SEAC Tigers off to hot start at 51st Hockey Hounds tournament

By James Tubb on November 16, 2024.

NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB Defenceman Cole Siewert of the U15AAA Medicine Hat South East Athletic Club Tigers draws in the puck to take a shot with two RHA Winnipeg defenders bearing down on him in the second period of the Tigers’ 9-0 win Friday morning in their second game of the 51st Hockey Hounds tournament.

The Medicine Hat U15AAA SEAC Tigers have found themselves on the right side of different wins early in the Hockey Hounds’ banner tournament.

The SEAC Tigers started the 51st annual Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds U15AAA tournament with a 2-0 record after a 3-2 comeback effort Thursday night over the Weyburn Red Wings and a 9-0 drubbing of RINK Winnipeg on Friday.

The Tigers trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes Thursday night before pulling off the comeback in the third period, tying the game up in the last minute with their goalie pulled. They scored the game winner seconds later to steal the opener.

On Friday, it was an all-out possession victory for the Tigers, outshooting Winnipeg 66-7 and net minder Jake Druar picking up the shutout.

Head coach Mike Mueller liked how his team responded from the effort Thursday into the second win.

“Thursday night we had to come back last minute and I don’t think we were happy with the first 50 minutes,” Mueller said. “This morning, we took a lot of pucks to the nets and had a lot of puck possession. Their goalie played really well, good for him. So we go into tonight’s game on a clean slate and know that we’ll have to come to work.”

The Tigers faced Prairie Hockey Academy Friday night in a game that was not complete by press time. SEAC won 10-0 for an early 3-0 record.

Nelson Sonna Soufo and Lucas Fisher each had two goals and an assist in the win Friday morning, Gibson Studer had two goals as well. Kovann Chisholm and Ty Barlow rounded out the scoring with a pair of goals.

SEAC entered the tournament with a 4-7 record in the Alberta Elite Hockey League, coming off a 5-4 win Nov. 8 over the Lethbridge Golden Hawks. Mueller says that win gave them momentum heading into the weekend.

“We came back in the last minute of the game and won that in overtime, so we’re showing some character and some resiliency,” Mueller said. “Hopefully that carries us through here for the rest of the tournament.”

They’ll face the West Central Wheat Kings on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. at the Kinplex to wrap up the round robin before playoffs get underway Sunday. That game, played on Kin 2, will lead into the awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m. at Kin 1.

Mueller has liked what he’s seen from his group to start the 12-team tournament but he is looking for more if they want to be the first local team to win the weekend since 1999.

“I’d like to see us a little more consistent in transporting the puck through the neutral zone and in our offensive zone entries,” Mueller said. “Our finish can be a little bit better, but the idea is to get better every game and I think we’re doing so.”