NEWS FILE PHOTO
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Cole Sillinger celebrates after scoring a goal during a Western Hockey League game against the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 at the Canalta Centre. Sillinger will return to the lineup tonight after missing the last 10 games due to an upper-body injury.
Cole Sillinger has some ground to make up.
After suffering an upper-body injury on Jan. 28, the 16-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers winger watched his grip on first place in the Western Hockey League’s rookie scoring lead vanish. Now 10 points back of Winnipeg Ice forward Michal Teply for the lead after a 10-game hiatus, Sillinger will be itching to hit the scoresheet in tonight’s 6 p.m. return against his hometown Regina Pats.
Sillinger is currently tied for fourth in the rookie scoring race with 46 points in 42 games. His 1.10 points-per-game average is good enough for second among all rookies.
The Tigers have already punched their ticket to the post-season, but they’ll be looking to put some space between themselves and the Calgary Hitmen with a win tonight at the Brandt Centre. The Hitmen (34-19-4-1) have won seven of their last 10 games to sit tied with the Tigers (35-19-2-1) at 73 points. While Medicine Hat holds a game in hand with 11 left in the regular season, allowing Calgary to slip past would leave the Tabbies in a first-round playoff matchup against either the Central or East Division champions.
The Tigers have defeated Regina in both of their matchups this season, outscoring the Pats 13-2 in the process.
The Tigers and Pats return to Canalta Centre Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
