Medicine Hat Tigers

Last updated

Medicine Hat Tigers
Medicine Hat Tigers Logo.svg
City Medicine Hat, Alberta
League Western Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionCentral
Founded1970
Home arena Co-op Place
ColoursOrange and Black
  
General manager Willie Desjardins [1]
Head coachWillie Desjardins
Website chl.ca/whl-tigers
Championships
Regular season titles2 (1985–86, 2005–06)
Playoff championships Ed Chynoweth Cup
5 (1973, 1987, 1988, 2004, 2007)
Memorial Cup
2 (1987, 1988)
Conference Championships
2 (2003–04, 2006–07)
Current uniform
WHL-Uniform-MHT.png
Travis Dunstall playing for the Tigers in 2007. DunstallMedicineHatTigers.jpg
Travis Dunstall playing for the Tigers in 2007.

The Medicine Hat Tigers are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) based in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Established in 1970, the team has won the second most Ed Chynoweth Cups as league champion with five, and has gone on to win two Memorial Cup titles. The Tigers also have seven Division titles. Since 2015, the Tigers play at Co-op Place after forty-five seasons at the Medicine Hat Arena.

Contents

History

Medicine Hat was granted a team in the Western Canada Hockey League ahead of its fifth season, and the Tigers began play in 1970–71. [2] [3] Although the team struggled in its inaugural season, the Tigers rapidly improved, led by the scoring exploits of Tom Lysiak—who won league scoring titles in 1972 and 1973—Lanny McDonald. [4] [5] The team made the playoffs in its second season, and in its third made it to the championship final. In the final, they defeated the Saskatoon Blades to win their first title. [6] [7]

The Tigers' next significant run of success came in the latter half of the 1980s. In 1986, the team secured its first regular season title and advanced to its first of three consecutive league finals. Led by the likes of Trevor Linden, Wayne McBean, and Mark Pederson, the Tigers would capture back-to-back championships and Memorial Cup titles in 1987 and 1988. [8] [9] Because of their success, the championship Tigers' teams were inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. [10]

The Tigers won two more league titles in a four-year span between 2004 and 2007. In 2004, Medicine Hat put together the best record in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the final, where they swept the expansion Everett Silvertips. [11] In 2005–06, the Tigers secured their second regular season title, before losing the Conference Final against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The following season, they would return to the championship series, where they faced the Vancouver Giants. Backstopped by goaltender Matt Keetley, the Tigers defeated the Giants in double-overtime of game seven to win the title. [12] Because Vancouver was hosting the 2007 Memorial Cup, both teams advanced to the tournament. The Tigers again defeated the Giants in overtime during the preliminary round in order to advance directly to the final, which wound up being a re-match between the two rivals. [12] In the final, the host Giants avenged their earlier losses, defeating the Tigers 3–1 at Pacific Coliseum. [13]

Since their last title run in 2007, the Tigers have missed the playoffs only twice, but have failed to advance past the second round of the playoffs, even despite securing division titles in 2016–17 and 2017–18. In 2015, the team moved from the old Arena to the new Co-op Place. [14] In 2024, Gavin McKenna became the fourth Tiger and the first since Neil Brady in 1986 to be named the winner of the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL rookie of the year. [15]

