PLAYOFF GAME DAY: Hurricanes Return Home to Host Tigers in Eastern Conference Championship
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers tonight at 7:00pm in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Championship Series.
The Hurricanes (8-4-2) enter trailing the best-of-seven series 2-0 after suffering a 7-2 loss in Game 2 on Saturday in Medicine Hat to the Tigers. Kooper Gizowski and Anthony Wilson scored in the loss while Koen Cleaver made eight saves in a relief performance in the third period. Lethbridge was outshot 29-22 by Medicine Hat in the game. The ‘Canes enter tonight with a 1-1 record in Game 3’s in this playoff while going 18-24 all-time.
The Tigers (10-1-0) enter on an eight-game playoff winning streak and lead the series 2-0 after the 7-2 win on Saturday. Oasiz Wiesblatt and Bryce Pickford each scored twice while Josh Van Mulligen, Liam Ruck and Misha Volotovskii added the other goals; Gavin McKenna had five assists in the win. Medicine Hat enters tonight with a 1-1 record in Game 3’s in this playoff.
Tonight will be Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Championship as the Hurricanes will look for their first win of the series; Lethbridge is 2-0 all-time against Medicine Hat in Game 3’s in the WHL Playoffs. Tickets for tonight’s game can be purchased by visiting the Yates Memorial Theatre or VisitLethbridge.com Arena Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.visitlethbridgearena.ca.
DOWNLOAD MEDIA KIT: 2025-04-29 – LET vs. MH – GM3
2025 PLAYOFF SERIES: (*If necessary)
Game 1 – Friday, April 25th – 7:00pm – Lethbridge at Medicine Hat (5-2 MH)
Game 2 – Saturday, April 26th – 7:00pm – Lethbridge at Medicine Hat (7-2 MH)
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 29th – 7:00pm – Medicine Hat at Lethbridge
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 30th – 7:00pm – Medicine Hat at Lethbridge
*Game 5 – Friday, May 2nd – 7:00pm – Lethbridge at Medicine Hat
*Game 6 – Saturday, May 3rd – 7:00pm – Medicine Hat at Lethbridge
*Game 7 – Tuesday, May 6th – 7:00pm – Lethbridge at Medicine Hat
2025 PLAYOFF STATS LEADERS:
Goals (7) – Brayden Yager
Assists (10) – Miguel Marques
Points (14) – Brayden Edwards
PIMS (26) – Miguel Marques
Plus/Minus (+6) – Anthony Wilson
Wins (8) – Jackson Unger
Shutouts (1) – Jackson Unger
Save % (.898) – Jackson Unger
Goals Against Average (3.06) – Jackson Unger
REGULAR SEASON vs. TIGERS: During the regular season, the Hurricanes faced the Tigers on eight occasions posting a record of 3-4-1-0. In the season series, Lethbridge posted a 3-0-1-0 record home ice while going 0-4-0-0 on the road at Co-op Place. The Hurricanes were outscored 38-24 in the season series while four of the eight games were decided by a single goal. The ‘Canes went 27.3% on the power play while going 67.7% on the penalty kill.
2024-2025 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
November 6th/2024 – at Lethbridge (7-6 LET)
December 6th/2024 – at Lethbridge (4-3 LET)
December 14th/2024 – at Medicine Hat (3-2 MH)
December 15th/2024 – at Lethbridge (4-1 LET)
December 28th/2024 – at Medicine Hat (4-0 MH)
February 17th/2025 – at Medicine Hat (5-1 MH)
March 14th/2025 – at Lethbridge (6-5 OT MH)
March 22nd/2025 – at Medicine Hat (10-1 MH)
2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
November 3rd/2023 – at Medicine Hat (4-3 OT LET)
December 13th/2023 – at Lethbridge (6-2 MH)
December 14th/2023 – at Medicine Hat (7-2 MH)
December 30th/2023 – at Medicine Hat (4-2 LET)
January 12th/2024 – at Lethbridge (5-2 LET)
January 13th/2024 – at Medicine Hat (3-2 MH)
March 6th/2024 – at Lethbridge (5-1 LET)
March 22nd/2024 – at Lethbridge (3-2 OT MH)
March 23rd/2024 – at Medicine Hat (4-3 OT LET)
2024-2025 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (31) – Brayden Edwards
Assists (57) – Brayden Yager
Points (82) – Brayden Yager
PIMS (92) – Trae Johnson
Plus/Minus (+35) – Logan Wormald
Wins (26) – Jackson Unger
Shutouts (2) – Koen Cleaver & Jackson Unger
Save % (.899) – Jackson Unger
Goals Against Average (3.15) – Jackson Unger
PLAYOFF STREAKING:
– Miguel Marques had points in 8 straight games (4g-5a); 10 of 11 games (5g-6a); 23 of 29 games (14g-24a)
– Jordan Gustafson had points in 2 straight games (1g-2a); 4 of 6 games (5g-2a); 14 of 18 games (14g-8a)
– Brayden Yager had points in 8 of 9 games (2g-9a); 10 of 12 games (2g-13a); 42 of 54 games (23g-57a)
– Brayden Edwards had points in 8 of 9 games (6g-4a); 11 of 13 games (8g-6a); 48 of 65 games (31g-46a)
– Leo Braillard had points in 7 of 9 games (4g-5a); 12 of 16 games (7g-11a); 32 of 53 games (26g-20a)
– Logan Wormald had points in 6 of 7 games (2g-11a); 15 of 19 games (10g-19a); 43 of 56 games (30g-40a)
– Noah Chadwick had points in 3 of 4 games (1g-2a); 7 of 10 games (2g-5a); 40 of 66 games (13g-40a)
NEWS & NOTES:
Game 3’s: The Hurricanes have posted an all-time record of 18-24 in Game 3’s in their WHL post-season history. Lethbridge has posted a 1-1 record in the first game of these playoffs earning a 3-1 win in Round 1 against Brandon while falling 5-3 to Calgary in Round 2. The ‘Canes are 2-0 all-time in Game 3’s against the Tigers in the WHL Playoffs.
