NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll picks up a puck along the boards in the first period of a 3-2 shootout win over the Calgary Hitmen at Co-op Place on Jan. 18.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers are on the road for their toughest slate of the season.
The Tigers kick-off their U.S. division road trip tonight, opening the six-game in nine day stretch against the Spokane Chiefs. It comes at a unique time of the season for the Tigers, having travelled to the Western conference in October in the last two seasons (there was no cross-conference play until playoffs in 2021-22).
It’s a trip captain Oasiz Wiesblatt made in 2022-23 and is looking forward to embarking on in his final WHL season. He likes the timing of the trip as they gear up for a hopeful playoff run.
“It’s unreal, obviously Willie knows what he’s doing,” Wiesblatt said. “After the deadline you want everyone to gel together and this is the most perfect moment you can get. Nine days straight with boys, it’s going to get greasy, it’s a lot of fun with each other every second of the day. So we’re going to gel and it’s really important for us to be a tight-knit group and be a family and have a want to do it for each other.”
The trip also comes with the Tigers (28-15-2) flying high, riding a seven-game win streak newly minted after a 10-4 drubbing of the Regina Pats at Co-op Place on Tuesday. They enter the United States in first place of the Eastern conference, one point ahead of the Calgary Hitmen (26-12-3-2) for the conference and Central Division lead.
After facing Spokane (30-15), they’ll head to Tri-City on Saturday to face the Americans (22-16-3-1). A few days off before facing the Wenatchee Wild (16-22-3-1) on Jan. 28 and the WHL-leading Everett Silvertips (32-6-3-3) on Jan. 29. The trip wraps up with a pair of games against the Portland Winterhawks (25-16-2-1) and the Seattle Thunderbirds (15-26-2-1).
There are high-profile matchups along the way, the loaded-up Chiefs with the acquisition prolific scorer Andrew Cristall and exceptional status defenceman Landon DuPont with he Silvertips. Associate coach Joe Frazer cautions they can’t look too far ahead on a trip like this.
“It’s just important that we take it one day at a time, it’s a long trip,” Frazer said over the phone while packing for the trip. “If you look too far ahead to different games, that’s not the right way to approach it. We’re getting on the bus (Wednesday), make sure we have a really good practice when we get to Spokane (Thursday) and all we can concern ourselves with is Spokane.
“We know that’s going to be a really tough test to start the trip. That’s a great building, they’re a heck of a hockey team. So it’s a great way to start the trip.”
While the Tigers look to preserve the win streak, they’re also vying for more success on the road, sitting at 9-10-1 away from Medicine Hat.
“That’s an area we got to improve on, especially ahead of the playoffs,” Frazer said. “You have to win games on the road, so this is a great trip to make sure we have that road mentality, where we’re doing anything to get two points.”
The trip also brings a different crowd experience, with four of the U.S. teams in the top-10 of average attendance.
“They have really great fans and it’s going to be playoff atmosphere,’ defenceman Josh Van Mulligen said. “We’re really looking forward to having the opportunity to play in front of those fans and just play our game.”
First-time experience
This year’s trip through the U.S. division will be a unique experience for 10 Tigers, making their debut in U.S. buildings.
Forward’s Gavin Mckenna, Kadon McCann, Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll, Markus and Liam Ruck, Carter Cunningham, defencemen Tyson Moss, Veeti Väisänen, Niilopekka Muhonen and goaltender Jordan Switzer will get their first look at the division on the road.
“I’m super excited, Liam Ruck said. “The whole group is pretty excited, there’s some pretty good teams down there and we’re just going to show what we can do down there.”
It’ll be Gordon-Carroll’s first time playing WHL games in those rinks but the Salt Lake City, Utah product isn’t a stranger to the U.S. division. The first WHL game he ever saw was in Spokane, getting tickets through a former coach.
“I’m pumped to get back to the U.S. , hopefully it’s different,” Gordon-Carroll said. “It’s going to be fun to play the first few games in the U.S. and see if it is different than here.”
The 16-year-old forward will have family make the trip from Utah to some games. He also says he’s looking forward to hearing the Star Spangled Banner again before puck drop.
“I still love O’Canada,” he added.
Returning players
The Tigers’ U.S. road trip also offers an opportunity for a pair of defencemen to return to former stomping grounds. Bryce Pickford and Jonas Woo will face their former clubs since being acquired by Medicine Hat over the summer.
Pickford played 121 games with Seattle, winning a championship in 2022-23. He’s looking forward to seeing his billet family there and also ‘reacquaint’ himself with the Thunderbird faithful.
“I really do miss my billets, they were really awesome, so I’ll definitely be seeing them after the game,” Pickford said. “The Thunderbirds treated me very well, but I’m not on their team anymore, so I’m excited to go in there and start some stuff.”
Woo played just one season for the Wild after the Winnipeg Ice were sold to the former BCHL club.
“It’ll be pretty cool to play against old teammates and old coaches, but nothing changes,” Woo said. “It’s still an away game, it’s still a game that you need to win.”
The Tigers will also see a former face on the Wild in 19-year-old defenceman Reid Andresen who went the other way in the trade for Woo. They’ll also get to see former captain Tyler MacKenzie when they head to Everett. MacKenzie was traded to the Silvertips over the summer and has flourished with his new club, with 27 goals and 60 points in 44 games.
