‘Huge task’ ahead of Tigers
By Ryan McCracken on November 23, 2018.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken The Medicine Hat Tigers are ready to go after it against the Canadian Hockey League’s best tonight at the Canalta Centre. While the Tigers have come up empty-handed in three games against the Prince Albert Raiders this season, they’ve given the 21-1-0-0 East Division powerhouse a run for its money in each meeting, and Hat head coach Shaun Clouston says the entire roster is fired up for the chance to knock them off a 14-game winning streak. “It’s a huge task but it should be one that we get excited about. It’s an amazing opportunity to go after the top team in the country,” said Clouston. “We have to play with some pace and we have to have an aggressive mindset. We have to be smart, but we have to go after it.” Clouston added that a number of positives came out of last Tuesday’s 2-0 loss in Prince Albert, and the Tigers will be aiming to build off those when the puck drops tonight at 7:30 p.m. “I think the start was real important. We were involved physically early on and I think that’s important. I thought we simplified our puck management — if we had something we made a pass but if it wasn’t there we were OK with getting pucks in behind their defencemen,” he said. “Discipline is going to be really important again, we want to make sure we stay out of the box. We played a good game. We created some scoring chances, but they’ve obviously got a great goaltender as well.” Prince Albert’s success has been bolstered by the efforts of goaltender Ian Scott. The 19-year-old Calgary product leads all WHL goaltenders in save percentage (.951), goals against average (1.37), wins (18) and shutouts (4) and even scored a goal in a 3-1 victory over the Tri-City Americans last Wednesday. Jordan Hollett will lead the Tigers onto the ice after posting a 3.68 goals against average and a .896 save percentage with a 5-9-0-1 record and one shutout this season. Tigers alternate captain Bryan Lockner says Medicine Hat will need to maintain an underdog mentality throughout tonight’s contest if they hope to get over the hump and become the second team in the Western Hockey League to send Prince Albert into the loss column. “They’ve got a lot of skill up front, on the back, their goalie. You’ve just got to recognize that,” said Lockner. “We know they’re a really talented team but I think if we just take the underdog mindset and go after it hard, that kind of puts all the pressure on them.” The Tigers hit the road to take on the Red Deer Rebels Saturday at 7 p.m. 12
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