Tigers come back to steal opener

By Ryan McCracken on February 26, 2021.

The Medicine Hat Tigers returned to the ice after a 353-day hiatus to steal a crazy comeback from the Red Deer Rebels on Friday night at Westerner Park Centrium.

After falling into a 4-1 deficit early in the third, Corson Hopwo scored the first hat trick of his career to lead the Tigers all the way back in a wild 5-4 overtime win.

Rebel goaltender Ethan Anders claimed the first highlight of the season when he sprung across the crease to rob Hopwo early in the first. But it didn’t take long after the big save for Tigers centre Noah Danielson to find Nick McCarry all alone in the slot, and he promptly beat Anders for the first goal of the Western Hockey League’s 24-game season.

Red Deer responded a few minutes later when Jayden Grubbe put one past Hat netminder Garin Bjorklund to tie the game with Oren Shtrom in the penalty box for high sticking.

The Rebels outshot Medicine Hat 12-6 through the first 20 minutes, then stole away the lead early in the second on a goal from Ethan Rowland. Kyle Masters then tacked on to give Red Deer a two-goal cushion entering the third.

A costly turnover at the Tabby blue line early in the third gave the Rebels some further breathing room, as Chris Douglas picked the puck from Danielson and beat Bjorklund to make it 4-1.

The Tigers started the road back a few minutes later when Hopwo strolled into the slot and beat Anders for his first of the campaign.

Medicine Hat kept up the pressure and Hopwo struck again — this time on the power play — with 1:58 left in regulation, then Lukas Svejkovsky forced overtime with 41 seconds remaining.

Anders did all he could to keep Red Deer in the game in overtime, putting up another highlight reel save then getting the first stop on Hopwo before being pushed into the net with the puck. After a lengthy on-ice discussion between officials, the goal stood to cement the comeback victory.

Bjorklund stopped 29 shots to come away with the win, while Anders turned away 26 in the loss.

Medicine Hat’s power play unit cashed in once on four chances, while the Rebels went 1-for-5 with the advantage.

The Tigers return to Co-op Place for a rematch with the Rebels on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcaster Bob Ridley’s 4,000th at the microphone for Medicine Hat.