Cozens Hat Trick Leads Tigers To Home Opener Win

Category: ArticleSeptember 19, 2026

Medicine Hat, AB – The Tigers welcomed their Highway 3 rival to a packed Co-op Place on Saturday, September 18th for their 2026-27 Home Opener.

Tabbies fans filled the stands in Co-op Place to welcome some new and some familiar faces to Medicine Hat for the 2026-27 season. They also got their first in person look at the returning fan favourite script jerseys as the players wore them for the first time at home.

Energized by the crowd, the bright lights and a rivalry game on Saturday night, the Tigers played some great hockey in the first period.

Calgary Flames prospect Mace’o Phillips set the tone early; imposing a dominant, physical presence on the Hurricanes.

Tiger fans didn’t have to wait too long to get on their feet as the opening goal came just past the halfway point of the first period. Gavin Kor scored his first of the season with a perfectly place one-time shot from the right circle. Co-op Place erupted and the Tigers had a 1-0 lead at 12:57

Just when fans thought the Home Opener couldn’t get more exciting, Luke Cozens made a statement in the final minute of the first period.

Cozens sniped a wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle at 19:33 for his first of the year, doubling the Tigers lead to 2-0.

Just 22 seconds later, Cozens stole the puck in his own end and elected to shoot on a 2-on-1 with Arvid Drott. His second of the night made for an electric end to the first period of a highly anticipated game.

The Tigers took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission after outshooting the Hurricanes 13-8.

Some big plays from a few Tigers defencemen led to some great scoring opportunities in the middle frame. Kadon McCann was back to his old ways digging hard in the crease, coming close on a few high danger chances.

Luke Ruptash scored the lone goal of the second period which was also his first career goal. Kor passed back to the young forward who fired a wrist shot to score the fourth unanswered Tiger goal.

Lethbridge began to claw their way back into the game in the third period, outshooting Medicine Hat 16-7 in the final 20 minutes of play.

Their first goal of the game came from Logan Stuart at 7:44, bringing them within three.

The former Hurricane, Cozens, put the final nail in the coffin as he completed his first hat-trick for the orange and black with an empty net goal at 18:26.

Carter Casey was called to guard the crease on Saturday night. His stellar play saw him stop 30 of 31 shots and was a huge part of the Tigers’ win.

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