There is always tremendous anticipation when the Western Hockey League season gets underway. The conversations centre around all the “firsts”, for the players and for the organizations.
But on this night at Co-Op Centre in Medicine Hat, it was inevitable the focus would be on the “lasts”, as the Tigers dropped a 3-0 decision to the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Forwards Ryan Chyzowski and Brett Kemp, along with defenceman Cole Clayton, pulled on their black and orange home jerseys for the last time. The three 20-year-olds graduated from major junior hockey Thursday night, an emotional evening for the trio following the final Central Division game of the 2020-21 season.
The Oil Kings opened the scoring at the 10:26 mark. Ethan Cap worked the puck across the blueline and dished to Scott Atkinson, who spun around at the top of the faceoff circle and quickly released a shot that beat Garin Bjorklund high stick side.
Edmonton almost took a 2-0 lead to the dressing room when they slid the puck past Bjorklund for an apparent buzz-beater. After the officials reviewed the play, it was deemed that time had run out in the first period before the puck crossed the goal line.
The teams played a scoreless second stanza, but the affair began to get testy. Midway through the frame, Medicine Hat rookie Carlin Dezainde and Oil Kings forward Jalen Luypen traded punches inside the Tigers blueline.
Late in the period, Edmonton took a 2-0 lead on the power play. Logan Dowhaniuk split the Tigers defence at the blueline, walked in alone and banked a shot off the post and in behind Bjorklund.
The teams played a feisty, third period and while the Tigers carried the play, it was Kaid Oliver’s empty-netter that sealed the verdict for Edmonton.
Medicine Hat simply could not solve Oil Kings goaltender Sebastian Cossa. The 6’5 Cossa touted as the top WHL netminder for the 2021 NHL Draft, may as well have shown up dressed as a brick wall. The 18-year-old from Fort McMurray was outstanding, earning his 17th win of the season and eighth career shutout.
It’s fair to say the Oil Kings had the Tigers number this season. Edmonton won all six meetings, outscoring Medicine Hat 20-6 in the process. Clearly the top team in the Central Division, the Oil Kings finished in first place with a 20-2-0-1 record, 13 points ahead of the second-place Tigers.
Deja Vu…Much like last season, the Tigers finished up on home ice. It was March 10, 2020, the Tigers edged the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 in overtime at the then named, Canalta Centre. It was the final game of the 2019-20 WHL season. There would be no playoffs. No WHL champion. No Memorial Cup. The end came quickly. Done!
Fast forward to a comfortable spring evening in May at the newly-branded Co-Op Centre and the Tigers played host to the final Central Division game of yet another WHL regular season. Of course, this current, curious campaign could certainly be considered “irregular”, given the adventures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Be that as it may, for the second season in a row, the Tigers finished up on home ice with no post-season games in their crosshairs. Presumably, the next home game for the Tigers will come along in October to open the 2021-22 campaign.
Fingers crossed.
All in the family…If nothing else, the Chyzowski’s are a durable bunch, and unafraid to stay in one place for a long time.
Ryan finished his WHL career with a total of 299 games played, including regular season and playoffs and he played them all as a member of the Tigers.
His brother Nick appeared in 359 combined games, all as a member of the Kamloops Blazers.
Their father David, who was the second pick overall by the New York Islanders at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, played in 189 games over three seasons, also all while wearing a Blazers jersey.
Ice Chips…The DUBNetwork three stars were Chyzowski, Clayton and Kemp…”Cowboy” Clayton played in 225 games as a member of the Tigers. Kemp played in 261 WHL games, 115 with the Tigers, 128 with Edmonton and 18 with the Everett Silvertips…The Tigers outshot Edmonton, 29-28…Bjorklund finished with 25 saves. Cossa, who won all five of his starts against the Tigers this season, blocked 29 shots…Edmonton went 1-for-3 on the powerplay, while the Tigers were 0-for-4…The Oil Kings also graduated three 20-year-olds, including Kaid Oliver, Ethan Cap and Scott Atkinson…The contest marked the 23rd game of the season for Tigers play-by-play voice, Bob Ridley. That makes it a career total of 4,021 games for the WHL legend.
