Medicine Hat Tigers captain James Hamblin has played his final junior game following cancellation of WHL playoffs (Photo courtesy of Randy Feere / Medicine Hat Tigers)

By Scott Roblin

Playoffs Cancelled

Tigers season over following cancellation of WHL playoffs & Memorial Cup

Mar 23, 2020 | 5:37 PM

CALGARY, AB – The small flicker of hope for the 2019-20 WHL playoffs was extinguished by the Canadian Hockey League on Monday, officially ending the season for the Medicine Hat Tigers.

CHL commissioner Dan MacKenzie, along with commissioners from the OHL, QMJHL and WHL, decided to cancel the remainder of the season less than a week after axing the CHL’s regular season.

In a statement issued Monday, WHL commissioner Ron Robison said the COVID-19 pandemic presented too much uncertainty to return to the ice this spring.

“Nothing is more important to the WHL than the health and safety of our players, officials, staff, and fans,” said Robison. “Without any ability to predict as to when it will be safe and responsible to return to play, the WHL has made the difficult decision to cancel the WHL playoffs and the balance of the 2019-20 season.”

“All of us at the WHL will continue to do our part in battling this virus so that we may be in a position to enjoy more WHL hockey.”

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

1h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

21h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

The decision officially puts a close to Medicine Hat’s 2019-20 campaign, finishing second place in the Central Division with a 41-19-2-1 record in an abbreviated 63-game schedule.

It also marks the first time that spring playoff hockey won’t be played in Medicine Hat since 2016.

The news also brings three junior careers to a close on the Tigers roster, with captain James Hamblin and defenders Parker Gavlas and Dylan Plouffe graduating from the WHL level.

A two-year captain of the Tigers, Hamblin finishes his five-year stint in Medicine Hat with 324 career games which puts him in a tie for fifth in franchise history. Hamblin also sits 13^th in Tigers history with 284 points and 16^th in career assists with 169.

Gavlas and Plouffe were both brought into the Medicine Hat fold via mid-season trades, with Plouffe splitting his 44 points this year between the Tigers and Vancouver Giants.

As for Gavlas, he recorded five goals and 26 points in 57 games with the Tigers in his final season in the WHL.

Robison also announced the cancellation of the 2020 Memorial Cup, which was to have been held May 22 to 31 in Kelowna, B.C.

The cancellation marks the first year the Memorial Cup won’t be handed out since its inception over 100 years ago in 1919.