NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Oasiz Wiesblatt is followed by teammates to fistbump the bench after scoring in the first period of a 6-4 win over the Winnipeg Ice on Mar. 1 at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers got a taste of a playoff atmosphere in their clinching weekend against the Swift Current Broncos.
The importance of the home-and-home series against the Broncos last weekend, win and make the playoffs or lose and start packing up lockers, mixed with the atmospheres in the two rinks emulated close to what Medicine Hat can expect this weekend when their postseason gets underway in Winnipeg against the Ice on Friday.
Tigers associate coach Joe Frazer, who played in 33 WHL playoff games of his own and has been behind the bench for 83, says they got a quick preview of playoff hockey in the 4-3 win over Swift Current on Saturday at Co-op Place.
“The guy’s got a real taste of playoffs on Saturday, call it what you want but that was the play-in game, winner got to go in.” Frazer said. “That was the playoff desperation you need, the intensity, the physicality ramped up. Guys got a taste of what it’s going to be like. Obviously Winnipeg brings different challenges, we’ll go over that this week and be ready for Friday.”
“Home crowds can really help a team out and if we get anything like that again it’s good for us and motivates us to be great that night and nights to come,” Wiesblatt said about the 4,506 fans in attendance last Saturday.
The Tigers haven’t shied away in high-pressured, heavy atmosphere games in the second half of the season. They candidly won both of their home sold-out games against the Regina Pats, beat the Memorial Cup hosting Kamloops Blazers and the Ice, both who were finishing up lengthy Alberta road trips. Frazer says those games only add to the learning lessons for the Tigers on playoff atmospheres and how to handle them.
“Guys have done a great job responding all year, looking at the two Bedard games here were packed houses, the Kamloops game, the Winnipeg game, we’ve had lots of experience now with energy in the building, great crowds and I think the young guys have really nailed it well,” Frazer said. “It always goes back to your leadership group, during intermission before the game, they’re saying the right things keeping them calm. It’s great to have those experiences heading into playoffs.”
Tigers captain Owen MacNeil says that leadership group tasked with keeping the room calm and in the game extends beyond those who have a letter on the front of their jersey, something that has become a team strength.
“There’s different levels of leadership and a lot of young guys are great leaders as well,” MacNeil said. “It’s nice to have a big group like that, it makes everybody’s life a little easier when you’re all just doing the right things or not having to listen or talk to one guy or two guys. It’s everybody chipping in.”
The Tigers worked out Monday before hitting the ice Tuesday for practice. Frazer says the knowledge of their opponent doesn’t change how they practice and again mimics their approach to the Swift Current series that ended the regular season.
“The nice thing is we kind of did it last week with Swift, you knew who you’re going to play on Friday, Saturday, so kind of similar here,” Frazer said. “We know we’re playing Winnipeg. So we’ll go over them and their tendencies, their players and all that, just like they’re going to do to us and both teams will be ready for Friday.”
Wiesblatt, Krebs named to all-star team
Two Tigers were named to the WHL’s Central division second team all-stars.
Forward Oasiz Wiesblatt and defenceman Dru Krebs were given the all-star honours as voted on by WHL general managers.
Weisblatt was one of three Tigers who played in all 68 games, he led the team in scoring with 26 goals and 60 points. Krebs was the Tigers’ offensive leader on the backend, with eight goals and 41 points in 67 games. He missed the home opener while at Washington Capitals camp.
The rest of the Central division second all-star team includes: forwards Mathew Ward (Swift Current), Jayden Grubbe (Red Deer), defenceman Carter Yakemchuk (Red Deer) and goaltender Harrison Meneghin (Lethbridge).
