NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Kamloops Blazers head coach and GM Shaun Clouston looks up at the jumbotron to watch his tribute video for his 16-years in Medicine Hat with the Tigers. He made his return to the Hat on Saturday in a 7-3 win for the Tigers at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Kamloops Blazers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston and forward Ashton Ferster spent very different lengths of time in Medicine Hat and the Tigers organization, but last Saturday’s game still marked a return to the place they both once called home.
The two Blazers returned to Co-op Place for Kamloops’ 7-3 loss against the Tigers, marking the first time Clouston had been back in the building since joining the Blazers ahead of the 2019-20 season following 16 years in the Hat.
He was a Tigers assistant coach for two year, spent four as an associate and nine as head coach, with seven on double duty as general manager. He’s now in his fourth year behind the Blazers bench and second as general manager.
The Tigers played a video tribute during the second media timeout of the first period recognizing his time with the organization and welcoming him back to the arena. Being in the visiting locker room in his old building, Clouston wished for a better result in the loss.
“It was nice to be back but it was disappointing,” Clouston said.
Saturday’s game was the first time the 19-year-old Ferster had been back in Co-op Place and Medicine Hat since being traded to Kamloops on Sept. 13, 2022. The Prince Albert product played 76 games for the Tigers across two seasons, putting up nine goals and 19 points.
“It was pretty cool, definitely a bit different being on the away side,” Ferster said about returning. “But it’s good to be back and see all the guys after the game, just wish it turned a little bit better.”
He’s had a career year in the orange and blue, notching eight goals and 21 points in 52 games. Kamloops has clinched a playoff spot, sitting in second place of the Western conference, and is getting set to host the Memorial Cup in May. Ferster is excited for the high-pressure hockey ahead.
“It’s been great, it’s been lots of fun, we’ve been winning lots there, and obviously with winning, there’s nothing better than it,” Ferster said.
Tigers look to bounce back from tough Tuesday loss
Medicine Hat looks to get back in the in win column after a 5-2 loss against the Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday.
Tyler MacKenzie and Oasiz Wiesblatt had the Tigers’ offence and Beckett Langkow made 13 saves in front of 2,305 Tabby faithful.
Head coach Willie Desjardins says they didn’t play their game and got beat in all areas by the Broncos.
“The guys are disappointed, they know we could have played better than that,” Desjardins said. “When you get scored on you want to try to get it back right away, and that’s not the way to do it. We just have to learn a little bit. We made a couple of mistakes and it cost us, and there’s lots of things that took our focus off our game. If you’re going to win big games, you can’t let that happen.”
The Tigers (24-24-8-1) sat tied for seventh place in the conference at 57 points with the Broncos, who hold the tie break, putting Medicine Hat in eighth. The Tigers had a chance to move up in the standings Wednesday at home against the Winnipeg Ice.
The next game is Friday when the Tigers host Edmonton at Co-op Place.