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

SeasonGP W L T OTLGF GA PointsFinishPlayoffs
1970–71 6622431-271351455th WestDid not qualify
1971–72 6835303-351312734th WestLost in quarterfinal
1972–73 6839209-348254872nd WestWon Championship
1973–74 6829318-305314663rd WestLost in quarterfinal
1974–75 7040228-380291882nd WestLost in quarterfinal
1975–76 72382410-379306863rd WestLost in quarterfinal
1976–77 72322812-330304761st CentralLost in preliminary round
1977–78 7222419-293365533rd CentralLost in Central Division final
1978–79 7215507-270479374th CentralDid not qualify
1979–80 7237305-344315793rd EastLost in East Division final
1980–81 7240293-358302833rd EastLost in East Division quarterfinal
1981–82 7225461-308446517th EastDid not qualify
1982–83 7237341-345338756th EastLost in East Division quarterfinal
1983–84 7245261-404288912nd EastLost in East Division final
1984–85 7253172-3552241082nd EastLost in East Division final
1985–86 7254171-3842451091st EastLost in final
1986–87 7248195-3832641011st EastWon Championship and Memorial Cup
1987–88 7244226-353261942nd EastWon Championship and Memorial Cup
1988–89 7241274-359326863rd EastLost in East Division quarterfinal
1989–90 7232382-298331665th EastLost in East Division quarterfinal
1990–91 7240275-366296852nd EastLost in East Division final
1991–92 7248240-336264962nd EastLost in East Division quarterfinal
1992–93 7229385-285343637th EastLost in East Division semifinal
1993–94 7233336-263264725th EastLost in East Division quarterfinal
1994–95 7238322-244229785th EastLost in East Division quarterfinal
1995–96 7230375-243288653rd CentralLost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
1996–97 7239321-270278793rd CentralLost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
1997–98 7216506-188340385th CentralDid not qualify
1998–99 7215561-185323315th CentralDid not qualify
1999–00 72213966222295545th CentralDid not qualify
2000–01 72244053271316565th CentralDid not qualify
2001–02 72303642277316665th CentralDid not qualify
2002–03 72293427278314673rd CentralLost in Eastern Conference semifinal
2003–04 72402093277216921st CentralWon Championship
2004–05 72452142234143961st CentralLost in Eastern Conference semifinal
SeasonGP W L OTL SOLGF GA PointsFinishPlayoffs
2005–06 724716182571711031st CentralLost in Eastern Conference final
2006–07 725217302641751071st CentralWon Championship ; Lost Memorial Cup final
2007–08 72432252234191933rd CentralLost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2008–09 72362943249242792nd CentralLost in Eastern Conference semifinal
2009–10 72412335276232903rd CentralLost in Eastern Conference semifinal
2010–11 724618442651961002nd CentralLost in Eastern Conference final
2011–12 72422424255209903rd CentralLost in Eastern Conference semifinal
2012–13 72363321243244754th CentralLost in Eastern Conference semifinal
2013–14 72442431260196923rd CentralLost in Eastern Conference final
2014–15 72452322268213942nd CentralLost in Eastern Conference semifinal
2015–16 72303732223287655th CentralLost tiebreaker game vs Edmonton
2016–17 725120103502481031st CentralLost in Eastern Conference semifinal
2017–18 72362880260252801st CentralLost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2018–19 68352742217222764th CentralLost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2019–20 63411921265182852nd CentralCancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 23148018769292nd CentralNo playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22 68115331154315266th CentralDid not qualify
2022–23 68302981248224694th CentralLost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2023-24 68372362280231822nd CentralLost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

WHL Championship history

WHL Championships

Memorial Cup finals

NHL alumni

Team records

Team records for a single season
StatisticTotalSeason
Most points109 1985–86
Most wins541985–86
Most goals for404 1983–84
Fewest goals for185 1998–99
Fewest goals against143 2004–05
Most goals against479 1978–79
Individual player records for a single season
StatisticPlayerTotalSeason
Most goals Don Murdoch 88 1975–76
Most assists Greg Carroll 1111975–76
Most pointsGreg Carroll1711975–76
Most points, rookieDon Murdoch141 1974–75
Most points, defenceman Cliff Lane 821975–76
Best GAA (goalie) Matt Keetley 1.662004–05
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Hockey League</span> Junior ice hockey league

The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada, alongside the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Teams play for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, with the winner moving on to play for the Memorial Cup, Canada's national junior championship. WHL teams have won the Memorial Cup 19 times. The WHL is composed of 22 teams divided into two conferences of two divisions. The Eastern Conference comprises 11 teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, while the Western Conference comprises eleven teams from British Columbia and the American states of Washington and Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Linden</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1970)

Trevor John Linden is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former president of hockey operations and alternate governor of the Vancouver Canucks. He spent 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), playing centre and right wing with four teams: the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. Before joining the NHL in 1988, Linden helped the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) win consecutive Memorial Cup championships. In addition to appearing in two NHL All-Star Games, Linden was a member of the 1998 Canadian Olympic team and participated in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everett Silvertips</span> Western Hockey League team in Everett, Washington

The Everett Silvertips are an American major junior ice hockey team based in Everett, Washington. The team plays in the U.S. Division of the Western Conference of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and hosts games at Angel of the Winds Arena. The Silvertips joined the WHL as an expansion team ahead of the 2003–04 season. The team has not missed the playoffs in its 21-year history; Everett twice advanced to the league championship playoff series, but has not won the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Thunderbirds</span> Western Hockey League team in Kent, Washington

