PHOTO COURTESY Andy Glass/Everett Silvertips
Former Medicine Hat Tigers' captain Tyler MacKenzie has found quick success with the Everett Silvertips, sitting 13th in WHL scoring with 27 goals and 62 points in 47 games.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers and Everett Silvertips faced off in the 2004 WHL finals, a 4-0 sweep by the Tigers for a fourth title.
While there might not be a title on the line this week, not quite 21 years later, the two teams meet on hump day in another highly-touted, powerhouse matchup.
The Tigers visit the WHL-leading Silvertips in a meeting of conference leaders, a game featured as the WHL’s ‘Wednesday night in the Dub’ contest, broadcast for free on YouTube.
Entering play Tuesday, the CHL’s No. 2 ranked Silvertips lead the WHL in goals for (206) and have surrendered the fewest (112). Medicine Hat, ranked ninth this week and in the nation’s top-10 for the first time since October, has the WHL’s second-most potent offence (196), and allowing 145, six spots behind the Silvertips.
It’s a matchup touted as a potential finals preview from those around the WHL, for associate coach Joe Frazer, it’s definitely a game they all want to be part of.
“You want to play those big games, you want to play the best teams to see where you’re at,” Frazer said. “They’re well coached, they play fast, they’re structured, good specialty teams with skill up front, really good defence and good goaltending.
“So top to bottom, it’s a great hockey team. It’s going to be a great test for us and it should be an exciting game.”
While the two teams go head to head, another inner circle of the matchup is the meeting of Gavin Mckenna and Silvertips defenceman Landon DuPont. The 15-year-old DuPont has jumped off the page after receiving exceptional status from Hockey Canada, leading all rookies in scoring with 11 goals and 46 points in 43 games.
Frazer says the individual matchup of the Tigers’ star and the young defenceman is outside noise, and he looks for the whole team to step up in the contest.
“We need everybody; to be a team, you need everybody, so we need to make sure all the lines are going, all the defence pairings are going and our goaltender is making stops,” Frazer said.
“Everett is a great team, you’re not going to win with one or two guys. You have to make sure all 20 guys are playing the right way, playing together and doing it for each other.”
DuPont is a +23, ninth among defenders, and he is the projected first overall pick for the 2027 NHL Draft.
The last time two projected first overall picks for the NHL Draft faced off in the WHL was Feb. 5, 2023 when the Tigers and McKenna hosted Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats.
One player who was in that matchup for the orange and black and witnessed the growth of McKenna before this season is former Tiger captain, Silvertips’ forward Tyler MacKenzie.
He says DuPont carries himself in a mature way and he both acts and plays like someone his elder.
“He’s one of the most humble guys he’ll meet,” MacKenzie said. “His play style speaks for itself, he’s unbelievable skater, sees the ice really well, shoots well and can pass, he’s a complete package. It’s been a pleasure to play alongside of him.”
The 20-year-old MacKenzie was traded to Everett during the 2024 WHL Draft and has flourished in his new colours, sitting 13th in WHL scoring with 27 goals and 62 points in 47 games ahead of Wednesday’s matchup.
After four years with the Tigers, MacKenzie says he’s fortunate to have been able to land on his feet.
“It’s been a good group of guys around me, from staff to players and people, it’s just been amazing change,” MacKenzie said. “It’s those guys who made it easy and really helped out. And having the success that we’re having as a team is credited to everyone’s hard work here, and being able to fit in, it’s made it super easy.”
He’s enjoyed playing in the U.S. division and seeing the different cities more than once a year. MacKenzie says while hard work and winning is a priority, he’s enjoyed the atmosphere in Angel of the Winds Arena and the fun they can have on and off the ice.
“Everyone loves to come and watch the games and just having fun like that, that’s the most important thing and one thing I’ve really valued this year, is we’re having fun,” MacKenzie said. “Whatever it is we’re doing after practices or after games, just the little things. Especially being the last year in junior, you want to go out and you want to have fun with it. You want to enjoy it, because these memories last a lifetime.”
MacKenzie is looking forward to tonight’s matchup against his former club, both for getting a chance to face the league’s best but also see friends turned foes.
“It’s the type of game as a player you want to play in and you want to thrive in,” he said.
As for the hype of a potential finals preview, the former Tiger welcomes what a matchup that would be.
“It would be one that you want to get up for, obviously being in the finals, it’s special,” MacKenzie said. “That’s a ways away but if that were to happen, it’d be really fun. It’d be a good series, two good teams and it would be a lot of fun.”
The puck drops between the two conference leaders at 8:05 p.m. MST and is available to watch for free on the WHL’s YouTube and on CHL Live.
