Minor Hockey Roundup: U17AAA SE Tigers upset Red Deer Chiefs in first-round sweep

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 17, 2026.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The Medicine Hat U17AAA SE Tigers played spoiler in the first round of the AEHL playoffs.

The No. 8 seed Tigers upset the No. 1 seed Red Deer Chiefs in seeping fashion, winning 5-2 Thursday on the road and shutting out Red Deer 2-0 Saturday at the Big Marble Go Centre.

Illya Khazov had a pair of goals and an assist in Thursday’s win, Cameron Slater had a goal and an assist and both Dane Friedt and Finn Willerton each scored. Jake Druar made 32 saves.

In Saturday’s series clincher, Druar stopped all 36 shots he faced for the shutout. Friedt had a goal and an assist, George Maser tallied a goal and Khazov had two assists.

The U17AAA SE Tigers will face the No. 3 seed Calgary North Stars in a best-of-three South Division semifinal.

They’re on the road Wednesday before hosting Calgary on Saturday for a 5 p.m. contest at the Hockey Hounds Arena. If needed, a decisive Game 3 would be Sunday in Calgary.

U16

The Medicine Hat U16AA Hounds hosted three regional round-robin games over the weekend.

They tied the Wheatland Warriors 2-2 Thursday before skating to a 4-4 draw Friday with the Bow Valley Timberwolves. On Saturday they were shut out 6-0 by the Okotoks Oilers.

Liam Jaspers and Shane Mathe each scored in Thursday’s draw, Bryden Tschritter made 30 saves. Everett Ward and Gage Bowal each had a goal and an assist Friday, Dylan Dick and Beckham Girletz both tallied a goal. Tschritter made 30 saves in the tie.

In Saturday’s loss to Okotoks, Marshall Turner made 35 saves.

The U16AA Hounds did not qualify for the regional playoffs.

U13

The Medicine Hat U13AAA SE Tigers played three playoff games on the road this weekend.

They tied the Red Deer Chiefs 3-3 Thursday before falling 6-2 to the Lethbridge Hurricanes later in the day. Their final game of the postseason was a 4-1 win Friday over the Airdrie Jr. Xtreme.

Callaghan Tjeerdema had two goals against Red Deer, Cruz Evens added a solo tally and Dawson Ressler made 41 saves.

Later in the day against Lethbridge, Shawn Mrowil and Willis McLennan scored for the Tigers. Tate Martin made 58 saves.

In their lone win of the weekend, Tjeerdema had a goal and an assist and all three of Evens, McLennan and Fischer Sprunger found the back of the net. Ressler made 26 saves.

The U13AAA SE Tigers did not qualify for the provincial championships.

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