by Cody Baugh
The last 10 years of Dalhousie Tigers hockey have been challenging.
With only one playoff appearance since the 2004-2005 season, success has been hard to come by for the Tigers. Competing in arguably the toughest conference in all of CIS sport, the Tigers have found it tough to make the playoffs.
Head coach Chris Donnelly is in his fourth year at the helm of the Tigers program and is in the midst of a rebuild. The Tigers roster features 20 players in their first two years of eligibility.
After what was a fairly rocky start to the season, the Tigers have found some chemistry as of late and are making a playoff push, picking up points in four of their last six games.
The Tigers recent success is in large part due to their offence coming alive. Statistically, the Tigers were averaging 2.1 goals per game in their first 21 games. In the last three games the Tigers have upped the ante, averaging five goals a game.
Phil Gadoury and Fabian Walsh have been the team’s offensive catalyst all season long but secondary production has been the difference lately. Andrew Wigginton is riding a four-game point streak with eight in the span, while Tanner Williams has six points in the last four games.
Currently the Tigers sit just four points out of a playoff spot, trailing Moncton. With just four games remaining on the AUS regular season schedule, the Tigers have two must-win games approaching this weekend at the Halifax Forum.
Every game from here on out will be treated like a playoff game as the Tigers will likely have to win three out the four games to give themselves a chance at a catching the Aigles Bleus.
On Friday, the Tigers face off against the last place St. Thomas Tommies. Saturday, the Tigers will host the team they are chasing the UdeM Aigles Bleus in what will likely be a do-or-die scenario. Moncton holds the season series at 2-1 but in the last meeting between the two sides, the Tigers rolled to a 6-1 victory.
In the final two games of the season, the Tigers will play two of the top teams in the country; the #9 ranked StFX X-Men and the #10 ranked Saint Mary’s Huskies.
The new and improved Tigers have had success against both clubs as the Tigers downed the X-Men in their latest meeting 4-1 and fell 5-4 to the Huskies after a late goal just a week ago.
If the Tigers fall short this year, the future will still be bright for Chris Donnelly’s squad.
Corbin Boes, the Tigers starting goalie is one of the best in the country and is only in his second year of CIS eligibility.
The electric Halifax Moosehead product, Phil Gadoury is in his first year in the AUS and is currently tied for the goal scoring title.
If the Tigers recent play is any indication of what the future holds, Dalhousie Tigers hockey fans will be in for a treat.
Come support the boys this weekend at the Halifax Forum on Friday and Saturday as they chase the final playoff spot.