Medicine Hat Tigers make triumphant return after WHL win

On Friday, the team beat the Spokane Chiefs in a 4-2 game to add a sixth WHL title to the franchise’s collection — the first since 2007.

The Tigers won the best-of-seven final for the Ed Chynoweth Cup 4-1.

Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins said the support of fans was quite significant for the team.

“Our fans are so good. And it really made a difference when we left here after game two,” he said Saturday.

Desjardins said the support was key to get the Tigers going again after the last home game in Medicine Hat on Sunday.

“We were down a little bit. That was a tough game for us,” he said.

“When we went and saw our fans, it got us excited again, and we knew we had to try to bring it back.”

Desjardins said he loves Medicine Hat and the fans, and the team always wants to do them proud.

Desjardins said the support of fans was quite significant for the team. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Tigers netminder Harrison Meneghin was named the 2025 WHL Playoffs MVP following the win on Friday.

He said it makes it easy to play when all of the Medicine Hat fans show up, even down in Spokane, WA.

“You see how much this means to the people here,” he said.

“It’s super special to see everyone.”

Meneghin said with the team having been down four to one in Lethbridge in December, being able to come back shows the resilient group the Tigers have.

“In the back of your mind, you’re playing for yourself, but then you’re also playing for your fans and everyone that cares so much about you,” he said.

“It’s super special to be able to play in front of probably the best fans in the league.”

Meneghin said it makes it easy to play when all of the Medicine Hat fans show up. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Tigers forward Hunter St. Martin extended the teams lead to a one point advance on Friday, ultimately earning them the victory.

“I couldn’t do it without this group. I mean, this group has gone through thick and thin to do this, and I’m just so proud of everyone,” he said.

“We couldn’t do it without every single guy, from top to bottom, and even the community, the staff is- it’s a group effort to do this, and now we’ve just got to get another one.”

St. Martin said the team takes it one game at a time, and doesn’t worry about what they’re doing in the future — heading into the Memorial Cup starting May 22.

“That can cause problems. But just enjoying this moment and this win, and then we’ll get prepared for that once this is all over with,” he said.

St. Martin said the team takes it one game at a time and doesn’t worry about what they’re doing in the future. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Jordie Tallas, otherwise known as “Jumpin’ Joride Tallas”, has widely been agreed to be the Tigers’ number one fan for years.

“It’s just outstanding how good we play,” Tallas said.

“Our goalie was outstanding. Harry [Meneghin]- he played good,” he added.

“What can I say? Big or small, we beat them all.”

Tallas said it’s outstanding how good the Tigers play. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Tigers fans Gladys Leipert, Cindy Peters and Loanne Schneider said there’s a camaraderie with the team that wasn’t present before.

“Because of the circumstances that they’ve had to go through,” said Leipert.

Leipert [left centre], Peters [left] and Schneider [right] said there’s a camaraderie with the team that wasn’t present before. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

“They were like brothers fighting for each other. They were not going to lose, they were winning it for Harry [Meneghin],” said Peters.

“You can see that they’ve bonded. Not just as a team, but as good friends and brothers. And that’s what brought it together.”

The Tigers announced the passing of Meneghin’s father Derek in March.

The team captain is typically the first to accept the cup and raise it in the air to celebrate, but the Tigers’ Oasiz Wiesblatt instead called Meneghin forward to do so on Friday.

Wiesblatt carries the Ed Chynoweth Cup through a crowd of fans in Medicine Hat. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Meneghin made 34 saves the final game. He was named the WHL playoff most valuable player on a 14-1 record, a 2.35 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.

Desjardins said the Memorial Cup is a really tough tournament, and it’s not a surprise for the team that they’ve made it as they’ve worked all year to get to this point.

“I know it’s going to be real challenging,” he said.

“We’ve got to use the next couple of days to rest up and try to get healthy, and then we’ve got to go see what we can do.”

The Tigers head to Rimouski, QC next week to make their sixth Memorial Cup appearance in team history.

by Jayk Sterkenburg

Medicine Hat Tigers make triumphant return after WHL win

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