Tigers looking for better results in weekend series with Red Deer

By JAMES TUBB on March 11, 2022.

The Medicine Hat Tigers’ most recent contest against the Red Deer Rebels was a forgettable one.

Red Deer came into Medicine Hat and dropped an 11-spot on the Tigers, who were in the midst of a 12-game losing streak. With a home-and-home series against the Rebels this weekend, Hat associate coach Joe Frazer said the Tigers are looking to remember and build off that hard loss.

“You have to remember how you felt after the game because it was one of those games that was just unacceptable and we have to remember that and make sure we come prepared for them and ready to play because they’re a great hockey team. We have to make sure we’re ready to play and that it doesn’t happen again.” Frazer said.

The Tigers head into the weekend coming off a 7-3 loss to the CHL’s top ranked Edmonton Oil Kings Wednesday night at Co-op Place. Forward Tyler MacKenzie picked up an assist on one of Oren Shtrom’s two goals in the loss.

MacKenzie, a product of Red Deer, said it’ll be nice to play in his hometown.

“It’s definitely nice to go home once and a while and play,” MacKenzie said. “We’ve played them lots of times this year, we’ve had some great games with them and I think we have lots to bring. We’re pretty fuelled after the loss (to Edmonton)…”

MacKenzie missed eight weeks with an upper-body injury before returning Mar. 5. Frazer said they had this weekend circled on the calendar during MacKenzie’s rehab and credited him for coming back before then.

“We thought this would be the first weekend he would be back but he did so well with rehab and he’s so committed that his rehab got bumped up and was able to play in these last few games,” Frazer said. “I know he is looking forward to playing in front of friends and family.”

Saturday night’s contest against Red Deer in Medicine Hat gets underway at 7 p.m. inside Co-op Place.

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