Soakin’ in the Tubb: A window is open–Medicine Hat must bid for 2026 Mem Cup

By JAMES TUBB on January 5, 2024.

“If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.”

-Tom Peters, businessman

The Medicine Hat Tigers and the city they play in have the opportunity of a generation.

The Tigers have opened and entered what should be a multi-year run with a talented team led by its brightest and youngest star, Gavin McKenna.

The 16-year-old Whitehorse product will be donning the orange and black for the rest of this season, and two more after that, before he’s eligible to be drafted to the NHL in 2026.

Medicine Hat has a unique opportunity that could be beneficial to not only them, their fans and the city, but the Western Hockey League and the entire Canadian Hockey League as a whole.

The WHL is set to host the Memorial Cup in 2026 and the Tigers have an opportunity to give the CHL something it’s never had before: Its top draft prospect guaranteed a spot in its prize tournament.

Sidney Crosby led the Rimouski Oceanic to the Mem Cup finals ahead of being picked first overall in 2005, and since then other top prospects have played in the tournament, but none have had the spotlight on them leading up to and into the tournament before.

For the Tigers, it won’t only be Mckenna carrying the roster. Liam and Markus Ruck will be entering their draft years as well, their 2007-born class will be in their 18-year-old seasons with Hayden Harsanyi, Kadon McCann, Jack Kachkowski and Matt Paranych leading the way. Medicine Hat’s 19-year-olds will likely be led by Tomas Mrsic if he hasn’t made his jump to the NHL, as Cayden Lindstrom likely will. The Tigers will have plenty of options at the 20-year-old spot, between Andrew Basha, Shane Smith, Hunter St. Martin, Josh Van Mulligen, Reid Andresen, etc.

There needs to be a desire from not only the Tigers, but the city to bid for this tournament. For too long the Gas City and the organization that plays here seem content not chasing the off-ice spotlight.

The Tigers tend not to make the big splash when it comes to trades, and that’s OK, they’ve won without it. They don’t do many large promotions or special jerseys beyond league organized events. They do what they do and they have had storied success doing it.

But this is a very rare opportunity for the Tigers to go above and beyond and put the organization and the fan base on display for the entire country.

The WHL’s new commissioner Dan Near takes the reins in a couple of days and brings a fresh and evolutionary outlook to the job. During his introductory presser he said he wants to go outside the box as they look to further increase attendance and interest in the league.

“I hope we can take some chances. I hope we can try some new things,” Near said.

Well, why not start that in Medicine Hat?

As for the city, when Mayor Linnsie Clark was elected she said one of her goals during her tenure was to bring a Mem Cup to the city. The next municipal election is set for 2025, so it seems like another timeline could be lining up.

People came to Medicine Hat for Connor Bedard, we’ve seen how many people can fill Co-op Place if they want to see an out-of-world talent. In 2026, Medicine Hat could have the opportunity to showcase a player in McKenna – one who could be very special – on the biggest stage of all, not to mention the top teams from around the CHL.

Rarely does a day go by without an interaction with a reader or Tigers’ fan who mentions the Memorial Cup and the possibility of it being hosted in Medicine Hat. There’s a desire from those who pay the ticket prices and buy the popcorn to have the city and its team on the brightest stage.

Obviously it’s a big undertaking that takes money and volunteers, and so bidding on an event like this is no easy decision. But if ever there were a time to go for a Memorial Cup, it’s now. Surely the two sides – the city and the team – can come together to discuss a bid for this tournament and show an interest in being a major player in the WHL and CHL.

This team could be good enough by then to make the tournament on its own. Why not play those games at home?

Great moments, and even greater legacies, are born from great opportunities. It doesn’t get any better than this for the Medicine Hat Tigers and the City of Medicine Hat.

The question left, will they take a chance and capitalize on the window ahead of them? Or will they pull the shade down?

James Tubb is sports reporter with the Medicine Hat News. He can be reached at jtubb@medicinehatnews.com