Rassell makes history in win over Oil Kings

By Ryan McCracken on March 9, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com
@MHNMcCracken

Mark Rassell cemented his name in Medicine Hat Tigers history on Friday night at the Canalta Centre.

The 21-year-old captain scored just over two minutes into his team’s eventual 6-4 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings to become the 23rd player in franchise history to score 50 goals in a season and just the fourth to accomplish the feat in his lifetime.

After coming up empty-handed in his first shift, Rassell returned to the ice and found another gear — cutting past Oil Kings defenceman Conner McDonald and beating goaltender Todd Scott through the wickets for an historic go-ahead goal.

Tigers head coach Shaun Clouston says Rassell’s value to the team extends well past his nose for the net. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Calgary product has been a figurehead in the community since joining the team in 2014-15, and brings a positive atmosphere to the dressing room on a nightly basis while serving as a shining example for younger players.

“He’s a great teammate. When Mason (Shaw) went down he was clearly the next guy and he’s been exceptional in his role as captain,” said Clouston. “He really has an understanding of the pulse of the team and what needs to be said and at what time. And I think because he is a positive upbeat guy with a good sense of humour, I think the players appreciate that and enjoy that.”

While the Oil Kings knotted the game up when David Kope capitalized on a defensive breakdown and beat Tigers goaltender Michael Bullion off the rush, Medicine Hat quickly resumed control on the power play.

Tigers winger Ryan Chyzowski notched his own milestone by beating Scott from a sharp-angle for his 20th of the season, then Elijah Brown redirected a David Quenneville clapper into the back of the net to give Medicine Hat some breathing room at the break.

Oil Kings defenceman Ethan Cap cut the deficit in half by beating Bullion off a faceoff midway through the second period. While Jaeger White answered back with his 10th of the year less than three minutes later, another breakdown opened the door for the Oil Kings.

Looking to play the puck for his defenceman, Bullion dropped a dump-in beside the net only to watch Oil Kings captain Colton Kehler capitalize on the mishap and narrow the deficit to one after 40 minutes.

While McDonald scored for Edmonton to knot the game up just past the halfway point of the third, Tigers forwards Josh Williams and James Hamblin both cashed in on a late slew footing double minor to Tomas Soustal to send the 3,331 in attendance home happy.

Rassell left the game after taking a heavy hit from McDonald in the final minute of regulation, though he skated off the ice under his own power.

Bullion stopped 27 to lock up the win and push the Tigers to 35-25-8-0. Scott took the 24-save loss, dropping Edmonton to 19-41-6-2.

The Tigers hit the road to Red Deer to take on the Rebels (25-30-10-3) on Saturday at 7 p.m. With a point and a Lethbridge Hurricanes loss, the Tigers can clinch the Central Division banner for a second consecutive season.

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