NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Mads Søgaard sprawls out for a blocker save during a Western Hockey League game against the Portland Winterhawks at Canalta Centre Oct. 8, 2019.
While admitting it’s been a “roller coaster” of a season, Mads Søgaard knows how you finish is the most important part of the ride.
The 19-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender seems to be finding the form that got Tigers fans so excited last year, notching a shutout last week and coming up with one of the best saves of the season in Monday’s loss to Winnipeg.
“What we’re seeing from Mads is he’s playing some of his best hockey of the year right now, so that’s a positive sign,” said Tigers goaltending coach Matt Wong. “In the experiences I’ve had on championship teams, one of the things I’ve learned is that you don’t need the best goalie on the first day. You need the best goalie on the last day. He’s trending in that direction.”
When Søgaard dove to his right, reached back and somehow got his stick on Ice forward Isaac Johnson’s shot during Monday’s game at Canalta Centre, some fans’ first thought was Johnson must’ve hit the post. Medicine Hat trailed 1-0 and had just survived a minute of a 5-on-3 power play.
It wasn’t a good start, but the big Dane bestowed a bit of hope with what he figures is his best save ever in orange and black.
“It could’ve been tough going down two early in the first,” he said. “Those are not the type of saves you want to make every time; it comes from being out of position and that’s just battling, I guess.”
The Tigers (34-18-2-1) went on to lose the game, their second straight. They enter two home games this weekend – Friday against Tri-City, Saturday against Spokane – needing a single point to clinch a playoff spot. Søgaard expects to get the start against the 33-18-4-1 Chiefs, who clinched a spot of their own Wednesday. Rookie Garin Bjorklund figures to start against the Americans, who at 17-32-4-1 are 11 points back of a playoff spot in the WHL’s Western Conference with 14 games to go.
Wong feels confident in sending either Søgaard or Bjorklund out on any given night. But everyone knows it’s the veteran’s job to start in playoffs next month, and the timing is looking pretty good.
“It’s an exciting time,” said Søgaard. “If you go in and have an OK season, then you go and have a really good playoff run and do well, people are going to remember you for the playoff run.
“It’s a good chance to come in and really get ready for playoffs, get ready to win a championship.”
Looking back, it hasn’t been a perfect season for the Ottawa Senators draft pick. Søgaard only ranks 17th (2.74) in goals against average among WHL goalies who have played at least 10 games, is 19th in save percentage (.902) and his 17 wins are tied for 12th with Bjorklund.
He doesn’t think a tough time with home country Denmark at the world junior championships was a factor, other than being jetlagged for a couple games in late December. Denmark went 1-4 at the Division 1A tournament in Belarus and failed to qualify for next year’s main championships in Edmonton and Red Deer – though Søgaard notes he was named his team’s MVP.
The challenge of having a new goalie coach in Wong and also working with the NHL’s Senators has taken some time to figure out. He admits returning from NHL camp at the start of the year was tougher than expected.
“I came from a level where stuff happens so fast, and when you slow it down and see goals go in on you, you almost feel like you can save every single one,” said Søgaard. “It kind of beats you up mentally, it’s been a little bit of a struggle this year.”
Seeing fewer shots per game than last season has also been an adjustment.
“Adjusting to not getting 40 shots every night, it’s rare that we’re over 35 so finding ways to stay mentally dialed in for 60 minutes when you’re not getting the shots,” said Søgaard, who’s facing an average of 28 shots per game this season, down from 33.38 in his rookie year.
“In a couple years I’ll be thankful for this experience.”
For his part, Wong notes any relationship takes some time to build. He’s excited to see what both Tigers goalies can do down the stretch and into the post-season.
“The luxury we have that I don’t think other teams have is on any given night both guys have given us good games,” said Wong. “From the coaching staff down I know everybody feels comfortable with either guy.”
Other parts of the Tigers’ game seem to be trending in the right direction, too. Assistant coach Joe Frazer confirmed that point-per-game rookie Cole Sillinger isn’t quite ready to return from injury this weekend, though he is skating. Sillinger was the only name on the team’s injury list this week.
With a playoff spot locked up, the team can aim to climb the standings. Lethbridge is four points away for second in the Central Division and only Edmonton has a better record in the Eastern Conference after that.
“I think I’m where I’m supposed to be right now, it’s been a roller coaster of a year but I’m happy to find a little bit of consistency here,” said Søgaard. “I’m looking to keep it rolling for the rest of the regular season and into playoffs.”
