By Darren Steinke /
The regular season may not have lived up to their expectations, but the Medicine Hat Tigers regained their pride in the playoffs.
For the first time since the 2002/03 campaign, the Tigers failed to win 40 games during the regular season, finishing fifth overall in the WHL’s Eastern Conference at 36-29-4-3. Before the WHL’s Christmas break, the Tigers had a solid 21-11-3-3 mark. After the Christmas break, they posted a 15-18-1 record and didn’t seem poised to do anything in the post-season.
The ups and downs of a rollercoaster season seemed to disappear when the Tigers eliminated the Swift Current Broncos (42-28-1-1) in a seven-game series during the first round of the playoffs.
In a best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series, the Tigers were swept away by the powerful Brandon Wheat Kings, who posted a 48-19-3-2 record in the regular season. While the Tigers were the big underdogs, their play was hampered by the fact a flu epidemic hit the team, as 18 players became sick. The Wheat Kings outscored the Tigers 26-12 in the four games.
“I think it has been kind of a rollercoaster year,” said Tigers outgoing overage captain Brennan Bosch. “Whenever a year goes like that, it is pretty frustrating.
“Going into the playoffs, we weren’t playing well going in. No one picked us to beat Swift.
“That series said a lot. We showed up and battled hard for that series. It was a really good series to win.”
Tyler Ennis, the Tigers star 19-year-old left-winger, and Brennan Bosch helped power their team through that opening round. Ennis netted eight goals and five assists for 13 points, while Bosch had five goals and five assists for 10 points.
At the end of the Swift Current series, the flu bug started to raise its head. Ennis said he started to feel sick in Game 5 against the Broncos. By the end of the series, nine to 10 players on the Tigers were ill.
Willie Desjardins, the Tigers head coach and general manager, was hoping his charges would be able to push on. During the season, the Tigers had to overcome numerous injuries, and Desjardins was hoping this challenge wouldn’t be any different. The bench boss said the physical toll of the Swift Current series helped fuel a flu epidemic, which hurt his team’s chances.
“We just weren’t as quick,” said Desjardins. “I think the reason we got the flu is we were run down.
“It is not an excuse. It is just a fact. It was just a bad time for it to happen.”
Despite the health issue in the Brandon series, Ennis felt his club could feel proud about taking the first round series against the Broncos.
“It was a big accomplishment considering we were struggling in the second half,” said Ennis. “There were some things we needed to look at, and we did.
“We had some really good practices before Swift. The guys were just really prepared and focused.”
With the end of the season, Ennis’s time with the Tigers will probably close. This Edmonton product will likely play in the Buffalo Sabres system next season. The Sabres selected Ennis in the first round and 26th overall in the NHL Entry Draft.
Both Ennis and Bosch said Medicine Hat will be close to their hearts.
“Medicine Hat is just such a great place for me to grow up,” said Ennis. “It has just been a special place.”
“I made so many great friends,” added Bosch. “I am just going to always remember this place. My time here has just been unbelievable.” |