All-Time Record: In the playoffs, the ‘Canes have posted an all-time record of 94-122 in 216 post-season games in their team history. Lethbridge posted an all-time record of 20-22 in 42 playoff series. In their history when not holding home-ice advantage, the Hurricanes have posted a record of 5-19 in 24 playoff series. One of those five series victories came in the second-round in 2017 when the Hurricanes eliminated the Tigers in seven games.
Third Ever Meeting: The ‘Canes will face the Tigers for just the third time in their playoff history. Lethbridge faced Medicine Hat in the Conference Final in 1991 and against in the second-round in 2017 with the Hurricanes winning both series in seven games. The Hurricanes held home-ice advantage in 1991 while the Tigers held it in 2017. In 1981 playoffs, the Lethbridge Broncos defeated the Tigers in five games in the first-round in the only other Lethbridge-Medicine Hat playoff series.
Playoff Experience: The Hurricanes enter tonight with a total of 515 man-games worth of WHL Playoff experience. The most experienced ‘Cane is Brayden Yager with 54 career post-season games followed by Jordan Gustafson who has appeared in 44 playoff games. By comparison, the Tigers have 441 man-games worth of playoff experience led by Jonas Woo with 51 career post-season games.
Six Straight: Hurricanes netminder Jackson Unger is coming off his sixth straight playoff series victory with the win over the Calgary Hitmen in the second-round. The WHL Champion with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2024 has been terrific for the Hurricanes in the 2025 post-season posting an 8-4-2 record with a 3.06 goals against average and a .898 save percentage with one shutout. In the four victories against Calgary, Unger posted a 0.75 GAA and an incredible .976 SV% with clean sheet.
Final Four: The ‘Canes advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship Series after a thrilling seven-game series win over the Calgary Hitmen in the second-round of the WHL Playoffs. It marks the first time since 2018 that the Hurricanes are in the final four in the WHL while it is the third time in the last nine WHL playoffs the ‘Canes will compete for the East Title. Lethbridge has advance to the WHL Final four prior times including 1990, 1991, 1997 and 2008 with their lone Championship coming in 1997.
On The List: Defenceman Carsen Adair and goaltender Koen Cleaver were both listed by the NHL Central Scouting Service on their Final Rankings ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Adair, from Clavet, SK, was ranked 203rd among North American skaters. Cleaver, from Port Alberni, BC, was ranked 24th among North American goaltenders. In total, 67 WHL players were ranked by Central Scouting.
Award Nominations: The Hurricanes have been nominated for multiple WHL Awards. Bill Peters was named a finalist for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy for the WHL’s Coach of the Year, Shane Smith was a nominee for the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year, Brayden Yager has been named a finalist for the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Award – a trophy he has won two-straight seasons – and Noah Chadwick named a finalist for the WHL’s Defenceman of the Year Award. The Hurricanes organization has also been nominated for the Business of the Year Award.
All-Stars: The WHL named Hurricanes Captain Noah Chadwick as a First Team All Star while Brayden Yager was named a Second Team All Star. Chadwick finished the regular season with 53-points to rank third among rearguards in the Eastern Conference while Yager ended the year with 83-points finishing fifth among forward in the Eastern Conference in points-per-game.
PP Rollin’: The ‘Canes ended the regular season red host on the power play. In their last 24 games, the Hurricanes went 26/76 (34.2%) with the extra man while having scored at least one power play goal in 12 of their last 16 games and 15 of their last 20 outings. Lethbridge’s power play ranked seventh overall in the WHL. The ‘Canes are 10/39 (25.6%) on the power play in the playoffs.
Penalty Killed: In their last 45 games, Lethbridge has allowed the opposition just 19 power play goals with the ‘Canes going 126/145 for a kill percentage of 86.9% in that span. The Hurricanes have allowed just nine power play goals in their last 28 games going 71/82 (86.6%) in those games. They have allowed one-or-less PPG against in 36 of 37 games and 42 of 44 contests. Lethbridge’s penalty kill was ranked first overall. The ‘Canes are 9/42 (78.6%) on the penalty kill in the playoffs.
