MED HAT TIGERS ON THE WAY UP
By: Stephen Lylyk, RP Show Intern
“Winning is a special thing, you learn it, and we haven’t found that way right now.”
Those were the postgame words of Western Hockey League Medicine Hat Tigers coach Willie Desjardins following Tuesday’s overtime defeat against the Vancouver Giants.
For the Tigers, the only way to progress is upwards following an 11-53-3-1 result to their 2021-22 campaign.
As Official voice of the Tigers Gino De Paoli explained on the Rod Pedersen Show this week at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, the 2022-23 campaign has thus far shown promise.
“When you look at the way the Tigers are playing right now,” said De Paoli, “they’ve never been out of a game. They have yet to be shutout this year.”
As the Tigers aim to build for future success, De Paoli emphasized one prospect whom, while only 14 years old, has the potential to be the face of the franchise moving forward.
“With Cayden Lindstrom (Tigers Center), and Tomas Mrsic (Tigers Centre) going to a U-17 tournament in Langley that allows 14 year old, Gavin McKenna (Tigers Forward) to come up as an emergency, and he’s an unreal hockey player!”
Following a 5-1 defeat versus the Calgary Hitmen Friday at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex at Tsuuti’ina Nation just outside Calgary, the Tigers stand at 4-7-3, good enough for fifth in the division and 10th in the conference.
“The Central Division this year,” explains De Paoli, “is extremely wide open. It’s three points separation from second to fifth.”
While there’s is indeed tight competiton, as De Paoli explains, the cream of the crop, are the Red Deer Rebels. They currently sit with a 14-0 record at this point of the campaign.
“The Tigers, were right there with Edmonton (Defending WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings) at the end of the season last year in the Central Division. They were built for THIS year.”
The Tigers return to action Saturday night against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 7 pm MT at Co-op Place.
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV and WQEE Radio)
