DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: October 26, 2019, Medicine Hat Tigers 8-4-1-0 @ Lethbridge Hurricanes 9-4-0-1 7:00 PM (MDT)
It’s the third meeting already this season between two Central Division rivals as the Medicine Hat Tigers travel to Lethbridge to play the Hurricanes. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series, with both teams winning in their opponent’s rink. These two teams have almost identical records, and are within two points of each other, in the very competitive Central Division. The Hurricanes have been red hot as of late, winning their last six games in-a-row with the latest coming last night a 5-2 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings. Medicine Hat is coming off back-to-back losses. After winning four games in-a-row the Tigers have dropped games versus Central Division rivals the Calgary Hitmen and last night’s loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings. Both team’s power plays have gotten off to fast starts, as they are both operating at almost 20% for the season. Lethbridge is currently at 20.69% while the Tigers are just behind at 19.23%.
Tigers captain James Hamblin has led the offense to start the season. Collecting 16 points in the Tigers’ first 13 games has the overage centre tied for fifth in league scoring. Drafted in the first round of the WHL Bantam draft by the Tigers in 2014, the Edmonton, AB, native has played in 274 games all with the Tigers. In those games, he has amassed 84 goals and 208 points. Last season was Hamblin’s best, as he set career highs in all offensive categories including scoring 33 times and adding 44 assists.
Helping Hamblin up front has been the play of rookie forward Cole Sillinger. Taken by the Tigers in the first round of the 2018 WHL draft, Sillinger also has 16 points, including eight goals in 13 games. A third first-round WHL Draft pick Ryan Chyzowski is also off to a fast start. Drafted in 2015, Chyzowski has nine goals and 16 points in the Tigers’ first 13 games. Last season, Chyzowski also set career highs in goals with 27 and points with 55. All three players are currently ranked in the WHL top 10 in scoring with the trio tied for sixth and Sillinger leading all rookies in scoring. Daniel Baker leads the Tigers defense scoring with five goals and nine points in 13 games.
Buffalo Sabres’ seventh overall selection from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft is forward Dylan Cozens. After attending his first NHL training camp with the Sabres this fall, the 6-foot-3 centre has returned to the Hurricanes and picked up right where he left off last season. Posting 84 points (34G-50A) in 68 games last season, Cozens has already collected 15 points in 12 games. Of those 15 points, nine of them are goals which has Cozens in third for WHL scoring. Lethbridge has also leaned on first-year import Oliver Okuliar to help out with scoring. Without three of their top scorers from a year ago the Hurricanes selected Okuliar in the first round of the CHL import draft. Okuliar, from Trencin, Slovakia, has 15 points in the Hurricanes 14 games played.
On defence it has been the play of Alex Cotton and Calen Addison that have produced so far for the Hurricanes. Addison, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, has produced identical 65 point campaigns the last two seasons with the Hurricanes. So far this season, Addison has nine points in 13 games. Cotton who has appeared in one more game than Addison, has put up 12 points in 14 games to lead the Hurricanes defence. The 12 points has already set a new career highs for Cotton as he put up 11 points in 54 games in his rookie season with the Hurricanes last year.
Expected in goal:
• Garin Bjorklund (Medicine Hat) Playing in only two games last season with the Tigers, Bjorklund has appeared in four games this season. In those four appearances Bjorklund is perfect with a 3-0 record.He also has a sizzling 1.59GAA and .946SAV% both of which are in the top five in the WHL.
• Carl Tetachuk (Lethbridge) – Playing in his second season, Tetachuk is coming off an impressive rookie season. Finishing last season with 24 wins in 37 appearances, including two shut outs. So far this season Tetachuck has played in seven games so far winning four of those games and posting a 2.12GAA and a .924SAV%.
Also in action:
Seattle Thunderbirds @Edmonton Oil Kings 7 pm MDT
-Import defenceman Simon Kubicek provided the shootout heroics on Friday in Red Deer. He and the Thunderbirds now hope to hand the Oil Kings their first regulation loss in their last 10 games.
Brandon Wheat Kings @Swift Current Broncos 7 pm MDT
-Both teams have been on the road for some time. Brandon is getting closer to home but it’s the Broncos who get their home cooking. Kasper Puutio and Joona Kiviniemi have been giving the Broncos a big Finnish boost of late.
Prince Albert Raiders @Spokane Chiefs 7 pm PDT
-The Raiders, who are 1-2-0-1 on their five-game trip through the U.S. Division will face a talented Chiefs squad reeling from a 6-3 loss last night to Portland.
Prince George Cougars @Tri-City Americans 7 pm PDT
-Both teams are looking to get back on track after some losses this week. Sasha Mutala got back on the scoresheet with two points last night after being held pointless in two straight games.
Kamloops Blazers @Victoria Royals 7 pm PDT
–Connor Zary still leads the WHL in scoring with 21 points. If you go back to the last regular season, he has 31 points in his last 18 games. These teams will meet for the second night in a row, Victoria has played just 10 games so far this season.
