NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Jordan Switzer makes a save around defenceman Bryce Pickford in the second period of his 17-save shutout in the 4-0 win Saturday over the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The WHL Holiday break allowed teams around the league the chance to recoup and spend time with friends and family. It also gave them a break from trying to score on Jordan Switzer.
The Medicine Hat Tigers net minder carried his first-half success into his first two appearances following the Holidays, the first being a 17-save shutout, his first in the WHL, in a 4-0 win Saturday over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
“It’s super exciting coming out of the break,” Switzer said. “Everyone is refreshed in there and we have something to prove in the second half.”
He was able to work out of early adversity, with Lethbridge having a goal called back in the first 10 minutes.
“It kind of woke me up a little bit there,” Switzer joked. “It’s always nice to get those called back, especially looking at the final result, it helped me out a little bit.”
He followed that up with 36 saves Sunday in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Calgary Hitmen. It’s a continuation of successful outings for the Tigers with the 17-year-old between the pipes, they’ve picked up a win or a point at a minimum in 14 of his 19 appearances.
His efforts in net have been noticed and appreciated forward Hunter St. Martin says, starts that have kept them on the path for success.
“We’ve needed him to step up and he has been up to the task,” St. Martin said. “He’s been amazing, for him to get that confidence boost tonight and play in front of us, he made some huge, huge, timely saves, that’s what you need from a goaltender and it was huge for him to get that. Once you’re getting late in the game, you’re just doing everything you can so that he can get that (shutout).”
Switzer wasn’t busy Saturday night, facing a high of six shots in the second and third period, with a few high-danger chances mixed in throughout the two frames. It was Sunday’s effort he continued to shine, holding off an onslaught of Hitmen chances as the Tigers were outshot 40-25.
He’s faced 30 or more shots in a game only six times this season, getting the same support from his team that he’s provided from the backend. The Edmonton product has started 12 of the last 13 games for the Tigers, stepping up for the injured Harrison Meneghin who remains week to week with a lower-body injury.
In that span, he has a 7-3-2 record with a 3.27 goals against average and a .888 save percentage, tracking around his season numbers of a 3.24 GAA and a .884 SV%. His GAA sits 13th among WHL goaltenders. He started the season third on the depth chart and has worked his way into the starters role with Meneghin on the mend.
“We knew he was a good goaltender, so it didn’t surprise us, but those are still tough situations,” head coach Willie Desjardins said. “If he comes in and he’s not good, we’re in a big, big trouble. So it’s been great but it doesn’t surprise us how he played, he’s always been pretty good.”
Zach Zahara started in place of Switzer on Dec. 15, a 4-1 loss at Lethbridge before the Holidays, his first appearance since being reacquired by the Tigers.
Switzer started Monday at Co-op Place in the rematch with the Hitmen and the final of a three-in-three weekend, making 21 saves in the win.
In Saturday’s win, Liam Ruck scored a pair of goals, St. Martin had a goal and an assist and both Andrew Basha and Ryder Ritchie recorded two assist games. On the road Sunday, Ritchie scored twice and Bryce Pickford extended his goal scoring lead among WHL defencemen.
Beyond marking the return from the Holidays, Saturday’s win was the Tigers’ Nickelodeon Night for Children’s Miracle Network Canada. They dawned Paw Patrol themed jerseys, which will be auctioned off with proceeds going towards the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. A link to that auction can be found at the Tigers’ website.
They also had 4,885 in attendance at Co-op Place, the largest crowd for a home game this season. It was a crowd that was noticed and appreciate by those at ice level.
“That was amazing, it’s so good to come out against Lethbridge too,” Desjardins said. “It was kind of a perfect storm where we had a good night, we had lots of fans and it doesn’t get any better than a Saturday night with a full barn.”
Editors note: The original story was updated to reflect Monday’s 5-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen.
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