Tigers, Hurricanes gear up for Eastern Conference Championship bash

Calgary, Alta.- And then there were four.

With a 3-1 win to eliminate the Calgary Hitmen on Wednesday night, the Lethbridge Hurricanes have become the final team to advance to the Conference Championships in the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.

The stage is set for a Central Division showdown in the East. The top-ranked Medicine Hat Tigers have been patiently awaiting their next opponent after completing a sweep of the Prince Albert Raiders on Thursday, April 17.

The Central Division champion Tigers (47-17-3-1, 98 points) went 5-3-0-0 against the Hurricanes (42-21-3-2, 89 points) in the regular season.

In the playoffs, Tigers star Gavin McKenna has put on a masterclass with six goals and 16 assists for 22 points in nine matches- including a showstopping dangle on home ice and road lacrosse goal that have garnered goal of the year chatter.

The projected top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft ranks third in the WHL in playoff points-per-game with 2.44, trailing only his fellow WHL Player of the Year nominees, Andrew Cristall and Berkly Catton from the Spokane Chiefs.

On the Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and WHL Defenceman of the Year nominee Noah Chadwick has captained his team to its first Eastern Conference Championship appearance since 2018 with six goals (including a game-winner) and six assists for 12 points in 12 games.

The Tabbies last made it to the  Conference Championship in 2014.

Medicine Hat and Lethbridge last battled in the 2017 WHL Playoffs, when the Canes dispatched the Tigers in Game 7 of their second-round series, which featured a game-tying goal from Ottawa Senators forward Dylan Cozens, whose younger brother, Luke Cozens, is currently playing for Lethbridge.

Game 1 is set for Friday, April 25, at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat.

The series moves west to the Bridge City for Game 3 on Tuesday, April 29.

Fans can stream the Eastern Conference Championship for free on Victory+.

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