Medicine Hat Tigers Roar One Win Away from Memorial Cup Glory
What a ride it’s been for the Medicine Hat Tigers! Right now, this team is on the cusp of making history, just one win away from punching their ticket to the 2025 Memorial Cup. After a commanding 5-2 victory in Game 4 over the Spokane Chiefs, the Tigers have a 3-1 series lead in the WHL Championship Final—and they’ve done it with grit, depth, and some serious firepower on the blue line.
Game 4 was nothing short of a statement. The Tigers came into it already missing two of their top offensive stars—Gavin McKenna and Cayden Lindstrom—but you wouldn’t have known it from the scoreboard. It was the defense that stole the show, led by Bryce Pickford, who netted two goals and added an assist. This kid has been on a tear, scoring in seven straight games now—a new WHL record for a defenceman. And get this, he’s still eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft. Talk about stepping up when it matters most.
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Another name that deserves serious praise is Tanner Molendyk. This Nashville Predators prospect was everywhere in Game 4, picking up three assists and quarterbacking a power play that went three-for-four on the night. He’s been one of the most reliable players since being acquired at the deadline, and his calm presence on the back end is a massive part of why this team has made it this far.
You can't overlook goaltender Harrison Meneghin either. With 28 saves in Game 4, he now sports a stellar .925 save percentage this postseason. He’s been quietly stealing games and giving the Tigers the stability they need in net, especially when facing top-tier threats like Spokane’s Shea Van Olm and Berkly Catton.
What really swung Game 4 in Medicine Hat’s favor was discipline—or rather, Spokane’s lack of it. The Chiefs handed the Tigers a five-minute major and other costly penalties, and Medicine Hat’s power play didn’t waste the opportunity. Pickford cashed in twice during the second period alone, and Liam Ruck followed up with another power-play marker to build a nearly insurmountable lead.
Now all eyes turn to Game 5. It's set for Friday night, and it could be the clincher. A win would mark Medicine Hat’s sixth Ed Chynoweth Cup victory, tying them with Kamloops for the most in WHL history. It would also mark their first title since 2007. Spokane isn’t out of it yet, and head coach Brad Lauer insists they can come back from this 3-1 hole—but they’ll need to play flawless hockey to force a Game 6 back in Medicine Hat.
As it stands, the Tigers are not just winning—they’re dominating, even without key pieces. This is a team firing on all cylinders, with veterans, prospects, and unsung heroes all doing their part. One more victory, and they’ll be heading to the Memorial Cup, chasing Canadian junior hockey’s biggest prize. And right now, it feels like their destiny is within reach.
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