Tigers edge host Océanic in Memorial Cup opener
The WHL Champion Medicine Hat Tigers skated into Rimouski, Quebec and earned a hard-fought 5-4 triumph over the host Océanic in a back-and-forth affair that kicked off the 2025 Memorial Cup tournament.
The Tigers, making their first tournament appearance since 2007 and aiming for their first Memorial Cup title since 1988, rode a pair of goals from Bryce Pickford as well as singles from Ryder Ritchie, Gavin McKenna and Hunter St. Martin to secure the victory. Oasiez Wiesblatt added three assists and Tanner Molendyk a pair of helpers for the win while Harrison Meneghin steered aside 20 shots.
Maël Lavigne, Maël St-Denis, Jacob Mathieu and Jonathan Fauchon all countered with goals for the Océanic. Between the pipes, Mathis Langevin drew the start and was solid, kicking aside 33 saves for the tournament hosts.
The two teams would find themselves deadlocked at a goal apiece after one period of play. Following a tentative start to the first period, the Tigers would strike first at the 13:50 mark. McKenna’s initial shot, on a feed by Wiesblatt, clanked off the crossbar. However, the puck ricocheted to Ritchie who made no mistake to bury the first goal of the tournament.
The Océanic would tie the game on the power play with 20 seconds remaining in the frame as Lavigne snuck in behind a Medicine Hat defender at the lip of the crease to redirect a pass from Alexandre Blais to tie things up entering the first intermission. The Tigers held a 15-11 edge in shots after the first.
Rimouski would take a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes. The Océanic took the lead at 10:07, bringing the crowd to its feet just after an expiring penalty. Blais forced a turnover deep in Medicine Hat territory before centering the puck to St-Denis, who made no mistake burying the puck over the glove of Meneghin.
The Tigers would knot things up at 16:18 on the man advantage as Pickford took a pass from Molendyk, moved in and rifled a hard wrister from the right side past Langevin. Then, with Medicine Hat down a player on a too many men penalty, the Océanic capitalized to take the lead once more. Mathieu Cataford’s shot from the rear of the right-hand faceoff circle pinballed toward the slot where Mathieu provided the deflection needed to put the home squad back on top. Shots on goal for the middle frame were 11-7 in favor of the Tigers.
Medicine Hat earned a 12-6 shot advantage in the third period and would finally net the game-winner late in the contest. The early portion of the period belonged to the WHL Champions. Pickford would first draw the Tigers even with his second of the evening just 68 seconds into the period with a wicked wrister from the left faceoff circle on a perfect feed from Mathew Ward.
McKenna would make it a 4-3 Medicine Hat lead at the 5:18 mark, reading the developing play in his own zone to get himself open before walking in on a breakaway and unleashing a shot to Langevin’s blocker side.
Afforded another power play, the Océanic would strike back at 13:04 when Fauchon one-timered a pass by Mathieu Cataford from the goal line. All of this led to St-Martin’s go-ahead tally for the Tigers, a tip on a hard pass from Molendyk while the clubs were playing at four-on-four.
The action from the 2025 Memorial Cup continues tomorrow as the QMJHL Champion Moncton Wildcats face the OHL Champion London Knights at 6pm ET/7pm AT. You can find all the action on TSN or RDS.
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(Photo : Vincent Ethier)
