Tigers split Manitoba road trip ahead of busy week

By JAMES TUBB on January 17, 2023.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

After a weekend on the road, the Medicine Hat Tigers have a lot of hockey ahead this week.

The Tigers beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-3 on Friday and led 2-0 on Saturday in Winnipeg before the Ice scored eight straight for an 8-3 Tigers loss.

Bogdans Hodass, Cayden Lindstrom and Tomas Mrsic all scored in Saturday’s loss. Both Beckett Langkow and Evan May were between the pipes against Winnipeg, making 14 saves each for 28 on the night.

Head coach Willie Desjardins says they always hope to sweep weekends and was happy they got the win in Brandon. He says there were good efforts against Winnipeg, but they let them get back in the game too much.

“We had 20 good minutes, 10 at the start and 10 at the end,” Desjardins said. “They’re a tough team, just the way we play in the big rink and their quickness. All of a sudden, if you try to play aggressive and you get on the outside, they’re going to make you pay on the inside and that’s what they do.”

The team’s return from Winnipeg was a bit delayed due to weather. They stayed in Virdin for the night before making their way home on Sunday.

They practiced Monday ahead of their matchup tonight at Co-op Place against the Prince George Cougars. The Tigers head to Swift Current on Wednesday to face the Broncos for the fourth time in the last month.

“We’re going to have two hard games back to back just like that and we have to be ready for them,” Desjardins said.

Forward Tyler MacKenzie practiced in a yellow, no-contact jersey on Monday but is still “a ways away” to returning, according to Desjardins.

After Wednesday’s action, the Tigers host the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday before the Broncos return to Co-op Place for a 4 p.m. battle to make up for their postponed game on Dec. 28.

12
-11