Fans cheer following a first-period goal in Game 2 of the Medicine Hat Tigers' Eastern Conference Championship against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on April 26. Tigers fever has grabbed hold of the city as the team will face Spokane in the WHL Championship series starting next Friday.--NEWS PHOTO SCOTT SCHMIDT
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
The success of the Medicine Hat Tigers has gripped fans and taken hold of the city, from packing Co-op Place, viewing parties at the Monarch Theatre and local pubs, to fans, officials and first responders given the team bus a meaningful send-off down the highway, playoff fever is contagious throughout the Hat.
Off the ice, the Tigers’ playoff run has renewed community spirit as fans come together to cheer on their team, setting aside personal and political differences to show support.
“It’s brought the city together,” says Dale Engel, administrator of the Medicine Hat Tigers Memorial Cup Fan Page on Facebook. “This is something that people have rallied behind, it’s something where they have one passion and everything is orange and black.
“It’s a fever, it’s crazy how people have gotten behind it. This is something positive and they’re latching on to it.”
As the playoff run continues, now into the WHL Championship Series against the Spokane Chiefs, momentum grows and Tigers fever can be seen in the windows of businesses and on signs around the community.
Engel says activity on the Tigers fan page, which has more than 2,800 members, is at an all-time high.
“People see a business and they post a picture because they’re supporting the Tigers, they’re posting pictures of their friends, they’re posting pictures of their kids … it’s just crazy how this has happened,” explains Engel. “People posting that don’t even live in Medicine Hat but they’ve begun to follow the Tigers.
And the energy online remains positive around the Tigers even during a bad period or play, expresses Engel.
“The positivity within the group, there’s never ever negativity.”
During the Eastern Conference finals against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, numerous fans, officials and first responders gathered at Co-op Place to send off the team bus for games 3 and 4.
“There were people that haven’t even gone to a game at Co-op Place, but they were there to send the team off, it’s even those people that, you know, this means something (to them).”
At home, Tigers fans have been lively at Co-op Place, leaving nary an empty seat as they rally behind the team. During away games through the first three rounds, fans had been able to enjoy action on the Victory+ App, but will now find coverage of the championship series on TSN.
The Monarch Theatre will once again host viewing watch parties for away game during the fourth round of the playoffs, with Games 3 and 4 scheduled for May 13 and 14. The theatre will also host a viewing watch party for Game 5, which is still TBD but will be played in Spokane if necessary.
Admission is a non-perishable food item that will be donated to the Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub.
If there is enough demand from serious fans, Engel is also planning a fan bus trip to watch away games in person. However due to logistics, he says he needs a prompt response from approximately 50 fans who would be willing to travel to Spokane to make the trip a reality.
“I could get it together, but then you’re looking at having enough fans that are first willing to go.”
Engel says the bus holds 56 seats and the plan would be to leave on the morning of Monday, May 12 and stay for games 3, 4 and, if necessary, 5. Serious fans interested in a bus trip are encouraged to reach out of Engel over Facebook via a private message.
Tickets for Game 1 and 2 are expected to go on sale Monday. The city is extending its express shuttle park and ride service to Co-op Place from the Medicine Hat Mall. A round-trip ticket costs $5.
