Western Conference Road Swing
So far their swing out West hasn't gone the Tigers way. They've picked up 1 point in 4 games. Their last game of the road trip goes Saturday Night in Vancouver.
Walking Wounded
The Tigers are running into injury issues, with a number of key players out of the lineup.
Hayden Ostir - 4 to 6 weeks Upper Body
Mason Shaw - Indefinite
Tyler Preziuso - Day to Day
Linus Nassen - 2 to 3 weeks
Joel Craven - week to week
David Quenneville - Day to Day
As a result, the Tigers have called up a couple rookies.
Trevor Longo
Longo was called up mid-January and has dressed for 10 games. Longo was a 6th round pick in 2015
In Victoria, they called up 16 yr old Corson Hopwo who is putting up a point per game numbers with the Delta Hockey Academy in the CSSHL. I expect him to be one of the rookies next season if he can continue to get stronger. Hopwo was a 7th round selection in 2016
Jalen Price
I see Jalen Price has recently been put on the Tigers Roster. Price is from Delta BC, so I Imagine he might be dressed for the Vancouver game.
Price is a former 3rd round Bantam Draft Pick in 2016 and is currently playing in the VIJHL(Vancouver Island Junoir Hockey League) That is a league of 9 teams comprising of 16-20yr olds, and Jalen Sits 25th overall in league scoring with 35 points in 39 games against mostly older players. There are, however, few players who have been drafted by the WHL in that league.
Barrett Sheen Hit on Joel Craven
Joel Craven is out for a few weeks after being elbowed in the head by Moose Jaw Forward Barrett Sheen. It was great to see the Tigers scoring on the Powerplay and winning the game because of it for payback, but still, the hit leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
IMO Joel has a very bright future with the Tigers and plays a similar style to that of former Tiger Tommy Vannelli.
Clip of the Hit - Courtesy ChatNews
Playoff Watch
It's My Favorite Time of year when the Stretch Run to the Playoffs begin.
Medicine Hat Tigers Schedule
After this road trip, their schedule becomes a lot lighter. 13 of their last 17 games are against the Central Division.
Lethbridge on the Prowl
Despite selling some key assets (Stuart Skinner, Lane Zablocki, Giorgio Estephan, Tanner Nagel) Lethbridge has a .682 winning percentage since the Trade Deadline. 3 of their losses were in OT.
Lethbridge can now statistically pass the Tigers in the standings if they win their games in hand, however, they have a tougher schedule with a very heavy Eastern Division schedule.
Nonetheless, with Lethbridge playing well and the Tigers facing a lot of injuries, it is logical to think that the small gap in the standings will soon close and that the Tigers lead on the Central is in danger.
Potential First Round Opponents
Lethbridge - Unlikely
Kootenay - Possible
Regina - Possible
Saskatoon - Possible
Prince Albert - Possible
Brandon - Possible
Red Deer - Unlikely but possible
Red Deer, PA, and Lethbrdige have caught fire, while Brandon and the Tigers are falling. Since the Trade Deadline Regina is running at a .600 pace which is only a minor uptick.
Still anyones guess as to what happens.
10 comments:
From what I'm hearing it's unlikely Joel Craven will play again this season which is unfortunate. Very serious hit to the head which in my view was under penalized. From my view it was predatorial, could have been charging, interference or I thought it should have been a match penalty for deliberate attempt to injure. Here's hoping he can get healthy sooner rather than later.
I was happy that the Tigers won the game off it. I 100% agree the hit looked predatory and 5 games feel underwhelming for the damage it caused.
I missed that QUenneville was out last game.
Seen a great comment on the general WHL board - "Steen should be suspended for as long as Craven is out". That would be justice for a cheap shot such as that one... Others opined that they did not know if Steen was known for dirty play - me neither, but he is leading the league in penalty minutes, so that says a lot.
Tigers just lost Hollett to a knee injury
Any news on Hollett?
Sidelined indefinitely lower body injury.
Just to set info straight - hopwo is from Duncan - price is from Campbell river - vijhl is very close in comparison to jr a in Alberta cyclone Taylor cup is the finals for the jr b playoffs with a team from vijhl usually sitting in the finals - wainwright won it last year and I believe Campbell river the year before
I know guys who played in vijhl not even close to the ajhl. Guys who can't make bchl and ajhl go to vijhl or kijhl.
Ok I’ll stand corrected - so bcjhl is same as ajhl —and sjhl is same as ?
BCHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL are similarish calibres just different provinces. (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) BCHL is generally regarded as the best Junoir A-League in Canada, but the calibre of play is on the same tier.
VJHL/KIJHL/PJHL Their are few players that come out of here in the WHL.
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