The Seattle Thunderbirds are a major junior ice hockey team based in the city of Kent, Washington. They are part of the U.S. Division of the Western Conference in the Western Hockey League. Founded in 1971 as the Vancouver Nats, the team arrived in Seattle in 1977 and played as the Breakers until 1985, when they adopted the Thunderbirds name. The team played in Seattle for three decades before moving to the accesso ShoWare Center in nearby Kent in 2008. The Thunderbirds are two-time WHL champions, with their most recent title coming in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver Giants</span> Western Hockey League team in Langley, British Columbia

The Vancouver Giants are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team playing based in Langley, British Columbia, and playing in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Founded in 2001, the Giants won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions in 2006 and the Memorial Cup as Canadian junior champions in 2007. The team was based in the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, the former arena of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks, until moving to the Langley Events Centre in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saskatoon Blades</span> Western Hockey League team in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan


The Saskatoon Blades are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1964, the Blades were a charter team of the then-Western Canada Junior Hockey League in 1966, and are the only club that has played every season in the league in its original location. Today, the team plays in the East Division of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference, and hosts games at the SaskTel Centre. Despite five regular season titles and five appearances in the championship series, the Blades have never won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league playoff champions. The team has twice hosted the Memorial Cup tournament, in 1989 and in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swift Current Broncos</span> Western Hockey League team in Swift Current, Saskatchewan

The Swift Current Broncos are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1967, the Broncos relocated to Lethbridge, Alberta in 1974, and were known as the Lethbridge Broncos, before returning to Swift Current in 1986. The team plays in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference, and hosts games at Innovation Credit Union iPlex. Swift Current is the smallest city with a team in the WHL, and the second smallest across the entire Canadian Hockey League. The Broncos are three-time WHL playoff champions, and won the 1989 Memorial Cup. Before any of their championships, the Broncos were known for a 1986 team bus crash that resulted in the deaths of four players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Albert Raiders</span> Western Hockey League team in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

The Prince Albert Raiders are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1971 as a member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, the Raiders have been members of the Western Hockey League since 1982. They play in the East Division of the Eastern Conference and host games at the Art Hauser Centre.The Raiders are two-time Ed Chynoweth Cup winners, and won the Memorial Cup as Canadian junior champions in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spokane Chiefs</span> Western Hockey League team in Spokane, Washington

The Spokane Chiefs are an American major junior ice hockey team based in Spokane, Washington. The Chiefs play in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League's Western Conference, playing home games at Spokane Arena. The Chiefs are two-time Memorial Cup champions—the second American team to win the title—winning in 1991 and 2008. Spokane hosted the first outdoor game in WHL history on January 15, 2011, at Avista Stadium.

The 2006–07 WHL season was the 41st season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Twenty-one teams completed a 72-game season, with the Chilliwack Bruins competing in their inaugural season. The Everett Silvertips won their first Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record. The Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup, defeating the Vancouver Giants in seven games. However, the Giants captured the 2007 Memorial Cup as tournament hosts, defeating the Tigers in the championship game.

The 2003–04 WHL season was the 38th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Twenty teams completed a 72-game season. The defending champion Kelowna Rockets won their second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record; however, they failed to defend their playoff title as the Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup, their fourth in team history, defeating the expansion Everett Silvertips in the championship series. This gave Medicine Hat a berth in the 2004 Memorial Cup tournament, which, because it was hosted by Kelowna, also featured the Rockets, who went on to win the tournament.

The 1972–73 WCHL season was the seventh season of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL). It featured twelve teams and a 68-game regular season. The Saskatoon Blades topped the regular season standings with 46 wins. However, in the playoffs, the Medicine Hat Tigers defeated the Blades in the championship series to win the club's first President's Cup title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of WHL history</span>

This is a timeline of events throughout the history of the Western Hockey League (WHL), which dates back to its founding in 1966. The league was founded by a group of team owners and managers in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including Bill Hunter, Scotty Munro, Del Wilson, and Jim Piggott, who thought a larger western league would help western teams compete for the Memorial Cup against teams from the larger associations in Ontario and Quebec. Since the league's founding, it has expanded to include 22 teams across the four Western Canadian provinces along with the Northwest United States, and it has produced 19 Memorial Cup championship teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Chynoweth Cup</span> Western Hockey League trophy

The Ed Chynoweth Cup is an ice hockey club championship trophy awarded to the playoff champion of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Originally called the President's Cup when the league was founded in 1966, the trophy was renamed in 2007 to honour Ed Chynoweth's long service to junior ice hockey in Canada. The WHL champion earns a berth into the Memorial Cup tournament, Canada's major junior hockey championship. The Kamloops Blazers have won the most WHL championships with six, followed by the Medicine Hat Tigers with five. The Spokane Chiefs were the first team to win the renamed trophy in the 2007–08 WHL season. The current (2023–24) holders of the Ed Chynoweth Cup are the Moose Jaw Warriors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Memorial Cup</span> Canadian junior mens ice hockey championship

