Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663
Game Day Thread: Medicine Hat Tigers @ Wheat Kings, 7:30 PM
1/8/2010 at 10:01 AM
Medicine Hat Tigers (24-14-3-4, 4th in Eastern Conference)
Top scorers: Bretton Cameron (28+21=49), Wacey Hamilton (12+33=45), Emerson Etem (28+15=43), Taylor Gal (12+29=41)
Top scoring defenceman: Mark Isherwood (12+22=34)
Probable starting goaltender: Tyler Bunz (19-11-3-2, 0.891 save percentage, 3.19 goals against average)
Manitobans: Deven Dubyk (Minitonas)
Brandon Wheat Kings (28-13-0-2, 3rd in Eastern Conference)
Top scorers: Matt Calvert (27+30=57), Aaron Lewadniuk (21+32=53), Jay Fehr (21+29=50), Brayden Schenn (14+35=49)
Top scoring defenceman: Colby Robak (8+34=42)
Probable starting goaltender: Andrew Hayes (19-9-0-1, 0.903 save pct, 2.73 goals against average)
The Wheat Kings will be looking to run their home-ice winning streak to ten games tonight when their host the high scoring Medicine Hat Tigers.
The Tigers are in the middle of a mini-slump, having lost three of their last four games. Their #2 overall offense has run a little dry, having scored just nine goals over those four games. If they don't get it going soon, they'll be in danger of falling out of fourth place and into the pack in the Eastern Conference standings.
Tonight will mark the return of Toni Rajala to the Wheat King lineup after helping Team Finland to a fifth place finish at the World Junior Championships. Team Canada head coach At the other side of the rink, Willie Desjardins has rejoined the Tigers and will also be making his first appearance in Brandon since leading Canada to within a goal of the gold medal in Saskatoon.
I'll have scratches and lineups approx 1/2 hour before game time, and perhaps a little sooner.