Medicine Hat Tigers forward Ryder Ritchie celebrates scoring the opening goal of Game 4 of the WHL Championship Series. Medicine Hat. would go on to win 5-2. Photo Credit: Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs

By Eli J. Ridder, Will Bryant

Sports

Tigers defeat Chiefs 5-2, move one win away from sixth WHL Title

May 15, 2025 | 1:00 AM

A four-goal second period helped lift the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 5-2 Game 4 victory, moving them just one win away from clinching their sixth WHL Title in franchise history.

The game began with a bang as the clubs traded goals in the opening minute, with Ryder Ritchie and Asanali Sarkenov scoring 17 seconds apart.

The Ritchie tally marked the fourth time the Tigers have opened the scoring this series, and the third time they’ve done so in the opening minute.

The game remained tied at one early in the second before a Bryce Pickford power play tally would restore the Medicine Hat lead.

The goal extended Pickford’s goal-scoring streak to seven games, a modern WHL record.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat: April 2-5

Apr 02, 2026

What's On

Top five things to do at the Medicine Hat Public Library in April

Apr 01, 2026

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat: March 27-29

Mar 27, 2026

Pickford wasn’t done there, adding a second power-play tally just shy of the halfway mark of the game.

The goal came on a 5-on-3 power-play goal after Spokane Chiefs defenseman Nathan Mayes was assessed a game misconduct for a late, high hit on Tigers forward Misha Volotovskii, and Rasmus Ekstrom was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct minor.

Liam Ruck would add his sixth of the playoffs towards the tail-end of the five-minute Tiger powerplay to extend the Tiger lead to three.

Late in the frame, the Chiefs responded with a powerplay goal of their own to get back within two.

The two-goal game would be short-lived as Hunter St. Martin extended the Tiger lead back out to three in the final minute of the middle frame.

The Tigers would hold onto their three-goal lead through the final 20 and move one win away from their sixth WHL Title in Tigers history.

Medicine Hat will have an opportunity to close out the series Friday night in Spokane.

Puck drop for Game 5 is slated for 8 p.m., and the pre-game show gets underway at 7:45 p.m. on WILD 94.5