The 2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup was played in May 2007 in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the Pacific Coliseum. It was the 89th annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The tournament was competed between the WHL champion, the Medicine Hat Tigers; the OHL champion, the Plymouth Whalers; the QMJHL champion, the Lewiston Maineiacs; and the host team and tournament champion, Vancouver Giants, who were competing in their second consecutive national junior championship. The Memorial Cup tournament was a four team tournament with a round-robin format. The Giants won their first Memorial Cup, defeating Medicine Hat 3–1 in the second all-WHL final in tournament history. The tournament set a new Memorial Cup attendance record with 121,561 fans attending the nine games. The previous record of 84,686 was set at the 2003 tournament in Quebec City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michal Řepík</span> Czech ice hockey player

Michal Řepík is a Czech professional ice hockey left winger. He is currently under contract with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Repik was selected by the Florida Panthers in the 2nd round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1973 Memorial Cup</span> Canadian junior mens ice hockey championship

The 1973 Memorial Cup occurred May 7–12 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. It was the 55th annual Memorial Cup competition, organized by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) to determine the champion of major junior A ice hockey. Participating teams were the winners of the Ontario Hockey Association, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League which were the Toronto Marlboros, Quebec Remparts and Medicine Hat Tigers. Toronto won their 6th Memorial Cup, defeating Quebec in the final game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wacey Rabbit</span> Ice hockey player

Wacey Rabbit is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the American Hockey League (AHL) and current assistant coach of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

The 2009–10 WHL season was the 44th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began on September 17, 2009, and ended on March 14, 2010. The 2009 Subway Super Series, featuring Team WHL versus Team Russia, took place mid-season from November 25 to 26, 2009. The Calgary Hitmen won their second consecutive and fourth overall Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for best regular season record. The playoffs took place from March 18 to May 7. The Hitmen followed up their regular season title by defeating the Tri-City Americans in the championship series to claim their second Ed Chynoweth Cup, and a berth in the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament.

Ice hockey in Seattle, Washington, includes professional teams as early as 1915, such as the Seattle Metropolitans, the first United States-based team to win the Stanley Cup. The city has been represented by various teams in the iterations of the Western Hockey League (WHL) since 1944, of which the major junior Seattle Thunderbirds are the latest. Presently, the city has a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, the Seattle Kraken, who began play in the 2021–22 season.

References

  1. ↑ "Willie Desjardins Named GM & Head Coach". OurSports Central. May 31, 2019.
  2. ↑ "WHL History". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ "New entry for WCHL". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. January 15, 1970. p. 1. Lock-green.svg
  4. ↑ "Former NHL all-star Tom Lysiak dead at 63". Sportsnet . Canadian Press. May 30, 2016. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Lanny McDonald named to order of Hockey in Canada". Medicine Hat News . March 10, 2022. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024– via pressreader.com.
  6. ↑ Lapp, Richard M.; White, Silas (1993). Local Heroes: A History of the Western Hockey League . Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing. p. 101. ISBN   1-55017-080-5.
  7. ↑ Eremondi, Tom (2004). "Saskatoon Blades celebrate long success as junior franchise". Saskatoon Blades. StarPhoenix Creative Services. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  8. ↑ Lapp, Richard; Macaulay, Alec (1997). The Memorial Cup: Canada's National Junior Hockey Championship . Madeira Park, B.C.: Harbour Publishing. pp. 233–235. ISBN   1-55017-170-4.
  9. ↑ Zacharias, Yvonne (December 15, 2008). "Linden 'an ambassador for the game'". Vancouver Sun . Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Medicine Hat Tigers Hockey Teams 86–87, 87–88". Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  11. ↑ Riley, Jim (May 12, 2004). "Silvertips: An 'unbelievable' season". The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Dorsett sends Tigers to Memorial Cup final". CBC Sports . May 24, 2007. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Giants capture franchise's first Memorial Cup". CBC Sports. May 27, 2007. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  14. ↑ Jordan, Kevin (February 9, 2023). "Medicine Hat Tigers". WHL Arena Guide. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  15. ↑ Kierszenblat, Adam (May 7, 2024). "Gavin McKenna Named WHL's Rookie Of The Year For 2023-24". The Hockey News . Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.