Lethbridge Defeats the Tigers 4-2

 Game Scratches
Kenny Cameron
Mat Staples
Gavin Broadhead
Blake Penner
Alex Theriau
Cole Sanford


First Period
Tigers start off the game with a bang.  Jayden Hart took a big hit coming into the zone, and It created a 2 on 1 down low.  Boston Leier made a perfect cross crease pass after getting the goalie to commit, and Kale Kessy had a wide open net. 1-0 Tigers

Fight
Dylan Busenius vs Tyler Wong

Not sure how it developed but It was a short fight as Busenius connected with 2 strong shots and knocked Tyler Wong off his feet. Decision: Busenius

I thought the Tigers looked really good in the first period. The canes might have had a bit of nerves being at home, but I thought the Tigers had the edge in play.

Second Period
The Tigers started off the second period pretty strong in the opening minutes. Both Dylan Busenius and Kyle Becker loaded up on a couple point shots. The Hurricanes would take a time-out soon after to relieve the pressure and the momentum changed 180 degrees.

Spenser Jensen's pass out of the zone was picked off, and the play ended with Jensen in the box.
Lethbridge would score on the powerplay. The puck looked to be going wide then Hurricane Brady Ramsay tipped it in Past Marek Langhamer. 1-1 Tie

7 Minutes later on a bit of a broken play Canes' Jamal Watson threw a puck in front when he looked to be going behind the net. The puck somehow hit something in front and the Hurricanes had their first lead of the game. 2-1 Hurricanes

The Canes would take a 2 goal lead shorthanded less than a minute later. Sam Mckechnie walked out with the puck from behind the net. Marek Langhamer missed a lazy pokecheck and McKechnie shot it Five-Hole. 3-1 Hurricanes

Third Period
 Tigers came out with all kinds of pressure again through the first ten minutes.
Dylan Busenius point shot was tipped by Jayden Hart and it Beat Ty Rimmer. 3-2 Hurricanes

Late in the Game the Tigers had numerous chances in close, but couldn't solve Rimmer.
The Canes would get an empty netter to salt the game game away.
Final Score: Lethbridge 4 Tigers 2

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Tigers Outshot the Canes: 38-22.

Watching on the webcast it looked like Curtis Valk, Dylan Busenius, and Kale Kessy had pretty strong games.
Next Up: Tigers Home Opener Saturday Night.

 Game Links
Gamesheet
Tripped out of the Gae - MH NEws 

Kenny Cameron Sent Down

19 year old goaltender Kenny Cameron has been re-assigned to Spruce Grove of the AJHL. Kenny Cameron was a surprise that made the team from no-where last season. Despite zero whl experience he posted an incredibly respectable .899 save percentage in his 18 year old season, and 14 games played.

Dawson MacAuley has been lights out so far in pre-season. I am a little surprised that the goal-tending battle was solved before the season started. I did not think Cameron would be around next season being an overager.

 Updated Roster (25)
Goaltenders (2):Marek Langhamer (18), Dawson McAuley (18)


 Defencemen (8): Kyle Becker (18), Dylan Busenius (19), Spenser Jensen (17), Tyler Lewington (18) Derek Ryckman (20), Matt Staples (17), Ty Stanton (17), Alex Theriau (20)

 Forwards (15):
 Dylan Bredo (19), Gavin Broadhead (17), Chad Butcher (16), Trevor Cox (17), Jacob Doty (19), Jayden Hart (18), Kale Kessy (20), Miles Koules (18), Chad Labelle (17), Boston Leier (19), Steven Owre (16), Blake Penner (16), Cole Sanford (17), Hunter Shinkaruk (18), Curtis Valk (19) Well officially they don't need to make anymore cuts.

 The defenceman and goal-tending appear set. Their may be a forward cut if someone proves to fall behind.

Hunter Shinkaruk 2012-2013 Captain

Hunter Shinkaruk - "C"
Curtis Valk "A"
Dylan Bredo - "A"

Those 3 players led the TigerTurf Captain poll after 143 votes were tallied.
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I think they are all excellent choices.

