Second-year Tigers see bump before break

By JAMES TUBB on December 18, 2021.

It’s been a weird first two seasons for some of the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Nine Tabbies debuted during last season’s developmental year that had teams playing within their division and without fans.

Tigers forward Brayden Boehm says it’s been an interesting season so far but he’s enjoyed playing with a ton of people in the building this season.

The Nanaimo, B.C. product has two goals and six points in 23 contests this season. When asked about what confidence he has heading into the Christmas break after the Tigers broke a 16-game losing streak last Saturday in a 4-3 shootout win against the Red Deer Rebels, he said the victory lets him know things are heading in their direction.

“It’s kind of nice to be able to have a smile on your face and know that things are starting to go your way,” Boehm said.

It’s been a goalless season so far for Tyler MacKeznie, another ’04 draftee who debuted last year, but that’s not something he says he worries about.

“I feel like there are more people that put pressure on it than I do myself but it’ll come,” MacKenzie said. “I’m getting chances so I’m not really worried. If the chances weren’t there it would be something to be worried about, but it’ll come.”

Fellow second-year forward Oasiz Wiesblatt says it’s been a slow start to the season personally. The Calgary product has two goals and eight points in 25 games this year, but had two assists in last Saturday’s streak-snapping win.

“I just take it as ending my first year, making that 60 games including last season. Just coming in with a fresh start and a positive attitude and trying to get into the playoffs… just work hard everyday, be happy and enjoy coming to the rink,” Wiesblatt said.

Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins says last Saturday’s win was probably Wiesblatt’s best game of the year, but added they need more from the team’s younger players.

“We need our younger guys to step up, I think we obviously need a little more scoring out of the ’04’s,” Desjardins said.

The Tigers host the Lethbridge Hurricanes tonight at 7 p.m. before breaking for the Holidays.