NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
The Medicine Hat Tigers and Winnipeg Ice meet at centre ice for a post-series handshake following Winnipeg's 3-2 Game 4 win on April 5, 2023 to sweep their first round series 4-0.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers got a taste of playoff hockey last season that left a lingering bitter taste they look to cleanse starting Friday night.
Last season the Tigers punched their ticket to the postseason with an emotional, Game 68 win over the Swift Current Broncos that earned them a first-round matchup with a juggernaut Winnipeg ICE, who loaded up with no regard for the future and sights set on a championship in what ultimately was their last season as a franchise.
A quick four games later where they were outscored 20-9 and that taste of the playoffs dissolved like cotton candy at the Stampede. It was a quick reminder for a young Tigers team that just getting into the playoffs isn’t enough to find success.
“Last year, it was a great feeling just making playoffs,” defenceman Josh Van Mulligen said. “But this year, we’ve got higher expectations for ourselves and a higher standard. We’re just really looking forward to making some noise here.”
The 2022-23 Winnipeg Ice featured six NHL drafted talents in Matthew Savoie, Conor Geekie, Carson Lambos, Zack Ostapchuk and Mason Beaupit. Zach Benson would be drafted a few months later, another notch on the belt of a team built for the playoffs.
Medicine Hat outshot the Ice in all four games, but lost in the details of the game like face-offs and transitioning the puck out of their end. There were lessons, like math or science for an arts major, that the Tigers had to have even if they came through heartbreak.
“Playing such a good team with Winnipeg, just how hard they worked,” Gavin McKenna said. “They had all the skill in the world but they were jumping on every loose puck, they were battling in every 50/50 battle. We took a lot from that and we’re just going to try to apply that into our game.”
“Just accountability from their top guys,” defenceman Rhett Parsons said. “Stopping and starting on pucks, the structure they played with was pretty impressive. If we can play a structure and work hard, we’ll do good.”
How Winnipeg approached each game and the details they mastered is something Dru Krebs says they took and applied from the start of the season. He says that series and the level of play the Ice exhibited was an example they’ve strived to achieve.
“Knowing how good they were last year, we went into this season wanting to be at that same level,” Krebs said. “The coaching staff has done a good job of elevating this to a level where we think we can compete in the playoffs.”
They’re getting a vastly different team in this year’s playoffs with the Red Deer Rebels. Winnipeg had six players reach the 70-point plateau, with three reaching 90. Red Deer’s leading scorer is captain Kai Uchacz who had 81 points and the next closest was Ollie Josephson with 47. The Rebels play a heavy, defensive brand of hockey that associate coach Joe Frazer says they’ll have to combat with attention to details and need everyone at their best, lessons learned from Winnipeg.
“Face-offs are going to be crucial, they’re a great face-off team, Uchacz and Josephson are some of the best centres in the league, so that’s going to be pivotal,” Frazer said. “Just winning the net front valves inside the house, whether that’s in front of the net or behind the net, win those one-on-ones because it’s going to come down to that.
“You need everyone to win a series. Guys can play a pivotal role, whether you’re defence or forward. Guys are going to have some big responsibilities and big jobs and every guy is important. Whether you play five minutes or 25 minutes, each shift can be crucial in the game.”