From Hunter Shinkaruk's Twitter Account
"Thanks for all the tweets, really honored to be named captain. Just can't wait to get the season started with the boys. "

Tigers Make Another Cut

On the Tigers Website it is showing their roster now stands at 26 players.
http://www.tigershockey.com

Missing on the list is 17 year old Brennan Hunker.

Updated Roster (26)

Goaltenders (3): Kenny Cameron (19), Marek Langhamer (18), Dawson McAuley (18)

Defencemen (8): Kyle Becker (18), Dylan Busenius (19), Spenser Jensen (17), Tyler Lewington (18) Derek Ryckman (20), Matt Staples (17), Ty Stanton (17), Alex Theriau (20)

Forwards (15): Dylan Bredo (19), Gavin Broadhead (17), Chad Butcher (16), Trevor Cox (17), Jacob Doty (19), Jayden Hart (18), Kale Kessy (20), Miles Koules (18), Chad Labelle (17), Boston Leier (19), Steven Owre (16), Blake Penner (16), Cole Sanford (17), Hunter Shinkaruk (18), Curtis Valk (19)

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The Tigers will need a minumum of 1 more cut before the Mid-October Deadline. The Defense with Alex Theriau out recovering from hip surgery is likely set.
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Tyler Bunz and Emerson Etem

As expected Were both sent to thier respective AHL teams yesterday.

Tigers Assign Daniel Hansen To Denmark

The Tigers have sent down young 17 year old import Daniel Hansen back to Denmark.
With the young depth on the back-end their was just no room for him this season.
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Darren Kruger Name Associate Coach
Darren Kruger's title has been upgraded from Assistant coach to Associate coach.
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Updated Roster (27)

Goaltenders (3): Kenny Cameron (19), Marek Langhamer (18), Dawson McAuley (18)

Defencemen (9): Kyle Becker (18), Dylan Busenius (19), Brennan Hunker (17), Spenser Jensen (17), Tyler Lewington (18) Derek Ryckman (20), Matt Staples (17), Ty Stanton (17), Alex Theriau (20)

Forwards (15): Dylan Bredo (19), Gavin Broadhead (17), Chad Butcher (16), Trevor Cox (17), Jacob Doty (19), Jayden Hart (18), Kale Kessy (20), Miles Koules (18), Chad Labelle (17), Boston Leier (19), Steven Owre (16), Blake Penner (16), Cole Sanford (17), Hunter Shinkaruk (18), Curtis Valk (19)

Need to make a minumum of 2 cuts.
1(ish) defenceman
1 Goaltender
0-1(ish) Forwards

TIgers Assign Rhyse Dieno to the SJHL

According to the Tigers twitter feed Rhyse Dieno was sent to the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the SJHL.

Updated Roster

Goaltenders (3): Kenny Cameron (19), Marek Langhamer (18), Dawson McAuley (18)

Defencemen (10): Kyle Becker (18), Dylan Busenius (19), Daniel Hansen (17), Brennan Hunker (17), Spenser Jensen (17), Tyler Lewington (18) Derek Ryckman (20), Matt Staples (17), Ty Stanton (17), Alex Theriau (20)

Forwards (15): Dylan Bredo (19), Gavin Broadhead (17), Chad Butcher (16), Trevor Cox (17), Jacob Doty (19), Jayden Hart (18), Kale Kessy (20), Miles Koules (18), Chad Labelle (17), Boston Leier (19), Steven Owre (16), Blake Penner (16), Cole Sanford (17), Hunter Shinkaruk (18), Curtis Valk (19)

It looks like the young kids are making strong cases to stay. Dieno was a late bloomer finally coming into his own mid-way through last season, then he suffered an unfortunate season ending injury.

I was surprised he was let go this early, but with the talent on this roster I thought he wouldn't be back as a 20 year old. It looks like the young kids have made cases to stay....


Remaining Cuts
1 goalie
2ish on defense
0-1 at forward...

They need a minimum of 3 more cuts by Mid-October.
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MH News Article on Last Nights Exhibition Game
Younger Lineup Falls to 'Canes

Tigers make a couple roster moves

Last Edit: Sept, 12 6:30 PM mtn.

