NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman admires a shot on net during practice Monday at Co-op Place ahead of Game 1 of the WHL Championship Friday against the Spokane Chiefs.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers have been preparing all season to reach the goal of a WHL championship. They’ll get a few more days before they get their first crack at making that dream reality.
The Tigers hit the ice Monday after a few days rest following a four-game sweep of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Championship series. They have four days of work before hosting the Spokane Chiefs for Game 1 of the league finals on Friday at Co-op Place.
“We’ve done a lot of work in the season and guys have done an unbelievable job just staying present, staying focused and making sure we’re getting better every day, but it’s exciting,” associate coach Joe Frazer said Monday.
“Just making sure we’re not looking too far ahead. We have a full week of practice here where we have to make sure we’re focusing on things and keep getting better.”
The Tigers, settled in as the top seed in the WHL after the Everett Silvertips were eliminated in the second round by the Portland Winterhawks, have enjoyed home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
That seeding, mixed with just one loss through three rounds of the playoffs, has allowed rest days and the ability to stay relatively healthy through their 13 post-season games. For the first time, they’ll face a team who has also enjoyed relative rest.
Both the Tigers’ second’ and third-round opponents, the Prince Albert Raiders and Hurricanes, entered the respective series off an emotional Game 7 win. The Chiefs wrapped up the Western Conference Championship series in four games, completing the sweep of Portland a day after the Tigers.
It’s a scenario forward Hunter St. Martin says requires a continuation of their approach throughout the playoffs, no deviations needed.
“It’s equal playing fields, so that’s exciting and you have to play the same way,” St. Martin said. “You have to wear them down, you have to do what makes us successful, so that’s going to be super exciting for us.”
The Tigers, as they have after each of their two previous series wins, got back to work Monday with a morning of three-on-three scrimmages. They’ll return to a normal practice routine as the week progresses and they get ready for Game 1. Defenceman Bryce Pickford has been in this spot before, winning a championship with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2023.
He says the series opener will come soon enough and adds they just need to focus on themselves to get right for the games.
“We just have to have a couple good practices here and just get ready for the finals,” Pickford said. “Having until Friday when we play, I’ll get in a couple workouts now and tomorrow, and just let the body recover and be ready for game time.”
Tickets going quick
Tigers fans jumped all over ticket availability for Games 1 and 2 at Co-op Place.
As of press time Monday, Tixx.ca showed Game 1 Friday and Game 2 on Sunday were sold out, with only overflow tickets available for Game 2. Those overflow tickets, allowing admission only with no seat, were already all sold for Game 1.
Season ticket holders have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to claim their tickets before those seats open up to the general public.
Game times for all games in the series are still to be decided.
