NEWS FILE PHOTO
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Andrew Basha celebrates a tying goal in the Tigers' 5-4, overtime win over the Red Deer Rebels on Feb. 10 at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Adam Jones got chills Wednesday afternoon thinking about Medicine Hat hosting a Memorial Cup.
The lifelong fan and former employee of the Medicine Hat Tigers was one of many fans elated by the news the local WHL club had submitted an intent to bid on the 2026 tournament.
“As somebody who watched the Memorial Cup championships in ’87 and ’88 and as someone who’s followed the team since they were five or six years old, going to the games with their dad in the old arena, this is something that a lot of Tigers fans will get to experience for the first time in their lives,” Jones said. “That’s going over the 54 years now. They’re going to get a chance to watch the Medicine Hat Tigers play in the grandest stage of the, all in their own city, that’s something that’s absolutely remarkable.”
The Tigers are the fifth team to publicly announce they have submitted an intent to bid on the tournament, joining the Kelowna Rockets, Brandon Wheat Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Spokane Chiefs. Jones, who bough season tickets ahead of this campaign for the first time after working with the team for six seasons, says they wanted to see the exciting team in person as long as they can.
He says Wednesday’s announcement only furthers his passion and excitement for the upcoming season.
“It absolutely invigorates me and excites me to no end to know that their name’s even in the dance, we’re super excited to be season ticket holders,” Jones said. “It is the first time that we’ve bought them and we don’t want to miss the Gavin McKenna show, we want to follow that.
“The Tigers have an incredible opportunity and incredible team in front them and the championship window is open. It’s going to be a really, really exciting couple of years.”
Jones is one of 500-plus Tigers fans part of a Facebook group titled, ‘Medicine Hat Tigers 2026 Memorial Cup Fan Page.’ Dale Engel, another life-long fan and game-day volunteer at Co-op Place, created the group in February with the goal of showcasing the fanbase’s interest in hosting the tournament.
He says the news was a sigh of relief and described it as a win-win for everyone involved in the city. Beyond the potential to watch or work the Memorial Cup at Co-op Place, Engel says he wants the tournament for those who have dedicated years to the team as a volunteer or cheering them on in the stands.
“For the people that never got a chance or couldn’t travel when the Tigers went to Quebec in ’73 and ’88, or Ontario in ’87,” Engel said. “They never had a chance to see their hometown team play in their own rink.”
Engel is entering his second year as a volunteer and feels like a rookie, working alongside other volunteers who have worked for 50-plus years.
“Some of them have passed away, so they never got a chance to see a Memorial Cup here, those are the people I want this for,” Engel said.
The next deadline in the bidding process is Sept. 20 when full bids are due to the CHL, with the winning team to be announced in late November.
Tigers’ in-arena host and co-host of the Tigers Uncaged podcast Jesse Christianson is tasked with hyping up the crowd at Co-op Place ahead of big games in the season and keeping the morale high throughout contests.
He had no problem getting hyped himself Wednesday with the news.
“This is a great day for our community,” Christianson said. “When Co-op Place was being talked about before it open in 2015, they always said it’s perfect for the Memorial Cup. We hope the CHL has the same belief for 2026.
“It’s time for Tigers fans to become all in, because this ride to 2026 is going to be a blast.”
Jason Van Mulligen, father of Tigers’ defenceman Josh, will be one of many fans waiting for that potentially fate-fulfilling announcement in November. He’s lived in the city since 2006 and has attended games ever since, before his last name was sprawled across the back of a jersey.
He’s excited by the possibility of watching his son in a Memorial Cup, an idea accentuated by it maybe being in his hometown rink.
“As a parent, you’re excited to see your kid potentially have that opportunity,” Van Mulligen said. “It’s a couple years out, they have to get the bid and Josh has to earn the right to be here as a 20-year-old. But the potential is there and it’s exciting times.”
Van Mulligen has seen the City of Medicine Hat like few have, serving with the Medicine Hat Police Service for over 17 years. He says it’s a city that has hosted big events and would serve the role well.
“Whenever the city has been asked to come forward and do something, they put their best foot forward,” Van Mulligen said. “They have a good volunteer base and this is something the whole community, whether you’re a Tigers fan or not, it’s something the whole community will rally around.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for the whole city.”
