First goals of the season spur Tigers

By Medicine Hat News on October 5, 2019.

The Medicine Hat Tigers got first goals of the season from three players in a key second period and went on to beat the Regina Pats 6-2 Friday.

At Regina, rookie Caleb Willms potted his first-ever WHL goal on a breakaway to cap a dominant middle stanza from Medicine Hat, which also saw Elijah Brown and Eric Van Impe tally their respective firsts of the season.

Another newcomer ensured the lead stuck in the third. Garin Bjorklund stopped 22 of 24 shots in the Tigers net and has now won all four of his WHL starts dating back to last season.

The night didn’t start well for the road team, as Carter Massier beat Bjorklund 1:07 in. But Cole Sillinger and Ryan Chzyowski netted power play goals for the Tabbies 96 seconds apart to turn the tables.

The lead lasted all of 27 seconds when Ty Kolle made it 2-2, but Medicine Hat kept coming after the flood.

Brown beat Max Paddock 2:10 in, then Van Impe stretched the lead at the 14-minute mark and Willms netted his a few minutes later.

Regina native Sillinger added his second of the night and fourth of the season early in the third. Sillinger and Chyzowski each finished with three-point nights.

Now 4-2, the Tigers host Red Deer Saturday at 7:30 p.m., the first of five straight games at Canalta Centre. The Portland Winterhawks visit Tuesday, followed by the Winnipeg Ice next Friday, Red Deer again Oct. 12 and Saskatoon Oct. 15.

Attendance Friday at the Brandt Centre was 4,111. The Tigers outshot the Pats 46-24, went 2-for-5 on the power play and killed all four penalties against them.

Regina fell to 1-4 on the season. Massier, Kolle and Garrett Wright each had two-point nights.

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