Tigers start homestand with win over Ice
By Ryan McCracken on December 29, 2018.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken The Medicine Hat Tigers returned to the ice in dominant fashion Friday night at the Canalta Centre. James Hamblin scored twice to power Medicine Hat back into the win column in their first game back from the Holiday break while sending the Ice spiralling into their ninth loss over the past 10 games. “I thought for the most part we were there for the full 60,” said Hamblin of the 4-1 victory. “The first game back is always the hardest but I thought we took it in stride and played a good game.” Ryan Jevne pushed Medicine Hat in front early when he picked up a drop-pass from Hayden Ostir on the rush and beat Ice goaltender Jesse Makaj over the glove for his seventh goal in the past six games. “I had some time so I didn’t want to just shoot it. I went to the middle and Jevne was calling for it so I gave it to him and he did the rest,” said Ostir. “We’re just trying to make a few more plays and try to create off the rush because we’ve got good speed.” The Ice managed to generate some pressure later in the frame with Trevor Longo serving a tripping minor, but Hat netminder Jordan Hollett kept them at bay with 11 stops in the period. “We were ready to play, which you have to be,” said Tigers head coach Shaun Clouston. “I thought our team did a real good job of playing hard, defending when we had to, getting through a couple of tough penalty kills and doing a real good job on the kill.” Kootenay was given another chance to generate some offence when Corson Hopwo was nabbed for slashing early in the second period, but the rookie Tiger departed the box unscathed before quickly drawing a crosschecking penalty and allowing Hamblin to pad the lead on the power play. “We wanted a quick start to come out,” said Hopwo. “We really emphasized just having a good start after the break. It was a big win for us.” Hamblin converted 20 seconds into advantage by jumping into the slot and batting a rolling puck past Makaj for his 18th of the year. The Hat captain says he’s been seeing a lot of promise from Hopwo since joining him on a line earlier this month. “He’s been getting more confident with every game,” said Hamblin. “It’s good to see him making strides. He’s starting to make plays, which is good to see, and hopefully he can keep building on that.” The Tabbies took a stranglehold on the momentum for the majority of the middle frame— limiting Kootenay to just three shots leading into the final minute — but Ice blueliner Martin Bodak beat Hollett off a faceoff in the dying seconds of the period to give his team some life entering the third. Medicine Hat continued to chip away in the final frame and Hamblin broke through again by crashing the net and slapping a juicy rebound past Makaj to restore some breathing room midway through the period. “He’s been playing real good,” Ostir said of Hamblin. “He’s scored a lot of big goals for us and been a great leader. He’s a big part of our team, and it was a great two goals by him tonight.” Kootenay pressured for a way back into the contest, but Hollett refused to let another puck through him and Ryan Chyzowski put the game away with an unassisted empty netter. “I thought we had a lot of chances,” said Ice winger, former Tiger and Medicine Hat product Jaeger White. “I think if we bear down and convert on a couple it’s a different game but we’re young and we’ll learn from it.” Hollett turned away 26 shots to lock up the victory and push Medicine Hat to 18-15-1-2 on the season. “I thought Jordan played real well in the net,” said Clouston. “Kootenay had some chances in the second and the third.” Makaj stopped 29 in the loss, dropping Kootenay to 8-23-5-1. The Tigers return to the Canalta Centre Saturday to host the Victoria Royals (17-13-1-0) at 7:30 p.m. Rookie goaltender Garin Bjorklund will lead the Tigers onto the ice for his first career WHL start. “It’s always exciting when you get your first start,” said Hamblin. “We’re definitely going to bring our A-game for him.” The Tigers close out their weekend Sunday in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes (18-10-4-2) at 6 p.m. 24
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