Tigers look to 3-game week for rebound

By JAMES TUBB on October 9, 2024.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

The Medicine Hat Tigers head into a busy week with a chance to shake a rough patch.

After a 4-2 opening night win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sept. 21, the Tigers have dropped four straight games for a 1-4 record that has them last in the Eastern conference.

Despite the down record, the Tigers enter the week as the ninth ranked team in the CHL, remaining in the governing league’s rankings since the preseason.

They are in the middle of a five-game home stand, starting a three-game week with the latest opportunity for a win coming tonight against the Red Deer Rebels. The two teams have faced each other three previous times already, with the Rebels winning all three contests.

Associate coach Joe Frazer says they’re ready for the chance to get back in the win column against the Rebels.

“Red Deer is a good hockey team, when you watch them their structure is dialled in, they work extremely hard to stop and start on every puck, they’re a well oiled machine,” Frazer said. “That’s a great team for us to play so we can see where we have to get to as a team. But we’re excited. We owe these guys, so we have to make sure we’re ready to go.”

Medicine Hat also hosts the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday and the Vancouver Giants on Saturday. Their latest loss, a 6-3 defeat Saturday by the Moose Jaw Warriors, showed Frazer a better grasp of the game plan and offensive opportunities.

While the early season record might not reflect it, Frazer says the Tigers lead the WHL in time spent in the offensive zone and they have allowed the lowest amount of time in their own end. It’s the in-between and how opponents take to their end he’s looking for an improvement on.

“What’s killing us is those outnumbered rushes against,” Frazer said. “We’ve watched, we’ve gotten a chance to practice. So I expect us to be way better than in those outnumbered rushes. When we start doing that, the things will turn here.”

The Tigers will likely be without forward Mat Ward tonight. The 20-year-old is considered day-to-day after leaving in the middle of Friday’s 6-3 loss at Red Deer. He was a limited participant at practice Tuesday. Goaltender Zach Zahara, who has yet to appear in the regular season due to an upper body injury, was a full participant Tuesday.

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