Tiger Talk: Five things that have happened since the Memorial Cup

Last Friday, June 13th, Gavin McKenna became the first ever Medicine Hat Tiger to be named the CHL’s David Branch Player of the Year.

The native of Whitehorse, YT, recorded 129 points over 56 regular-season games while leading the club in scoring in the playoffs.

McKenna amassed a staggering 54-game point streak that dated from Nov. 6, 2024, to May 9, 2025, totaling more than half a calendar year.

Gavin became the third youngest player ever to win the award, only behind Sidney Crosby (2004) and John Tavares (2007).

Next season, McKenna has an opportunity to become just the third player in CHL history to win the award in back-to-back years.

Only Sidney Crosby (2004, 2005) and Alexis Lafrenière (2019, 2020) have completed that feat.

2. Avery Watson selected in WHL Expansion Draft

The Pentiction Vees completed their expansion draft by selecting Avery Watson from the Medicine Hat Tigers.

This means Watson’s rights belong to the Vees, who will compete in their inaugural WHL season this fall.

Watson appeared in five games for the Tigers this season and spent the rest of his time at the South Alberta Hockey Academy (SAHA).

The 6’1″ 154lb forward amassed 26 points over 32 games, including 10 goals.

The Penticton Vees make their WHL debut on Sept. 19 on the road against the Victoria Royals.

3. Lindstrom commits to Michigan State University

Prior to November 2024, young hockey players had two options their dreams of becoming an NHL star, either play in the CHL or NCAA.

Once you committed to one, you could not change your mind, but that changed this past November.

The NCAA now allows CHL players to commit to and play for NCAA schools, altering what had been a stable junior hockey landscape.

Notable WHLers like Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff of the Victoria Royals recently announced their commitment to the University of North Dakota, and now a pair of Medicine Hat Tigers have followed suit.

4th overall pick from the 2024 NHL entry draft, Cayden Lindstrom, has announced his commitment to play at Michigan State University.

Ease of travel appears to have been a significant factor in Lindstrom’s decision, who is still recovering from a back surgery that had the 4th overall pick sidelined for over a year.

He joins 20-year-old Tigers forward Mathew Ward, who was the first on the team to commit to an NCAA school after announcing in January 2025 that he had committed to Northern Michigan University.

4. 2025-26 Home Opener announced

The now six-time WHL Champion Medicine Hat Tigers will begin their title defense Saturday, September 20th, 2025, against the Regina Pats.

The Pats selected first and third overall in the 2025 WHL Prospects draft, selecting highly touted forwards Maddox Schultz, first overall, and Liam Pue, third overall.

Regina is coming off a disappointing season, finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 16-44-5-3 record.

Medicine Hat won all five meeting with Regina last season, outscoring the Pats 28-10 over the five-game span, including a pair of ten-goal outbursts while shutting out the Pats in the final two meetings of the season.

1) Regina 1 @ Medicine Hat 5 (Oct 26, 2024) Final

2) Medicine Hat 10 @ Regina 5 (Nov 1, 2024) Final

3) Regina 4 @ Medicine Hat 10 (Jan 21, 2025) Final

4) Regina 0 @ Medicine Hat 1 (Feb 15, 2025) Final

5) Medicine Hat 2 @ Regina 0 (Feb 28, 2025) Final

The complete 2025-26 WHL Pre-season and Regular season schedule(s) will be announced next week, beginning on June 23rd.

5. Willie Desjardins given honorary degree by Medicine Hat College

Now, three-time WHL champion Willie Desjardins was honoured by Medicine Hat College on Friday, June 13, with an honorary applied degree for his work in youth development, athletics, and education.

Sarah MacKenzie, head of the MHC Board of Governors, said in a statement:

“We are incredibly proud of what Willie has done for sport in Medicine Hat over the years, and especially in recent weeks coaching the Medicine Hat Tigers through an incredible playoff season and performance at the 2025 Canadian Hockey League Memorial Cup.”

Desjardins in his second stint as Tigers Head Coach and General Manager, first coaching the team from 2002 – 2010.

Over that span, Desjardins coached the Tigers to two WHL Championships (2004, 2007) and made the playoffs in every season, only failing to make the second round of the postseason once (2008).

Desjardins then left for stints in the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League before returning to Medicine Hat in 2019.

Willie most recently coached the Medicine Hat Tigers to their sixth WHL title in franchise history, and the third title under his regime.

Despite the Tigers’ gaudy second half of the regular season and playoff run, this season weighed heavily on Desjardins.

That full discussion can be found here.

Desjardins will be back for his 15th season as Tigers bench boss this fall, beginning Sept. 20, against the Regina Pats.

by Will Bryant

Tiger Talk: Five things that have happened since the Memorial Cup

1. Gavin McKenna named CHL Player of the Year

2. Avery Watson selected in WHL Expansion Draft

3. Lindstrom commits to Michigan State University

4. 2025-26 Home Opener announced

5. Willie Desjardins given honorary degree by Medicine Hat College

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