Tigers open B.C. road trip with 9-2 win
By James Tubb on October 14, 2023.
The Medicine Hat Tigers made a splash Saturday to open their B.C road trip. The Tigers won 9-2 Saturday night at Kelowna against the Rockets, winning the first of their five-game road trip in Canada’s westernmost province. Medicine Hat came into the contest off a 4-3 loss last Saturday at Co-op Place against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Tigers opened the scoring with four straight goals in the first period, which proved to be a game winning amount. Cayden Lindstrom kicked off the offence 7:21 into the game, knocking in a loose puck on a power play. Tomas Mrsic and Gavin’s McKenna registered the assists on the first of the night. They scored 40 seconds later when Hunter St. Martin found twine for his second of the year. Shane Smith had the line assist to kick off a big night offensively. Reid Andresen scored at the 10:31 mark, Tyler MacKenzie and Andrew Basha had the assists. Then it was Smith, finding the back of the net with a one timer on a power play for the 4-0 lead and his first of three goals on the night. Dru Krebs and MacKenzie had the helpers. Kelowna did answer back in the first, scoring twice to cut Medicine Hat’s lead in half. Tij Iginla scored in the slot on a Kelowna power play at the 18:19 mark to open the Rockets’ offence. Just 40 seconds later, Andrew Cristall broke in on a breakaway and scored on the back hand to make it a 4-2 score. That was the last offence Evan May allowed as the 19-year-old Tigers’ net minder made 22 saves for his fourth win on the year. The Tigers outshot Kelowna 11-10 in the frame. The second period was a back and forth affair as both teams pushed for chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. With 1:41 left in the period, Lindstrom scored on a power play in tight by roofing the puck top shelf for the 5-2 lead and his second of the night. Andrew Basha and Tomas Mrsic had the assists. The third period was all orange and black as the Tigers added four goals for the 9-2 final. A little over five minutes into the period, McKenna stole a puck from a Kelowna defender and scored on a breakaway for his fifth of the season. Just over the halfway mark of the final stanza, Smith recorded his second career hat trick. He finished off a two-on-one breakaway pass from McKenna for his second of the night before sneaking a puck five-hole on a power play for his third of the night and ninth on the year. Brayden Boehm had the second assist on Smith’s second goal and MacKenzie and Andresen picked up the helpers on his third. The Tigers’ ninth goal of the night became the most special to two young Tabbies. On a late power play, defenceman Matt Paranych fired a shot on net that was tipped in by Kadon McCann in front of the net. The goal marks McCann’s first in the WHL and the assist, is Paranych’s first WHL point. Smith had the second assist, giving him a five-point night. The Tigers held on for the 9-2 win and strong effort on special teams, with a 5/7 night on the power play and 4/5 on the penalty kill. Six Tigers finished the night with multi points, led by Smith’s five spot and MacKenzie’s three assists. McKenna had a goal and two assists, Lindstrom two goals, Mrsic two assists and Andresen added a goal and an assist. Medicine Hat (5-2-1) continues their trip as they hit the road for Victoria to face the Royals on Tuesday. 22-21
