Rassell coming back to Alberta with UNB to compete for national title

By RYAN MCCRACKEN on March 9, 2019.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken

Mark Rassell achieved many feats in his four-year career with the Medicine Hat Tigers, but this week he got his hands on the one thing that eluded him – a championship.

The former Tabby captain clinched the Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey championship as a member of the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds with a commanding 7-1 victory over the St. Francis Xavier X-Men on Wednesday, but he’s not done yet. With the title, Rassell will be bringing his game back to his home province of Alberta to compete for the U Sports title next week in Lethbridge.

“It’s exciting, it’s a big stage,” said Rassell. “We’re staying the night in Calgary when we first fly in so the coaches are asking me about all the local places to eat. It’s going to be fun to be back in Alberta and get to be a bit of a tour guide.”

Rassell – who logged a 200-game ironman streak with the Tigers and closed out his WHL career with a 50-goal season – closed out his first U Sports season with 13 goals and 16 assists in 30 games before adding four goals in five straight playoff victories – including a two-game sweep over St. FX – to help his Reds to the AUS title.

“We got contributions from everyone and ended up taking home the title, which is very exciting, good momentum going into Lethbridge next week,” he said, adding St. FX took the long road to the championship series. “They played all three games in the first round, all five games in the second round and they finished up on Friday then we started up the championship round on Monday so they were obviously pretty tired, but we played a strong team game.

“I think it’s just about playing the way we need to play to win. We’ve been successful, all the guys have bought in for the playoffs and we’re playing good hockey.”

While the official schedule won’t be released until Sunday, the single elimination tournament opens with the quarter-final round on Thursday and Friday at the Enmax Centre.

“I’ve obviously played in a lot of games in the Enmax Centre before and we’ve got three Western League guys who have seen the Enmax before, so we’re pretty excited. A lot of guys are asking about it, they’re curious, they’re excited. It’ll be fun,” said Rassell. “The thing about UNB is that they’re there almost every year so I don’t think the guys fold under the pressure, whereas other schools it might be their first time at a national tournament in a while. It’ll be one of those things where our experience and our coolness under pressure will serve as an advantage for us.”

Rassell won’t be the only former Tiger vying in national glory in Lethbridge. In fact, he could find himself out on the ice against four of his former teammates if the Reds cross paths with the University of Alberta Golden Bears. Former captains Clayton Kirichenko and Cole Sanford, as well as Steven Owre and Trevor Cox all helped the Golden Bears to the Canada West crown and will be battling for a second consecutive national title when they descend on Lethbridge next week.

“It’ll be good to see those guys. There’s a big banquet on Wednesday before it gets started so hopefully I’ll get a chance to see those guys and say what’s up. It’ll be good to see them again, obviously they were some really good friends of mine over the past four seasons when I played with all of them, but when it comes to the ice if we get a chance to play them I’ll be wanting to beat them for sure,” he said. “They got to win it last year, so I think it’d be good if it’s my turn.”

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