NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
The Medicine Hat Tigers pose with the Ed Chynoweth Cup after winning 4-2 Friday at Spokane, beating the Chiefs 4-1 in the WHL Championship series to capture the franchise's sixth title.
Put on some music, the Medicine Hat Tigers are dancing with the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
The Tigers beat the Spokane Chiefs 4-2 Friday night at the Spokane Arena, winning Game 5 of the WHL Championship series to win the series 4-1 and claim the franchise’s sixth championship.
With the win, the Tigers tie the Kamloops Blazers for the most championships in WHL history. Medicine Hat’s victory caps off a legendary second half record of 42-4-1-1.
Head coach Willie Desjardins, winning his third WHL championship, says the Tigers won as a family.
“At different times everybody got to play a part and that was really important for us,” Desjardins said in a yellow gatorade stained shirt.. “It’s important when you get to share things, so that helped us. But I give a lot of credit to Oasiz (Wiesblatt), go as your leaders go and Oasiz really cares about his teammates and it’s pretty special for him and the way he was acting.”
Wiesblatt spoke briefly with the News, unable to stop smiling after lifting the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
” I’m so fired up right now. All these guys are freaking warriors, we just stuck with it all the injuries through the year and getting three straight here, it’s not something easy to do in a hard barn,” Wiesblatt said. “I’m just so proud of the boys. They’re frigging warriors, they’re unbelievable. I’m so happy for everyone and I’m fired up.”
A scoreless first period saw the Tigers outshot Spokane 14-8.
The Tigers opened the scoring, for the fifth straight game, coming off the stick of an unlikely hero. Off a face off in the Spokane end, Niilopekka Muhonen threw a shot on net that beat Dawson Cowan at 12:42. Muhonen’s goal was his first WHL Playoff goal.
“I was saving it for a couple of rounds, and it was nice to get it,” Muhonen said.
They added a pair in the first half of the third period to lead 3-0.
Gavin McKenna, returning to play after missing Games 3 and 4 due to injury, scored on a power play at 5:01 to make it a 2-0 lead with his ninth of the postseason. Jonas Woo and Andrew Basha had the assists.
Medicine Hat struck again 44 seconds later on a breakaway. Mat Ward carried the puck up the ice before he was knocked into Cowan, tying up the net minder long enough for Hunter St. Martin to knock in the loose puck for the 3-0 lead at 5:45. The goal was reviewed but stood, Basha had the second assist.
St. Martin’s goal stood as the WHL Championship clinching goal.
“I couldn’t even put into words how great this feels,” St. Martin said. “From every guy in this lineup to the staff to the community of Medicine Hat, what really this team has been through over the four years that I’ve been here is unbelievable and to have this now is just just incredible.”
The Chiefs responded on a power play 49 seconds later, with Andrew Cristall scoring his first of the series.
The Washington Capitals prospect scored on the man advantage for his 21st of the playoffs, making it a 3-1 Medicine Hat lead with 13:26 left in the third period.
They came within one with a goal from Assanoli Sarkenov at 10:47 to make it a 3-2 Tigers’ lead.
Bryce Pickford scored on an empty net with 1:14 left to seal the win with his 13th of the playoffs. His goal gives him markers in eight straight games, continuing his modern day WHL record for consecutive playoff games with a goal by a defenceman. His 13th also ties the WHL record for most goals by a defenceman in a single playoff run.
Harrison Meneghin finished off his 14th win in the playoffs with 34 saves. He was named the WHL’s playoff MVP with a 14-1 record, a .906 save percentage, 2.35 goals against average with three shutouts.
” I’m happy with my play obviously that’s a lot to do with my teammates and their support and their help on and off the ice,” Meneghin said. “So I couldn’t be more grateful for the award and also my teammates.”
See Tuesday’s News for complete coverage of the Tigers’ sixth WHL Championship.
