NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Harrison Meneghin battles a 'snow storm' after making a breakaway save in the second period of his 18-save shutout in the Tigers' 3-0 Game 4 win at Prince Albert over the Raiders on April 17.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers have had a lot of success through two rounds of the WHL Playoffs. That success has started and stemmed from the back end.
Tigers goaltenders have led the way for the orange and black, with overage net minder Harrison Meneghin atop the rest. The 20-year-old leads all qualified postseason goaltenders with a 2.00 goals against average through six games, all wins, with a .910 save percentage and two shutouts.
He recorded one of those blank spots with an 18-save shutout in a series-clinching Game 4 win at Prince Albert over the Raiders on April 17. The South Surrey, B.C. product made 21 saves in the Game 3 win in Prince Albert on April 16, setting up the sweep.
Meneghin led all WHL goaltenders in the week with a 0.50 GAA and a 975 SV%, earning his fourth goalie of the week award, sitting pretty beside his two goalie of the month nods.
“He was unbelievable,’ head coach Willie Desjardins said postage Thursday. “To come in with all the stuff he’s had going on it’s pretty, pretty hard. Switzer has bailed us out a lot this year, he was able to get the first two games for us and one of the differences, Meneghin was fresh. (Max) Hildebrand was tired, that made a difference in (Games) 3 and 4. Meneghin was really sharp in three and four and we needed him to be sharp.”
Meneghin started all five games in the Tigers’ first-round series win over the Swift Current Broncos. He was away from the team and with family following the series win, returning just before the second round began, giving Switzer the opportunity to start while he worked back up to game speed.
The 18-year-old picked up two wins, running a 3.40 GAA and a .864 SV5, putting him 11th among playoff net minders. He enjoyed the experience of getting the starts at Co-op Place and also picked up a few lessons in the process.
“That environment, it’s special, it’s cool to play in but I can learn some things, take some things and if the boys need me I can rise to that occasion” Switzer said.
“Just learning that whoever you’re playing, they’re never going to stop fighting out there. No matter how many goals are down there, they’re going to push for more.”
Switzer was ranked by NHL Central Scouting, tabbed as the 25th North American goaltender in the final rankings before the 2025 NHL Draft. It’s a goaltending duo that instills confidence throughout the lineup, according to captain Oasiz Wiesblatt.
“Switzer has done a great job, stepping up and doing his stuff and for Harry, it’s just pretty unreal, pretty remarkable,” Wiesblatt said. “To be his teammate, for him to bounce back and he’s gone through a whole bunch of adversity, for him to fight through that and do it for the guys, it’s pretty incredible and we’re really proud.”
East finals
start Friday
The Tigers will host one of the Lethbridge Hurricanes or Calgary Hitmen on Friday to kick off the Eastern Conference finals.
Via social media Monday the Tigers announced they will host the winner of that series on Friday and Saturday for Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven East finals. The other potential home games and away games in the series are still to be determined with the opponent undecided.
The Hurricanes and Hitmen are tied at 3-3 with Game 7 Wednesday in Calgary.
Season ticket holders can pick up their tickets today and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Game 1 and 2 tickets become available for the public starting today at noon.
