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It was wild times on and off the ice in late April 1973.
At the Arena, Tigers coach Jack Shupe was carried off the ice by his players following a Western Hockey League title win and off to Montreal Forum.
The News is reprinting historical coverage notable events int he city’s history leading up tot he paper’s 140th anniversary this fall.
The Tigers make their sixth trip to the Memorial Cup Tournament this week as they arrive in Rimouski, Quebec – 52 years after the team made its first.
Just three years into existence, the Tigers were off to vie for the 1973 national junior hockey title.
A special trainload of fans departed to support the team, the News reported.
As well, Mayor Harry Veiner challenged other mayors to a “heel-to-toe” race with local (unnamed) businessmen of the city backing Veiner and issuing a $1,000 public challenge to Montreal businessmen.
The money, to be paid to the McCoy High Students union, was being held by city clerk Bill Keith. Another wild aside, Veiner offered the Tigers players $3,000 of his own money to divide up should they return victorious.
They would eventually finish third at the three-team tournament at the Montreal Forum that included the Quebec Remparts and eventual champion Toronto Marlboros.
The Tigers’ return to the tournament in 1987 saw them defeat the host and OHL champion Oshawa Generals 6-2 in the final.
Back again in 1988, the Tigers were in in Chicoutimi, Quebec, where they earned a 7-6 final win over the Windsor Spitfires.
The Tigers’ 2004 tournament bid ended with a 6-5 semifinal loss to the Gatineau Olympiques at Kelowna.
Just three years later, Medicine Hat earned an early berth in the final of the Vancouver-hosted tournament, but fell 3-1 in the championship game to the host Giants – a game that was tied 1-1 with just five minutes remaining.
