Medicine Hat Tigers qualify for 2025 WHL Playoffs

Medicine Hat is headed to the Dance.

The Tigers have become the first Eastern Conference team to clinch a berth in the 2025 WHL Playoffs by breezing past the Lethbridge Hurricanes by a score of 5-1 on Monday afternoon.

Minnesota Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie fueled the potent Tabbies attack with a goal and three assists, while Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin made 14 saves in his 62nd career victory.

Medicine Hat entered the season with lofty expectations and a star-studded roster.

Reigning WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year Gavin McKenna has elevated his game with a 99-point (30G-69A) campaign so far, surpassing his 97-point first-year run.

The projected first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is also on a 32-game point streak (check) that’s seen him tally 21 goals and 49 assists. It marks the longest run the league has seen since Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard and Dallas Stars defenceman Logan Stankoven went on 35-game heaters back in 2022-23.

Medicine Hat also features several other premier NHL prospects, including Florida Panthers prospect Hunter St. Martin, who is in the midst of his first 30-goal campaign after signing his entry-level contract with the 2024 Stanley Cup Champions.

Captain Oasiz Wiesblatt is also playing some of his best hockey in his sixth and final WHL season, setting new season highs while surpassing 250 career games played and points.

Medicine Hat made a splash at the 2025 WHL Trade Deadline by landing smooth-skating Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk, who helped the Saskatoon Blades reach Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Championship last season.

The 6-foot, 181-pound blueliner is averaging just shy of a point per game in 16 matches with his new team.

Earlier in the campaign, the Tigers bolstered their strength between the pipes by trading for Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin (16-9-1-1), who sits second among all qualified goaltenders with a 2.61 goals-against average and is tied for second in shutouts (2), while posting a .894 save percentage.

The 20-year-old was recently named WHL Goaltender of the Month after going 7-0-0-0 through January and picking up back-to-back WHL Goaltender of the Week awards.

That impressive run included part of a critical U.S. Division Road trip that saw the Tigers go 5-0-0-1 south of the border and handily defeat the league-leading Everett Silvertips and Western Conference powerhouse Spokane Chiefs.

Former WHL Coach of the Year Willie Desjardins also made some history behind the bench on January 10, 2025, when he became the 12th coach in WHL history to reach 500 regular-season victories.

The Climax, Sask. product led the Tigers to their most recent Ed Chynoweth Cup wins in 2004 and 2007.

Medicine Hat has been crowned WHL Champions five times since joining the league in 1970-71, highlighted by back-to-back Memorial Cup wins in 1987 and 1988.

Now, the storied franchise turns its attention to locking down home-ice advantage in Round One and its first Central Division title since going 36-28-8-0 in 2017-18.

Medicine Hat is back at it on Friday, February 21 as they host the Edmonton Oil Kings (29-20-2-2) at 7:00 p.m. MST.

The WHL’s regular season is set to conclude on March 23, 2025, with the first round of the 2025 WHL Playoffs scheduled to kick off on Friday, March 28.