NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers net minder Garin Bjorklund stretches out to make a save in the first period of the Tigers 4-1 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders on Feb. 21.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers have gotten their No. 1 goaltender back.
Garin Bjorklund didn’t go anywhere but the Grand Prairie product just wasn’t himself between the pipes. Bjokrlund had a stretch where he was pulled mid-game in four of his five starts from Jan. 16 to Feb. 2.
He has returned to form over his past couple starts, only allowing four goals on 62 shots, including a 39-save performance in the Tigers 2-0 loss to the Regina Pats on Wednesday.
Bjorklund said he’s felt like he’s found himself over the past few games and said the team helped him get there by clearing lanes so he can better see the puck.
“… I feel like that’s when I am playing my best when I am seeing the puck,” Bjorklund said. “The past few games it’s been nice to know where I am at and have a few good games under my belt. We have a tough game coming with Winnipeg, they are one of the top teams in the league and CHL, so it will be fun to shut them down.”
Bjorklund also said he feels like he’s at his best when he’s got his chest pumped out a little bit and had a jump to his step on the ice.
“When I’m shooting the puck, having fun and having a little swagger on the ice,” Bjorklund said. “The past few games that’s kind of been my mojo and I am just going to stick with it.”
The Grand Prairie product kept Western Hockey League superstar Connor Bedard off the scoresheet in the loss, no easy feat as Bedard is tied for fifth in the league with 32 goals. Bjorklund said it was nice to shut him down and keep him off the scoresheet.
“With Bedard, he is top notch, he’s exceptional for a reason. When he’s coming down you just have to play the puck how it is,” Bjorklund said. “He’s got some tricks up his sleeve so you have to be patient and poised with it and let the puck hit you.”
Tigers associate coach Joe Frazer said Wednesday night was maybe Bjorklund’s best game of the year and said it was good to see him have a game like that.
“He’s such a good goalie, and when he plays like that, he’s one of the best goalies in the country,” Frazer said. “You know, that’s why he was invited to World Junior camp this summer, because he has elite level talent. So to see him play like that last night, it was great to see him because he’s been working hard.”
Bjorklund will need to be at his best as the Tigers host one of the WHL’s best teams in the Winnipeg Ice tonight.
The net minder said he is looking forward to giving his team the best chance to win. As good as he can be, the Tigers’ struggles as of late rest on the offence, which has been limited to five goals in their past five contests.
Frazer said when you’re in a slump like the Tigers are, players tend to overthink things and try to make the perfect play. He said they can get that confidence from simplifying things on the ice.
“When you’re feeling confident you want the puck, you want to shoot it and you want to get in the slot and shoot,” Frazer said. “When you don’t have as much confidence you’re looking to pass it off and have someone else shoot … I think the only way you can get more confidence is to simplify it, and after practice doing work and shooting pucks off the ice, watching videos, see where you can get more chances.”
The Tigers will be without forward Brendan Lee when they take on the Ice tonight. The forward left Wednesday’s game with a lower body injury and did not return. Frazer said he’ll be out roughly a week. Lee joins forwards Tyler MacKenzie and Noah Danielson on the injured list for the Tigers.
As a result of the Lee injury and net minder Beckett Langkow hurting his finger in Tuesday’s practice, the Tigers recalled rookie forward Tomas Mrsic and rookie goaltender Zach Zahara on Thursday morning. Net minder Ethan McCallum, who signed his WHL deal with he Tigers Wednesday and backed up Bjorklund against Regina, was sent back to Notre Dame Academy at the same time.
Frazer said the Tabbies have to make sure they limit Winnipeg’s chances off the rush and stay disciplined if they want to have success.
That game gets underway at 7 p.m. tonight as the Tigers look to snap their eight game losing streak.
[…] 62 shots, including a 39-save performance in the Tigers 2-0 loss to the Regina Pats on February 23. Bjorklund told Medicine Hat News he’s felt like he’s found himself over the past few games and said the team helped him get […]
[…] 62 shots, including a 39-save performance in the Tigers 2-0 loss to the Regina Pats on February 23. Bjorklund told Medicine Hat News he’s felt like he’s found himself over the past few games and said the team helped him get […]