On the strength of a two goal effort from Cole Sanford and a three point night from defenceman Dylan Bredo, the Medicine Hat Tigers opened their 2013-14 WHL campaign in style, hammering the Lethbridge Hurricanes by a score of 6-1, in Friday night Western Hockey League action.

PHOTO CREDIT - TigersHockey.com

Medicine Hat - September 21, 2013 - The Tigers travelled down Highway 3 to Lethbridge to take on the rival Hurricanes in the season opener.

It was the first of eight meetings between the two teams this season. The Tigers come into the season with high hopes having exceeded expectations last season as a young team.

The rivalry was renewed almost immediately as the Tyler Lewington and Josh Derko dropped the gloves only 14 seconds into the game.

Cole Sanford opened the scoring for the Tigers midway through the first period. Logan McVeigh and Trevor Cox picked up the assists on Sanford’s goal. The Hurricanes responded a short period later to tie it up 1-1. Jamal Watson was the goal scorer for the Canes. With time winding down in the period, Sanford scored his second of the early season to give the Tigers a one goal cushion heading into the intermission. Cox and McVeigh once again assisted on Sanford’s goal.

The Tigers came out strong in the second frame. Boston Leier made it a two goal game with a power play marker from Dylan Bredo and Curtis Valk. The Tigers kept the offensive pressure on the Hurricanes’ goal. Steven Owre scored an unassisted breakaway goal to make it 4-1.

The Tigers focused on the defensive side of the game to start the third period. They shut out the Hurricanes’ offense and Marek Langhamer was solid in net. Despite the defensive focus the Tigers were still able to net a couple of additional goals. Ty Stanton snuck by the Canes’ defense and made it a 5-1 game at 12:59. Cox picked up his third assist on the goal while Gavin Broadhead found the score sheet with the second assist. Curtis Valk put the game out of reach with just over five minutes to play. Miles Koules and Chad Butcher picked up their first points of the season with the assists.

Marek Langhamer got the start in net and picked up his first win of the season. He allowed only one goal against on the 22 shots he faced. Jonny Hogue got the start for the Hurricanes in his first WHL regular season game. He gave up six goals on 38 shots in the loss.

The Tigers went 1-6 on the power play and were able to kill off all three of the Hurricanes’ power play opportunities.