Tigers fall in Spokane to end U.S. road trip

By James Tubb on October 14, 2022.

The Medicine Hat Tigers U.S. road trip came to an end Friday night in Spokane.

The Tigers fell 6-3 to the Chiefs as they end their 10-day road trip with a record of 2-2-1 over the stretch. Medicine Hat entered the contest after beating up on the Trip-City Americans 11-3 Wednesday night.

Spokane flexed their offensive muscles early with two goals in the first five minutes as they jumped ahead 2-0 on goals from Ty Cheveldayoff and Chase Bertholet. Cheveldayoff’s goal came on the power play as the Chiefs went three-for-five with the man advantage to the Tigers one-for-five.

The Tigers answered back in the first with their lone power play marker from Brendan Lee, who one timed home his fifth goal of the season. Defenceman Dru Krebs and forward Dallon Melin had the helpers on Lee’s goal to bring Medicine Hat within one.

Shane Smith continued his hot road trip with his fifth goal in as many games 6:20 into the second period to tie the game at 2-2. Oren Shtrom and Bogdans Hodass had the assists on Smith’s fifth goal of the year.

Spokane picked up their offence midway through the third with a goal from Saige Weinstein to regain their lead. Medicine Hat re-tied the game early in the third on a goal from Oasiz Wiesblatt, his fifth of the year coming with an assist from Krebs.

The Chiefs ran off three unanswered goals after Wiesblatt’s goal as they held on for the 6-3 win. Berkyl Catton, Blake Swetlikoff and Cooper Gizowski were the third period goal scorers for Spokane with Gizowski’s coming with the net empty.

Beckett Langkow was between the pipes for the Tigers in his eighth straight start and made 25 saves in the loss. Across the ice, Michaluk Cooper turned aside 32 Tigers shots for the victory.

The Tigers (3-4-1) return from the U.S. with multiple days off as their next action isn’t until Oct. 21, a home contest against the Red Deer Rebels.