The Medicine Hat Tigers celebrate a 5-2 victory over the Spokane Chiefs in Game 4 of the WHL Championship Series. Photo Credit: Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs

By Will Bryant, Eli J. Ridder

MEMORIAL CUP

Late Hunter St. Martin tally lifts Tigers to thrilling 5-4 comeback win over Oceanic

May 23, 2025 | 10:20 PM

The Medicine Hat Tigers kicked off the 105th Memorial Cup in style, with a thrilling 5-4 come-from-behind win against the Rimouski Oceanic.

Forward Hunter St. Martin scored the game-winner with 2:21 left in regulation, his fourth goal in as many games.

Draft-eligible defenseman Bryce Pickford found the back of the net twice in the win, stretching his goal streak to nine games.

Freshly signed product of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Harrison Meneghin, stopped 20 of 24 shots in the victory, while only allowing one even-strength tally.

The win marks the first time a Willie Desjardins-coached Tigers club has won the opening game of the Memorial Cup, and the victory comes exactly 18 years to the day from the club’s last win at the tournament.

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Trailing 3-2 entering the third period, Medicine Hat struck twice within the opening six minutes to put the Oceanic on the back foot.

Bryce Pickford wired his second of the night home to square the game at three, before Gavin McKenna put the Tigers back in front a little over four minutes later.

McKenna showed no lingering signs of injury after battling injury woes during the WHL Championship series.

Tigers Captain Oasiz Wiesblatt had three assists on the night, while Tanner Molendyk added a pair of assists, including setting up the St. Martin game-winner.

The Tigers are now off until Monday when they take on the QMJHL Champion Moncton Wildcats in a battle of the felines.