Medicine Hat Tigers title defence continues tonight against the Calgary Hitmen

Former Regina Pats forward, Julien Maze, led the Hitmen in scoring in the regular season with 78 points in 68 games.

Pittsburgh Penguins seventh-round draft pick Kale Dach was second on the club in scoring, recording 75 points over 63 games, and was named to the Eastern Conference’s second team all-star squad, while also being one of two Hitmen skaters nominated for Rookie of the Year.

Calgary, Alta., native Ben MacBeath, a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, is the other Hitmen nominated for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy after a rookie season that saw the blue-liner compile 51 points through 67 games.

Between the pipes, the Hitmen will be led by second-year netminder Eric Tu.

Tu, was with the Hitmen last season in their run to the second round and has taken over the role of the club’s full-time starter this year.

The White Rock, BC., product had a stellar opening round, boasting a 4-0-0-0 record, a 1.63 GAA, and a 0.945 SV%, improving on an already solid sophomore season.

Medicine Hat had Tu’s number in the regular season, forcing the 6’3″ netminder to a 1-3-2-0 record, 4.06 GAA, and a 0.866 SV%.

Over the last two seasons, the Tigers have gone 14-1-1-0 against the Hitmen, but don’t let the lopsided record fool you, the Hitmen are legit.

The Hitmen boasted the league’s second-best man-advantage in the regular season, a half percent behind the Tigers for tops in the WHL, while also holding a top ten penalty kill.

One are that the Tigers certainly hold the edge is in experience.

The Hitmen have 11 rookies on their roster as opposed to a Tigers squad that’s littered with post-season and championship experience.

Through that experience, the Medicine Hat Tigers saw four skaters nominated for year-end awards around the WHL.

Tigers captain and co-leading goal scorer, Bryce Pickford, was nominated for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy and the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy.

Liam Ruck, who tied Pickford in goals with 45, also received a nomination for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy, as did his twin brother Markus, who also received a nomination for the league’s most sportsmanlike player.

Rounding out the nominees is defenceman Jonas Woo, who set a new single-season franchise record for points by a blue-liner with 86, and also received a Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy nomination.

Management for both the Hitmen and Tigers also received nominations for Coach of the Year (Desjardins, Friesen) and Executive of the Year (Desjardins, Davidson).

After excellent seasons on all fronts, the Tigers and Hitmen collide tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. MST, and the pre-game show gets underway at 6:30 p.m. on WILD 94.5 FM.

by Will Bryant

Medicine Hat Tigers title defence continues tonight against the Calgary Hitmen

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