NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Jonathan Brinkman deflects a shot on goal while Swift Current Broncos’ Ben King defends during a Western Hockey League game at the Canalta Centre on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
The Medicine Hat Tigers had their eye on Jonathan Brinkman for a while before selecting him 34th overall in the Canadian Hockey League’s import draft.
On Saturday fans found out why.
The 18-year-old Dane put his speed on display during a 10-1 beatdown of the Swift Current Broncos, opening the scoring and adding an assist to sit at four points in as many games to start his Western Hockey League career.
“It was the first game I thought I really used my speed as a perk,” said Brinkman. “A game like this really helps us with the confidence.”
Six minutes into Saturday’s action, Brinkman picked up a pass from Cole Clayton and flew down the left wing – eclipsing Swift Current defender Kasper Puutio before snapping a quick shot over the glove of netminder Jordan Fairlie for the first goal of his WHL career.
“Oh my God, it was so good,” said Brinkman, who netted six points in 32 games with the Danish men’s league’s Aalborg Pirates last season. “I’ve been wanting that for so long now. All the exhibition games and now three, four games into the season. So that was good.”
The 6-foot, 178-pound lefty spent the evening on a line with captain James Hamblin and winger Tyler Preziuso – making for what Tigers assistant coach Joe Frazer says could be the fastest line in the Dub.
“All three guys can fly and Jonny’s skilled enough to get those two guys the puck off the wing,” said Frazer. “That was his best game of the season for sure. He’s so skilled and he’s got such great speed. He put it all together tonight.”
Hamblin agreed Saturday’s performance was Brinkman’s best since joining up with the Tigers, and if he keeps using that speed as an advantage he’ll be a nightly threat.
“He was really moving,” said Hamblin. “He’s so skilled and if he uses that speed he’s got tons of time and he can make plays.”
Hamblin closed out Saturday’s contest with an assist and his first two goals of the season. After netting his first by converting an offensive zone turnover in the opening frame, Hamblin pulled an imaginary monkey off his back and threw it into the crowd in celebration.
“It’s only been four games so it’s not something huge,” he said. “I’ve just had a lot of chances so for one to finally go in, I was quite happy.”
Frazer added it was great to see his captain finally cash in on a scoring opportunity after having a handful of chances stymied in the first three games.
“He’s had chances all three games before this, quite a few chances,” said Frazer. “That’s a credit to him for not getting frustrated. When you’re not getting the chances, that’s when you’ve got to worry.”
Brinkman and Hamblin weren’t the only Tabbies to net their first of the season, as Brett Kemp, Nick McCarry and Cole Clayton also achieved the feat, while Eric Van Impe, Parker Gavlas, Tyler Preziuso, Ryan Chyzowski, Daniel Baker, Noah Danielson, Baxter Anderson, McCarry and Clayton all notched their first assists of the campaign as well.
“We switched the lines up a little bit and it was nice to see all the lines contributed,” said Frazer. “We were just looking to spark something and fortunately it did. Sometimes you do it and nothing happens but fortunately tonight it sparked a lot of guys.”
Even 17-year-old goaltender Garin Bjorklund joined the scoring parade with an assist on Brinkman’s opener. Bjorklund went on to lock up his first win of the year with a 32-save performance.
“The boys were making it easy for me to see pucks straight on so that definitely helps when you’re having a game like that,” said Bjorklund. “When you’re up you just want to feel comfortable, and I felt comfortable in that game.”
The evening also featured two goals from Bryan Lockner, and individual tallies from Cole Sillinger and Preziuso.
Tyler Smithies scored Swift Current’s only goal on a deflection in the third period.
The Tigers were unable to carry their offensive momentum into Sunday’s game against the Calgary Hitmen at Scotiabank Saddledome — but the trend of firsts continued.
Hitmen goaltender Carl Stankowski stopped all 33 shots he faced to lock up his first career shutout, while Adam Kydd potted the first two goals of his career in a 2-0 win.
Tigers goaltender Mads Søgaard stopped 28 in the loss, dropping Medicine Hat to 3-2-0-0 on the season.
