Medicine Hat Tigers claim Central Division title, first seed in Eastern Conference in heated WHL regular season finale versus Calgary
Calgary, Alta.- More of this, but playoffs, please.
The 2024-25 WHL regular season finale delivered high drama, firey scrums and highlight-reel goals as the Medicine Hat Tigers clawed the Calgary Hitmen 5-2.
Tigers phenom Gavin McKenna potted two goals and an assist as Medicine Hat claimed its 10th Division title in franchise history.
More importantly, the win sees the Tigers lock up the first seed in the Eastern Conference entering the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.
The high-flying tilt saw two of the strongest teams in the WHL trade phenomenal opportunities from start to finish.
Hitmen netminder Anders Miller set the tone early when he flashed the leather to deny Florida Panthers prospect Hunter St. Martin on a neat Tigers passing play in the first minute of action.
The teams would stay deadlocked at 0-0 after 20 minutes of play.
ANDERS MILLER, YOU MAD MAN!@WHLHitmen | #WHLWednesday pic.twitter.com/HSRRJuErB2
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 23, 2025
Cochrane product Ethan Neutens found the icebreaker with a lethal shot from the slot early in the second period, with alternate captain Josh Van Mulligen picking up the helper.
WHAT. A. SHOT.@tigershockey forward Ethan Neutens opens the scoring in a pivotal Central Division clash.
| https://t.co/7uNPG2VDpY
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 24, 2025
Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Ben Kindel has the answer for the Hitmen while the teams played four-on-four midway through the second period.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound centreman outmuscled a Tigers defender to tuck the puck home on a partial breakaway for his 35th goal and 99th point of the season.
Calgary Flames prospect Axel Hurtig made the pass that sprung Kindel for the opportunity.
The road to 100 points continues.
Ben Kindel nets his 99th of the campaign with a one-manned effort!@WHLHitmen | #WHLWednesday
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 24, 2025
But Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk sent his team to the dressing room on top.
St. Martin and projected top 2026 NHL Draft pick McKenna touched the puck back to Molendyk to streak into the offensive zone and hammer the puck past Anders Miller.
This marks the blueliner’s 160th WHL point.
With the assist, McKenna also extended his historic point streak to 40 straight games- the second-longest point streak by any CHL skater in the 21st century.
I love… [Tanner Molendyk].
WHL admin, are you just looking at things in the [Scotiabank Saddledome] and saying that you love them?
I love [Tanner Molendyk].
Do you really love [Tanner Molendyk], or are you just saying it because you saw it?
I love [Tanner Molendyk]! pic.twitter.com/bgRzdSvIP4
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 24, 2025
McKenna continued his magical season in the final frame by picking off an errant puck and flying down the ice to swat the puck into the twine for a 3-1 lead.
A tiger can run anywhere between 50 and 65 kph.
While we couldn't get a clear read on Gavin McKenna, we can confirm he too is very, very fast. @tigershockey | #WHLWednesday pic.twitter.com/EeLTcweHWL
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 24, 2025
The Hitmen mustered another furious push in the final ten minutes with an unusual tally.
After Brandon Gorzynski rocked a shot off the pads of Harrison Meneghin, the puck flew high into the air to the confusion of many players on the ice- except for alternate captain David Adaszynski.
The centreman quickly corraled the puck and fired it into the yawning cage to bring Calgary within one.
We have a game, folks!
David Adaszynski pulls the @WHLHitmen within one.
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 24, 2025
But McKenna quickly erased any hopes of a comeback with a second sensational goal.
The 17-year-old Whitehorse, Yukon product tallied his 41st goal and 129th point of the season to make it 4-2.
MCKENNA MCMAGIC ON A SUNDAY NIGHT.@tigershockey | #WHLWednesday pic.twitter.com/nJLoBYbVE9
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 24, 2025
Utah Hockey Club prospect Veeti Vaisanen iced the match with an empty netter as the Tigers emerged victorious.
Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison dazzled with 35 saves- tying for his second-busiest night of the season.
At the other end, Anders Miller turned aside 22 of 26.
With the win, Medicine Hat has secured first place in the Central Division and first seed in the Eastern Conference with a 47-17-3-1 record.
The Tigers will face the eight-seed Swift Current Broncos in Round One of the 2025 WHL Playoffs.
Calgary (45-17-3-3) still holds plenty of momentum- and home-ice advantage- as the third seed in the East.
The Hitmen will take on the Saskatoon Blades (6) in the first round of the postseason.
Every game of the 2025 WHL Playoffs will be streamed for free on Victory+ starting Friday, March 28, 2025.
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