Tigers claw their way to Round Two of the 2025 WHL Playoffs

Medicine Hat, Alta.- The Eastern Conference-leading Medicine Hat Tigers are marching on after a first-round victory against the Swift Current Broncos in the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.

Led by Minnesota Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie’s series-winning goal, the Tigers clinched the berth in the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 3-2 win on home ice in front of nearly 6,000 fans at Co-op Place on Friday night.

Medicine Hat opened the series with a pair of home wins (4-0, 6-3) before the Broncos picked up their first win of the postseason with a 5-4 decision at the InnovationPlex in Game 3.

Florida Panthers prospect Hunter St. Martin played overtime hero in a 4-3 victory in Game 4 to tee up the Game 5 elimination showdown.

Alternate captain and projected 2026 NHL first-overall draft pick Gavin McKenna continued his absurd scoring pace in the postseason with two goals and 14 assists for 16 points in five games, leading all WHL skaters at time of publication.

Captain Oasiz Wiesblatt also leads all WHLers with seven goals in the first round, while netminder Harrison Meneghin went 4-0-0-0 with a 2.67 goals-against average, an .876 save percentage and one shutout.

This is the first time the Tigers have advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals since the 2017 WHL Playoffs.