Medicine Hat News
It might be game 55 for the Tigers, but it's only No. 48 for Emerson Etem.
The Long Beach product still has a chance at cracking the elusive 50 goals in 50 games barrier this week, starting tonight when Medicine Hat hosts the Calgary Hitmen (7 p.m., The Arena).
With 48 goals on the season Etem would be in elite territory if he can get two more in his next three games. The last WHL player to accomplish the feat was Layne Ulmer of the Swift Current Broncos, who did it in his 47th game of the 2000-01 season.
After potting 45 goals last season alongside CHL scoring leader Linden Vey, Etem has been even more deadly during this campaign. He's scored in all but two of his past 15 games, but had assists in those outings.
One of Etem's scoreless games was Jan. 28 against Calgary. The Tigers lost that home contest 5-2 and now only sit a point ahead of the hard-charging Hitmen, who have won seven of their last eight and are now fourth in the Eastern Conference. Calgary also has a game in hand on third-place Medicine Hat.
The Tigers lead the season series 3-1 but are a surprisingly mediocre 14-10-1-1 at home this season. The last time the Tigers lost 10 home games in the regular season was 2008-09, when they were 23-11-1-1. But overall they have the same record as the Hitmen in their past 10 games overall, at 8-2 the two squads are the hottest in the league right now.
Calgary is led by a balanced attack, nine players with more than 30 points but none in the top 20 of league scoring. Cody Sylvester has a team-high 56 points.
By comparison Medicine Hat just five players with more than 30 points, led by Etem (85) and Hunter Shinkaruk (70). Of note, Curtis Valk had 10 goals in his past 10 games and now has 21 on the season.