Sunday Night in the Dub: Tigers, Hitmen meet in regular season finale with division title, conference lead on the line

The 2024-25 WHL regular season is going out with a bang.

It’s a clash of titans as the Medicine Hat Tigers and Calgary Hitmen meet in their final game with the Central Division title and first seed in the Eastern Conference on the line.

Led by projected top 2026 NHL Draft pick Gavin McKenna, the Tigers have won nine straight games and have set themselves apart as the highest-scoring team in the WHL

McKenna is sitting second in the WHL scoring race with 126 points (39G-87A) and sits six points behind Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall of the Spokane Chiefs (48G-84A).

But the 17-year-old has potted seven and five points in his last two games, so a shot at the scoring title isn’t out of the question.

The Whitehorse, Yukon product is also looking to extend his historic point streak to 40 games after racking up 30 goals and 67 assists for 97 points in 39 straight outings.

Medicine Hat is one of only two teams to feature multiple 100-point scorers (the other being Spokane) with Captain Oasiz Wiesblatt sitting fifth overall with 102 points (36G-66A).

Wiesblatt doubles as a scoring threat and agitator for the Tabbies as he also sits second among all WHLers in PIMs with 148.

The Tigers boast six 20-plus goal scorers, including NHL prospects Ryder Ritchie (Minnesota Wild) and Hunter St. Martin (Florida Panthers), as well as 2025 NHL Draft-eligible defenceman Bryce Pickford, who is one of only five WHL blueliners to hit the milestone.

On the flip side, Calgary has established itself as one of the most balanced attacks across the WHL.

They’ve also got the league’s best home record, having lost only five games in regulation at the Saddledome in 2024-25.

Veteran Oliver Tulk has hit 100 points (38G-62A) for the first time in his career, and linemate Ben Kindel, another top 2025 NHL Draft prospect, is right behind him with 34 goals and 64 assists for 98 points.

Captain Carson Wetsch, a 2024 San Jose Sharks pick, has lived up to his NHL team’s nickname with a tendency to strike when he smells blood in the water.

The crafty winger is enjoying a career season with 52 points and hit the 30-goal mark for the first time (33G-19A), including a WHL-best 10 game-winning goals.

Calgary’s stacked defensive corps also features four NHL prospects- Carter Yakemchuk (Ottawa Senators), Sawyer Mynio (Vancouver Canucks), Axel Hurtig (Calgary Flames) and Kalem Parker (Minnesota Wild).

Between the pipes, both teams traded for veteran All-Stars netminders to bring important experience to the crease.

Calgary’s Daniel Hauser has made history by becoming the WHL’s all-time winningest goalie with 123 regular season wins and tied the league record for consecutive shutouts (4).

Since joining the Hitmen, Hauser is 20-4-0-0 with a 1.91 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage and six shutouts. The 20-year-old was named WHL Goaltender of the Month for February and WHL Goaltender of the Week twice.

Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin overcame an early-season injury to play some of the best hockey of his WHL career down the stretch.

Meneghin sports a 22-10-1-1 record, a 2.60 goals-against average, an .899 save percentage and three shutouts and is coming off his 68th career win.

He was named WHL Goaltender of the Month for January after going 7-0-0-0 with a 1.55 GAA, a .930 save percentage and one shutout- which included back-to-back wins against Calgary and a red-hot 5-0-0-1 run on a U.S. Division road trip.

Medicine Hat is 6-0-1-0 against Calgary this season, though three of the matches have required overtime or a shootout.

Puck drop is set for 5:00 p.m. MST at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

All Wednesday Night in the Dub featured games will be free to stream on WHL Live and the WHL’s YouTube Channel.

The 2025 WHL Playoffs will also be available for free on Victory+.

STAT PACK

	Medicine Hat Tigers	Calgary Hitmen
Record	46-17-3-1 (1st Central)	45-16-3-3 (2nd Central)
Leading Scorers	Gavin McKenna (39G-87A, 126PTS) Oasiz Wiesblatt (36G-66A, 102PTS) Ryder Ritchie (29G-32A, 61PTS)	Oliver Tulk (38G-62A, 100PTS) Ben Kindel (34G-64A, 98PTS) Connor Hvidston (19G-37A, 56PTS)
Leading Goaltender	Harrison Meneghin (22-10-1-1, 2.60 GAA, .899 save percentage, three shutouts)	Daniel Hauser (28-13-2-1, 2.55 GAA, .913 save percentage, five shutouts)
Powerplay	28.1% (3rd)	22.1% (17th)
Penalty Kill	79.8% (4th)	78.1% (9th)

 

NHL PROSPECTS

Medicine Hat Tigers

F- Andrew Basha (Calgary Flames)*

F-Cayden Lindstrom (Columbus Blue Jackets)*

F- Ryder Ritchie (Minnesota Wild)

F- Hunter St. Martin (Florida Panthers)

D- Veeti Vaisanen (Utah Hockey Club)

D- Tanner Molendyk (Nashville Predators)

D- Niilopekka Muhonen (Dallas Stars)

G- Harrison Meneghin (Tampa Bay)

Calgary Hitmen

F- Tanner Howe (Pittsburgh Penguins)

F- Carson Wetsch (San Jose Sharks)

D- Axel Hurtig (Calgary Flames)

D- Sawyer Mynio (Vancouver Canucks)

D- Kalem Parker (Minnesota Wild)

D- Carter Yakemchuk (Ottawa Senators)

Top 2025 NHL Draft Eligibles (per NHL Central Scouting)

Medicine Hat Tigers

D- Bryce Pickford (73)

F- Kadon McCann (101)

D- Jonas Woo (147)