Medicine Hat Tigers forward Mathew Ward is the first Tigers player to commit to an NCAA Division I program. Courtesy: Medicine Hat Tigers

By Jesse Gill

SPORTS

Medicine Hat Tigers forward Mathew Ward first in team history to commit to an NCAA program

Jan 9, 2025 | 12:58 PM

Medicine Hat Tigers forward Mathew Ward is the first player in team history to commit to an NCAA Division I program after recent changes to a previous ban.

The 20-year old from Kamloops, B.C. will join Northern Michigan University for the 2025-26 season.

In his final season of eligibility in the Western Hockey League, Ward has 29 points in 38 games this season, including seven points over his last two games.

Ward’s move is made possible by the recent decision by the NCAA to allow current and former CHL players to play Division I hockey beginning in the fall of 2025.

Ward is sitting at a point a game pace for his career in both regular season and playoff games with 237 regular season points and eight post season points in the equivalent amount of games for each.

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Ward was a 2019 WHL Prospects Draft Pick, taken 14th overall by the Swift Current Broncos.

He was acquired by the Tigers prior to the 2024-25 WHL season.