NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Jonas Woo celebrates after scoring 19 seconds into a 6-0 win Tuesday at Co-op Place over the Regina Pats. The goal gives the Tigers blue liner 82 points on the season to tie Cliff Lane for the franchise single season record for points by a defenceman set in 1975-76.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
An historic season from the Medicine Hat Tigers blue line took yet another step in Tuesday’s win.
Defenceman Jonas Woo scored the game winner 19 seconds into the 6-0 shutout win over the Regina Pats at Co-op Place, recording his 27th goal of the season. The marker was his 82nd point of the season, tying Cliff Lane for the franchise single-season record for points by a defenceman set in 1975-76.
“It’s pretty special, obviously I want to beat it, but I couldn’t do without my teammates,” Woo said. “All these players are pretty special and it’s not over, so I’m looking to get a few more. But this team’s helped me a lot and I couldn’t do without them.”
Woo’s 27 goals sits five back of Kris Russell’s 2006-07 tally of 32, the previous single-season record for the Tigers that now runs at 43 with Bryce Pickford.
Head coach Willie Desjardins says it is poetic for both to have record-setting years.
“(Jonas) is such a good player, he is so good, his skill is such high, high, high-end and he’s really courageous, he is such a competitor,” Desjardins said. “It’s really fitting that both of them get something because they have both made such a difference for us. So it’s great for Woo to get that, he’s been exceptional for us.”
The 19-year-old has nearly doubled his production from last year when he had 11 goals and 43 points. He’s been able to look back on the year, liking his own success but seeing room for more.
“There’s a lot more to go, I’m not really satisfied, I think there’s a lot more I want to accomplish this year and we still have a couple more games left so I’m looking to do that,” Woo said.
“There’s a lot of parts of my game, nothing specific, but there’s goals in my head that are there.”
With the win over Regina on Tuesday the Tigers reached the 100-point plateau, recording the franchise’s eighth 100-point season. Having clinched the Central division, the first back-to-back division titles since 2016-17, 2017-18, they’re still pushing for the Eastern conference. The Tigers are tied up with the Prince Albert Raiders at 100 points, but have one fewer win with the East division champs holding a game in hand.
The Tigers are in Lethbridge on Friday before hosting the Hurricanes on Saturday, the final meeting against the Highway 3 rival. While they push for the conference, the Tigers are looking to enter the playoffs on the right note.
“We have to keep pushing, we have to play playoff hockey and we have to get ready for the playoffs,” Woo said. “We’re on the right path to do that, just have fun and keep loving the game, that’s the biggest thing and take it into playoffs.”
This time of the season, with playoffs on the horizon, is an easy time to have fun playing hockey, Woo says. With the team and the character within the room, it’s even easier, he says.
“Everyone wants to win, these guys are special,” Woo said. “The weather is getting a little bit nicer so everyone’s getting a little bit happier. So it’s been good. These guys, we love the game and it’s just getting better from here.”
What else helps the fun but a rowdy rink? Tuesday’s game saw 5,524 in attendance, bumping the Tigers’ average to 4,031 through 32 home games this season, good for 10th in the league. It’s the highest attendance average the Tigers have had since the 2015-16 season, their first in Co-op Place, when they averaged 4,248 in 36 games.
Woo says they look at the ticket sheet before every game, seeing Tuesday’s projected numbers with wide eyes, enjoying the atmosphere throughout the win and into the playoffs.
“It just brings all the excitement to the game, we love playing in front of these fans, everyone has said that,” Woo said. “It brings a lot to our game, it really helps us out.
“Definitely looking forward to those flashlights and all these chants, we have a pretty special fan group and it’s pretty important for our game.”