Kellan Williams was sent back to his midget club. I think Williams was a pleasant surprise sticking around as long as he did.

Nathyn Mortlock was assigned to the Midget AAA Tigers.
Alex Mowbray was assigned back to calgary.

Mowbray, Mortlock, and Williams were all 16. (3) 16 year olds remain on the roster.

MH News Article on Marek Langhamer
http://www.medicinehatnews.com/local-sports
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Looking at stats from Alan Caldwell's blog.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Tigers are 14th in average height
(their are 5-6 teams extremely close to each other)
so they are roughly in the middle of the pack.

Tigers are the 2nd lightest team in the whl.
Tied for 13th for the oldest average age.
Tied with Portland with the most rookies on the team.

Jacob Doty
Two games for checking to the head major and g.m. versus Lethbridge on September 9

http://www.whl.ca/page/WHL-discipline

Tigers Aquire Overage Defenceman

Last Edit: 3:15 PM MTN.

Medicine Hat Tigers announce this afternoon the acquisition of 20-year-old defenseman Derek Ryckman from the Tri-City Americans.

The Tigers will send a fifth round draft pick in the 2014 bantam draft to the Americans in exchange for the 6’ 4”, 205 lbs. Red Deer, AB native.

http://www.tigershockey.com
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Tri-City Fan Blog

I got this from a Tri-City fan blog called I Mean, We Got Guys

Derek, to me, epitomizes the stay-at-home defenseman.
Ryckman is a great play maker and also uses his size to finish the checks he needs to. He's not (often) going to be the guy joining the rush to crash the net for a play down low, he's going to stay back and patrol the blue line.

The other thing I really like about Ryckman (no, not the insanely awesome curls) is he stands up for his teammates. He's not necessarily a fighter, but he doesn't take any shit and he doesn't allow any opposing players to mess with his teammates. That look he gets when he's real pissed, he's serious.
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It sounds like Ryckman is a guy who takes care of his own end, and is a big team player.
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Updated Roster
From Alan Caldwell's Small Thoughts At Large Blog

Goaltenders (3): Kenny Cameron (19), Marek Langhamer (18), Dawson McAuley (18)

Defencemen (10): Kyle Becker (18), Dylan Busenius (19), Daniel Hansen (17), Brennan Hunker (17), Spenser Jensen (17), Tyler Lewington (18) Derek Ryckman (20), Matt Staples (17), Ty Stanton (17), Alex Theriau (20)

Forwards (16): Dylan Bredo (19), Gavin Broadhead (17), Chad Butcher (16), Trevor Cox (17), Rhyse Dieno (19), Jacob Doty (19), Jayden Hart (18), Kale Kessy (20), Miles Koules (18), Chad Labelle (17), Boston Leier (19), Steven Owre (16), Blake Penner (16), Cole Sanford (17), Hunter Shinkaruk (18), Curtis Valk (19)
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Defence
I think with Alex Theriau injured the Tigers will keep an extra 8th Dman around this season. Defence is just as packed as the forward or goalie position is.

I would have to think that Ryckman, Busenius, Lewington ,Becker, Stanton,Theriau, Jensen are locks, barring trades.

That would leave Hansen,Hunker,Mortlock,Staples competing for the last spot with an 8 man defensive roster........unless they consider moving one of the vets mentioned above...and I think they will consider moving one guy mid-season or at the deadline, due to age if and only if the young guys who are kept prove that they can hold their own, and the Tigers receive a good return. I think the Defenceman decisions will not be something made hastily, and may take a while until everyone sorts themselves out.

Offense
Roughly 2-3 cuts to make. I haven't gotten good reads yet on everyone so its hard to comment on what they will do. Cole Sanford is still out with Mono. The Tigers do still have 5 (16) year olds on the roster and their is a CHL limit of 4.

Tigers Defeat Lethbridge 8-4

I think this has happened a few years in a row now. Lethbridge has come to the Arena in exhibition and got their socks knocked off. Tigers led 5-1 at one point, the canes scored 3 straight goals to make it 5-4, but the Tigers pulled ahead.

