Brandon Wheat Kings forward Nick Johnson tries to get his stick on the puck in front of Medicine Hat Tigers goalie Jordan Switzer as defencemen Tyson Moss and Riley Steen look on during Western Hockey League action at Assiniboine Credit Union Place on Saturday.--Perry Bergson The Brandon Sun
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After a pair of one-point weekends for the Medicine Hat Tigers, a three-spot is a fresh look.
The Tigers returned from a weekend on the road with all but one possible point, snapping a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 overtime win Friday over the Regina Pats. On Saturday, a Tigers’ comeback effort forced overtime in Brandon, before falling 6-5 to the Wheat Kings in the extra frame.
Liam Ruck scored twice in Friday’s win, adding a pair of assists for his first career four-point night. Jonas Woo scored his 11th, putting him atop the WHL in defenceman goal scoring and the team lead. Kyle Heger scored the overtime winner with assists from both Markus and Liam Ruck. Jordan Switzer had 22 saves.
On Saturday, the Tigers made good on their 7-4 loss to Brandon on Nov. 8. They tied the game up 3-3 after 20 minutes with goals from Carter Cunningham, Cam Parr and Bryce Pickford.
After Brandon scored twice in the third for a 5-3 lead the Tigers responded with a pair of late goals at six-on-five, with Liam Ruck and Pickford scoring. Pickford’s second of the night gives him 11 on the year, tying Woo for the WHL defenceman and team lead in goal scoring.
Liam Ruck’s six-point effort over the weekend earned him league honours as WHL player of the week.
The Wheat Kings tallied the game winner in overtime on a missed call in the Brandon end. Markus Ruck skated out from behind the Wheat Kings’ net with the puck and was hooked up, causing a turnover that sent Brandon forward Jaxon Jacobson the other way and he scored his second of the night and the game winner 1:36 into overtime. Switzer finished with 26 saves in the loss.
The Tigers come out of the weekend with a 11-6-3-1 record, sitting tied for second in the Central division with the Calgary Hitmen who have played two fewer games. They’ll get a chance to tighten up the Central race with four in-division games during their busiest week of the season. Starting Wednesday in Calgary the Tigers take on the Hitmen before heading to Red Deer on Friday to face the Rebels.
The Tigers will host Calgary on Saturday before an afternoon contest in Calgary on Sunday.
