Oh, how sweet it is: Tigers back in the win column

By JAMES TUBB on December 15, 2021.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

It’s a different atmosphere around the Medicine Hat Tigers since breaking their 16-game losing streak on Saturday.

Associate coach Joe Frazer said after practice Tuesday he could feel the change of energy after the win.

“It was unbelievable,” Frazer said. “Just the energy after the game, the guys deserve it. There’s been a lot of close games and they have just kept battling through it and the energy, you can really feel it this week in practice.”

The Tigers snapped the slide Saturday after beating the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 in a shootout. The victory marked their first since Oct. 22.

After Tuesday’s practice there was a lot of laughing and joking going on around the team as it was the first time in almost two months there was something to be positive about.

When asked if he knew at the start of this season that this group had the resilience in them to come back from a streak like this, Frazer said the Tigers have great people and it starts with the leadership group.

“It’s really easy when times are tough to turn on each other and get negative and we didn’t, all the credit goes to the leadership group,” Frazer said.

Tabbies forward Oren Shtrom scored two goals in the win, his third game since Nov. 11 due to injury.

“Any time you can help the team get the win it’s huge and I think finally just getting that win you could see at the end of the game all of us coming out there and celebrating, you could see the relief on all of us,” Shtrom said.

He added it wasn’t fun watching from the stands as their losing streak continued to grow.

“You just can’t do anything and obviously being a part of the team you want to be out there and help the guys win in any way you can,” Shtrom said.

Garin Bjorklund was between the pipes for the Tigers Saturday night, picking up his third win of the year. After blanking the final Rebels shooter in the shootout, the 19-year-old celebrated by dramatically ‘reeling in the win’ with his stick.

When asked about the big celebration, Bjorklund said he talked about it pre-game with his brother, whose birthday was that day and had flown from school in Montreal to watch him play.

“The last shooter he said, ‘reel it in,’ and he got it on video of me reeling it in so it’s pretty cool,” Bjorklund said.

The netminder said it was long overdue and hopes it can be a fresh start for the Tabbies.

“I feel like we have been battling for that win for a while now and it’s nice for that unfortunate losing streak to be gone,” Bjorklund said.

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