Not dressed.
Ty Stanton
Kellan Williams
Dawson MacAuley
Daniel Hansen
Alex Theriau
Chad Butcher
Trevor Cox
Chad Labelle
Steven Owre
Cole Sanford

Tigers had their big guns dressed at forward.


Thoughts

Marek Langhamer
First look at Marek Langhamer. He entered the game midway through the second period. He stopped one real good chance then let in a couple quick goals.

My first impression of him was that he looked a bit raw. His goal stick is very short, and he likes to stay in his net.

Both goalies were solid out there.

Kyle Becker
I was pretty impressed with Kyle Becker. The first 2 Tigers goals were off his point shots that were deflected in the net. He is very calm and poised on the back-end, and does all the little things right. He ended the night with 4 assists and a +4 rating.

Jacob Doty
Type of player where the puck doesn't seem to follow him. He was tossed in the second period for a checking to the head major. I didn't see the hit, but its likely that a suspension will come off of it. Not a good start for him

Spenser Jensen and Matt Staples
I thought they had tough nights communicating with each other. They gave up some goals because of it.

Curtis Valk, Hunter Shinkaruk, Miles Koules
Combined for 12 points and a +13 rating.

We know what Valk and Shinkaruk can bring. Koules is kinda like a silent killer all a sudden he is in the slot rifling a shot on net.

Tyler Lewington
Got into a tussle with Brady Ramsay of Lethbridge. I'd say it was a draw. it was a hugging match untill Lewington got his left free and threw a couple and lost his balance with Ramsay landing on top of him

Kale Kessy
Showed some patience with the puck along the boards and created a bit of space, I like to see that.

Links
Lethbridge Blog

Roster

Last Edit: Sept 7th, 3:00 MTN

Looks like Ryley Wozniak (16) has been sent down. His name doesn't appear on the whl or Tigers website anymore.


I was away on Holidays and had no access to internet. Comments are now on moderation mode due to comments getting out of hand.

Exhibition Games.
Tigers lost 3-1 to Calgary. Tigers outshot calgary 35-24

Their were some fisticuffs in this game as 2 Hitmen players were suspended after the game.

Tigers had 3 young "vets" playing (Cox,Dieno,Jensen) Calgary had roughly 8-9 vets playing


Tigers lost 5- 0 to P.G
Tigers only had 3 young "vets"(cox,lewington,hart) as well as late season callups Chad Labelle, Kyle Becker, and Gavin Broadhead. PG had "8-9 vets"
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Here is the last known roster, taken from Alan Caldwell's Small Thoughts At Large


Medicine Hat Tigers (32):

Goaltenders (5): Kenny Cameron (19), Dawson McAuley (18), Kellan Williams (16), Marek Langhamer (18)

Defencemen (10): Kyle Becker (18), Dylan Busenius (19), Daniel Hansen (17), Brennan Hunker (17), Spenser Jensen (17), Tyler Lewington (18), Nathyn Mortlock (16), Matt Staples (17), Ty Stanton (17), Alex Theriau(20)

Forwards (17): Dylan Bredo (19), Gavin Broadhead (17), Chad Butcher (16), Trevor Cox (17), Rhyse Dieno (19), Jacob Doty (19), Jayden Hart (18), Kale Kessy (20), Miles Koules (18), Chad Labelle (17), Boston Leier (19), Alex Mowbray (16), Steven Owre (16), Blake Penner (16), Cole Sanford (17), Hunter Shinkaruk (18), Curtis Valk (19)

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Alan Caldwell did an age breakdown of every teams roster after Main Camp. The Tigers have traditionally been near the top in age consistently the last few years. This year they have the 2nd youngest average age at 17.63 years. The roster isn't set yet, and its likely that the age will increase slightly.


Roster Notes
It's good news that Marek Langhamer has came over to play for the Tigers. Someone mentioned in the comments that Darren Kruger said he expected him to be here Thursday Night.

I don't expect the roster being settled until the roster cut-down day in October. Clouston's first year as a GM is gonna come with some really tough decisions, but we will get more into that after the exhibition game on Sunday.

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