Medicine Hat Tigers forward Noah Danielson leads the celebration back to the Tigers bench after opening the scoring in the Tabbies 3-2 win against the Red Deer Rebels Sunday. - NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers are starting to show they can bend but not break after losses.
After almost completing the comeback in Saturday night’s 6-5 loss to the Calgary Hitmen, the Tigers bounced back to beat the Red Deer Rebels 3-2 on Sunday.
Tigers associate coach Joe Frazer said after Sunday’s win he thinks the resiliency of the team is a sign of them starting to mature.
“It’s so important, we talked about it last weekend and this weekend both, that’s just resiliency and being able to turn the page,” Frazer said. “Not dwelling on past mistakes or past outcomes, just focusing on the process and getting ready for the next game ahead. I think that’s a sign of a team that’s starting to mature.”
Medicine Hat lost to the Saskatoon Blades on Jan. 21, 8-2, and bounced back for a 6-4 win against the Prince Albert Raiders on Jan. 22.
Tigers forward Brendan Lee, who had two assists in Sunday’s win and five points in his last three games, said one of the Tigers identities is they prove people wrong.
“People probably come into the game thinking we are a losing team but I think if we come into every game and practice like we’ve never won but play like we’ve won every single game it’ll come,” Lee said.
The Tigers entered Sunday’s third period down 2-1 before Logan Barlage scored his fourth and fifth goals in the orange and black to tie and win the game for the Tabbies.
The 20-year-old former Lethbridge Hurricane has six points in his first four games in the Hat. Frazer said Barlage has been great for the Tigers on the score sheet but also with his veteran presence.
“It’s just having that calming influence on the young guys and he just does the right things,” Frazer said. “He plays hard, keeps it simple, is a hard body that goes to the net. That’s what we needed and he’s been great.”
The Tigers have won two of their last three games in what has been a trying season that sees them remain in the basement of the WHL with a record of 9-26-3-1.
Frazer said it’s positive seeing the team not back down from resiliency in games despite what they’ve been through this season. He says that fight starts with captain Daniel Baker.
“It’s not easy with what they’ve been though, a lot of adversity. A lot of teams have quit in situations like this and we haven’t and that speaks to the leadership group with Bakes leading the way,” Frazer said. “When you watch Baker, how hard we works and how hard he competes, you can’t really quit. He’s leading the way and it’s great to see.”
The Tigers next action is Wednesday night in Edmonton as they take on the Oil Kings looking to win two straight games for the first time since October. Frazer said it’ll be exciting getting to matchup with one of the league’s best teams.
“We get to play a great in Edmonton, obviously they’ve loaded up and we get to see where they are at and it’s going to be an exciting game,” Frazer said.
