Tigers Play for Their Heartbeat: A Memorial Cup Run Fueled by Love and Loss
You know, every once in a while, sports give us stories that hit deeper than the scoreboards or the stats. Stories that remind us why we play, why we watch, and why it all matters. And right now, at the Memorial Cup, the Medicine Hat Tigers are writing one of those stories — one about grief, resilience, and brotherhood. They’re not just playing for a trophy. They’re playing for their goalie, Harrison Meneghin. Or as they call him, their heartbeat.
Just a few months ago, on what should have been a high point of the season, Meneghin led the Tigers to a huge win in Calgary. He stopped 35 of 37 shots that night, helping them clinch first place in the Eastern Conference. But right after stepping off the ice, everything changed — he got the devastating news that his father, Derek, had passed away suddenly at 49. One moment, celebration. The next, heartbreak.
That kind of shock doesn’t just affect one person. It hit the whole team like a punch to the gut. Head coach Willie Desjardins said it best — it felt like everyone had lost something. Because when you’re a team like this, you're not just teammates. You're family.
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But instead of letting that pain break them, the Tigers rallied. Just five days later, Meneghin came back, stood between the pipes, and posted a shutout in Game 1 of the playoffs. 21 saves. Zero goals. Just raw courage. And that was only the beginning. He led the Tigers on a near-perfect playoff run, finishing 14-1 and earning WHL playoff MVP honors.
When the Tigers lifted the Ed Chynoweth Cup, captain Oasiz Wiesblatt didn’t raise it first. He handed it to Harrison. That moment said everything. This wasn’t just about hockey. It was about showing love to someone who needed it most.
Now here we are, heading into the Memorial Cup final against the London Knights. And the Tigers are still skating with that same purpose — not just to win, but to give Harrison another trophy to lift. The team, the coaches, they’ve all been there for him. They went to his dad’s funeral. They've shielded him from the media. They've made space for his grief, while never letting him feel alone in it.
He hasn’t spoken much publicly, but his game has spoken volumes. Three wins, a .927 save percentage in this tournament — including a massive performance against London earlier. You can see it in the way he plays. Like he’s carrying something more.
As Wiesblatt put it, “Harrison's our heartbeat.” You can’t teach that kind of loyalty. You can’t fake that kind of love. This team isn’t just chasing a title — they’re skating for something much bigger.
And maybe, just maybe, that will be enough to lift them all the way to glory. For Harrison. For Derek. For something deeper than the game itself.
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