Tigers ready for one more go– the Memorial Cup Final

By James Tubb on May 31, 2025.

NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB Medicine Hat Tigers forward Gavin McKenna fires a shot from the point on a power play in the first period of the Tigers’ 3-1 round-robin win over the London Knights on Tuesday. The win clinched their spot in the finals of the 105th Memorial Cup.

The Medicine Hat Tigers were able to take some time this week at the Memorial Cup to enjoy themselves while preparing for the final game of their 2024-25 championship season.

After the Tigers clinched their spot in the finals of the 105th Memorial Cup, they lined themselves up for four days between their 3-1 win over the London Knights on Tuesday and the finals on Sunday, where they will face the winner of the Knights and Moncton Wildcats semifinal on Friday.

Head coach Willie Desjardins says they made sure to relax, rest some bumps and bruises before ramping things up starting with a full practice on Friday ahead of Sunday’s final.

“We talk about the water has to get hot, like you can’t let the water get too cooled or you won’t get it warm again,” Desjardins said before practice Friday. “So today, we have to make sure we start heating it up, and then tomorrow, for sure, we got to get going.”

Forward Andrew Basha says they’ve been able to enjoy some sunny weather in Rimouski, not as hot as it’s been in Medicine Hat this week, but still warm. They also were able to share meals in the city and just enjoy being together as a team.

Sunday’s game, regardless of a win or loss in the Memorial Cup final, will be a final time the 2025 WHL Champion Tigers will be on the ice together as a complete team, with players graduating from the league and others moving on to pro hockey next season. He says that inevitability is a motivation and also bittersweet.

“This is the best way to play, a lot of teams are done, so we’re very grateful that we have had more opportunities to get out there together,” Basha said. “It’s obviously bittersweet because this is the last time that we’ll all go together. So just have fun with it, just be grateful that we’re here.”

That’s the same advice Desjardins shares, approach Sunday’s final as they would any other game, worrying about everything else after the final buzzer.

“For me, I wouldn’t look at it as any different than any game. Like, I’m not worried about anything outside of that game,” Desjardins said. “I got one focus. Whatever happens after that, I’ll deal with it, but I’m just focused on that game. I don’t know where they are at but that would be me.”

Basha is likely off to play pro hockey next season, signed with the Calgary Flames and seemingly destined for a spot on the AHL Calgary Wranglers. Forward Hunter St. Martin (Florida Panthers) and defenceman Tanner Molendyk (Nashville Predators) both signed with their clubs and would also be 20-year-olds next year, likely heading pro.

There are the Tigers’ three overagers, captain Oasiz Wiesblatt, forward Mat Ward and goaltender Harrison Meneghin, all moving on from junior hockey following Sunday’s game. Forward Gavin McKenna, with one more year of junior hockey before he will be selected first overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, says they’re playing for the team and for those guys moving on.

“It kind of fuels you, our team, we love each other, so it sucks that it’s their last game together,” McKenna said. “But with that being said, we’re all gonna leave it all out there, not saving it for anything, and we want to get it done.

“The 20s are the heart and soul of our team and we need the 20s to win. We have the best 20s, so for them to be here and battle their whole career to get here, we want to get it done for them.”

The Tigers will be led off the bus Sunday by two members of Canada’s Special Forces who have worked with the team all season. They led them through an overnight bootcamp to start the season, held leadership courses and have sent them motivating messages throughout their playoff run en route to Rimouski and the Memorial Cup.

Desjardins, whose father fought in the Second World War with the South Alberta Regiment, says there is no better way to honour their Special Forces members than by having them along during the Memorial Cup, originally established to honour those who died in WWI and later rededicated to honour all soldiers who died fighting for Canada in any conflict.

“I just really appreciate what our military has done for us, they fought for us to give us a chance, if they didn’t fight for us we don’t have this chance, so we owe a lot to them,” Desjardins said. “I know one of the fellows, they’ve been under fire, the two guys who will lead us off the bus. They deserve the right to lead us off the bus, and it’s an honour to be able to follow them off.”