NEWS PHOTO ZOE MASON
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Kade Stengrim battles for net-front position in the first period of an 8-3 win Saturday at Co-op Place over the Red Deer Rebels.
zmason@medicinehatnews.com
The Medicine Hat Tigers closed out their regular season with back-to-back wins in a home-and-home with the Red Deer Rebels this weekend.
The Tigers took the first tilt 9-3 in Red Deer before closing out the season with an 8-3 win on home ice.
Saturday’s win locked in a first-round playoff matchup with the Regina Pats. Head coach Willie Desjardins says it’s a good team despite their No. 7 seed.
“They’re young, they’ve got a lot of quickness. They fly the zone, so they’re hard to handle that way. They have a good group, and we’re going to have to be on top of our game for sure,” he said after Saturday’s game.
The Tigers swept the season series with the Pats, outscoring them 26-7 including an 11-2 blowout earlier this month.
Tigers forward Kade Stengrim says the team doesn’t take the matchup for granted.
“We might have had their number all year, but playoffs is a different animal, so we’re excited to meet them when they come here, and we’ll be ready for sure,” he said.
The team closed out an historic season with a dominant second half, which saw the Tigers lose in regulation only four times since mid-November. The team picked up 50 wins across 68 games, a milestone the franchise has only hit four times before.
It was a season for the books, but Desjardins says it’s important the team put that success behind them and focus on the postseason ahead with a clean slate.
“Playoffs are just totally different. Doesn’t matter what you’ve done regular season. It makes no difference going into in the playoffs. So we’ve got to start again. Everybody’s equal, nobody’s ahead,” he said.
The Tigers played both net minders this weekend, with both Carter Casey and Jordan Switzer registering 25 saves against 28 shots in their respective matchups against Red Deer.
Desjardins says he’s got what he wants out of his goaltending tandem heading into the postseason.
“Casey was outstanding in Red Deer. Switz was good tonight. The good thing is, we’ve got two guys playing well.”
This postseason represents the last games of longtime Tiger Andrew Basha’s career as he ages out of the WHL. He says he’s trying to soak it all in.
“So many memories here,” he said after his last regular season game Saturday. “Especially tonight, in warmups, I was looking around lost a little bit for sure. Just a lot of nostalgia.”
Basha played his first season with the Tigers in 2021-22.
“I’ve been so blessed to be able to be a Tiger for my whole junior career. It’s just first class, the coaching staff and the countless memories I’ve made and friendships that I’ll have forever.”
He’s looking forward to capping off his Tigers career with another go at the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
“Last year it was so special to have such great fan turnout for the whole playoff run. It definitely helps. So seeing tonight, and the last couple of weeks, how engaged they’ve been, it’s unbelievable, and we feed off that.”
Meanwhile, Stengrim is looking forward to his first postseason in orange and black.
“I’ve heard the crowds are awesome here, especially in playoffs,” he said. “It’s been great crowds the last two weekends, too.
“Super excited to get these two this weekend and focus on next weekend.”
The playoffs begin at home on Friday. The Tigers face off against the Pats at Co-op Place on Friday and Saturday before hitting the road for Games 3 and 4 on Mar. 31 and Apr. 1.
A potential Game 5 would take place on home ice Saturday, Apr. 4. Game 6, if necessary, would take place in Regina on Apr. 5, and Game 7 would be back in Medicine Hat on Apr. 7.
Tigers season awards
The Tigers handed out their season awards ahead of Saturday’s contest.
MVP: Bryce Pickford
Gerard Moyer Leadership award: Bryce Pickford
Top rookie: Noah Davidson
Most Improved:
Markus Ruck & Liam Ruck
Top defensive forward:
Carter Cunningham and Cam Parr
Unsung Hero: Kadon McCann & Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll
Scholastic player of the year: Riley Steen
Three Stars award:
Bryce Pickford
Hardest Working Player:
Bryce Pickford & Jonas Woo
Community Service award:
Kadon McCann
Best Defenceman: Bryce Pickford & Jonas Woo
Leading Scorer: Markus Ruck
Most Goals: Bryce Pickford & Liam Ruck
