CAPTAIN LIFTS TIGERS AGAIN

COURTESY: Darren Steinke, Medicine Hat News

It was captain Curtis to the rescue.

Instead of falling in another tight-checking game to the Kootenay Ice, Curtis Valk came through with another huge performance for his Medicine Hat Tigers on Sunday night. The team captain netted a pair of key goals and assisted on linemate Trevor Cox’s empty-net tally to lift the Tigers to a 5-2 victory over the Ice before 3,755 spectators at The Arena in Game 2 of a best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference semifinal series.

With the win, the Tigers even the series up at one game apiece. It was also a big bounce back game after Medicine Hat dropped Game 1 of the series 4-2 on Saturday night at The Arena. Game 3 is set for Wednesday in Cranbrook, B.C.

Valk’s biggest goal came six minutes into the third period. Entering the Ice zone on a 2-on-1 break, the local product lasered a set-up pass from linemate Cole Sanford to the right top corner of the Kootenay goal. It broke a 2-2 tie.

“It felt great,” said Valk. “The one in the third was huge, a great pass by Sanny and to give us a lead in a tight game like that, it felt pretty good.

“That is kind of my job. I supposed to be a guy that puts up numbers for this team. When I am doing that, I am just trying to help the team win.”

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