NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Josh Van Mulligen skates up ice with the puck in the first period of a 7-2 win April 26 to win Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Championship series against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
It’s a moment Josh Van Mulligen has been thinking of his entire life.
The Medicne Hat kid helping the Tigers reach the WHL finals and hoist the Ed Chynoweth Cup, a story that has Disney written all over it.
“It’s been our goal ever since I got drafted here,” Van Mulligen said ahead of Game 1. “We’ve been talking about this for four or five years. So for us to finally be in this opportunity, I think we’re looking to make the most of it.”
The storybook ending can’t be written just yet as the Tigers face a formidable and equally daunting Spokane Chiefs team looking to accomplish the same dream. There isn’t much history between the two teams, the only story being the Chiefs traded former captain Owen MacNeil to the Tigers in the 2021-22 season.
Medicine Hat won the lone matchup, a 3-2 comeback win in January that saw them score a trio of goals in the last 10 minutes. They do share offensive capabilities, with the two teams combining for 150 goals in the playoffs, Spokane leading the way with 85. It’s a matchup Van Mulligen says, as a defenceman, will be a fun challenge.
“They’re a really skilled team, we only played them once this year and it was a really high pace, lots of skill game,” Van Mulligen said. “It was definitely a really good game and we know the series is gonna be really tough as well.”
The Tigers have enjoyed the fan fare throughout the postseason, with Tigers fans showing up in droves to support their team. For Van Mulligen, going from serving three years as the stick boy, being drafted by his hometown club and now playing in the finals, it’s hard to ask for more.
“It’s been incredible,” Van Mulligen said. “It’s more than a dream at this point. I’ve never experienced anything like this and it’s really awesome to see the city coming together like this.”
The 19-year-old has found success in the playoffs, with three goals and six points in 13 games. He’s scored in each of the Tigers’ three series, spreading the offence when needed. It’s the third year in a row he’s gotten to enjoy the WHL Playoffs. As they get ready for the finals, he says there will be some nerves but it’ll just be another set of games.
“It’s going to be the finals but it’s kind of just another series and we’re just worried about one game at a time right now,” Van Mulligen said.
