes. He scored his first career goal Dec 1, 2017, in overtime against the Victoria Royals.