NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Tigers net minder Garin Bjorklund looks up at Co-op Place's scoreboard after one of the six goals scored against Medicine Hat Tuesday night in their 6-2 loss against the Regina Pats to extend their losing streak to 10.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers are hoping a change of scenery will bring a change of results.
Coming off of Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Regina Pats — their 10th defeat in a row — the Tabbies hit the road for a two-game trip through Manitoba looking to snap their longest slump since the 1998-99 season, when they lost 14 straight.
The Tigers take on the Brandon Wheat Kings tonight before their rematch with the Winnipeg Ice on Saturday. Lukas Svejkovsky, who scored in Tuesday’s loss, says the Tigers will try to use this short trip as a reset from the last couple weeks.
“I think we just have to kind of forget about the past and take it game by game,” Svejkovsky said. “Obviously nobody wants to be on the losing streak that we are, but I think it’s just going to make us stronger and when we do eventually win that game it’s going to be awesome.”
Svejkovsky says they had a team conversation after the 10th straight loss about the streak.
“We kind of have to own up to it and it’s no one’s fault but our own,” Svejkovsky said. “Just put it behind us, take it game by game and not so much focus on the result but just focus on playing our game and hopefully we’ll get those results.”
When asked, associate coach Joe Frazer says the details of the meeting will remain between the guys.
Medicine Hat’s last win came on Oct. 22, a 6-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders. The Tigers have picked up three points from overtime losses but sit last in the Eastern Conference.
Goaltender Garin Bjorklund says they have to remain as positive as they can if they want to break the streak.
“Every day is a new day, at this point you kind of forget about it, move on, take it day by day and continue getting better and helping out the team,” Bjorklund said. “You just have to stay positive as much as you can and good things will eventually happen in our direction.”
The Tigers will be in tough on the trip, as the Brandon Wheat Kings have won two in a row and the Winnipeg Ice are rated the top team in the CHL. They’ll also be trying for their first win in a month without one of their top scorers in Corson Hopwo, who missed Tuesday’s game and is listed as week-to-week.
Without Hopwo on his wing, Svejkovsky says the Tigers will need their younger players to step up.
“With a guy like that out, other guys do have to step up and I think it is a really good chance for the young guys,” Svejkovsky said. “There’s going to be that spot open and I know some of those young guys are excited to show what they have.”
Andrew Basha took Hopwo’s spot Tuesday and had three shots in the loss, but did not look out of place. Frazer says it wasn’t a one time appearance for the 16-year-old and he added he was happy with Basha’s game.
“He brought that energy. He’s been playing great with SAHA, getting confidence and putting up points,” Frazer said. “For him to bring that energy and just the confidence he played with Lukas and (Noah Danielson), it was great to see.”
Frazer says they can’t do anything about the last 10 games, and should turn the page to focus on what they can control.
On the back end, Bjorklund says the Tigers know what they have to do to break the slump.
“Times have been tough here but we are a hungry team,” Bjorklund said. “We are going to do what it takes. We know what we have to do here, I think we’re all sick of losing and we are going to change this thing around and go on a win streak.”
When asked if the losing streak could prove valuable in the long run, Bjorklund said they have to make the best of it.
“You just kind of have to stay positive, obviously you don’t want this to happen but we are in the situation right now and this is what’s going to make our team tighter and stronger in the long run,” Bjorklund said. “Luck’s going to come our way and this is what’s going to make us better, so we’ll be ready for it.”
The Tigers take on Brandon tonight and Winnipeg Saturday. Their next home game comes Dec. 4in a rematch with the Wheat Kings for the Medicine Hat News Teddy Bear Toss game.
