# Medicine Hat Tigers

The Medicine Hat Tigers are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) based in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Established in 1970, the team has won the second most Ed Chynoweth Cups as league champion with five, and has gone on to win two Memorial Cup titles. The Tigers also have seven Division titles. Since 2015, the Tigers play at Co-op Place after forty-five seasons at the Medicine Hat Arena.

## History

Medicine Hat was granted a team in the Western Canada Hockey League ahead of its fifth season, and the Tigers began play in 1970–71. Although the team struggled in its inaugural season, the Tigers rapidly improved, led by the scoring exploits of Tom Lysiak—who won league scoring titles in 1972 and 1973—Lanny McDonald. The team made the playoffs in its second season, and in its third made it to the championship final. In the final, they defeated the Saskatoon Blades to win their first title.
The Tigers' next significant run of success came in the latter half of the 1980s. In 1986, the team secured its first regular season title and advanced to its first of three consecutive league finals. Led by the likes of Trevor Linden, Wayne McBean, and Mark Pederson, the Tigers would capture back-to-back championships and Memorial Cup titles in 1987 and 1988. Because of their success, the championship Tigers' teams were inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.
The Tigers won two more league titles in a four-year span between 2004 and 2007. In 2004, Medicine Hat put together the best record in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the final, where they swept the expansion Everett Silvertips. In 2005–06, the Tigers secured their second regular season title, before losing the Conference Final against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The following season, they would return to the championship series, where they faced the Vancouver Giants. Backstopped by goaltender Matt Keetley, the Tigers defeated the Giants in double-overtime of game seven to win the title. Because Vancouver was hosting the 2007 Memorial Cup, both teams advanced to the tournament. The Tigers again defeated the Giants in overtime during the preliminary round in order to advance directly to the final, which wound up being a re-match between the two rivals. In the final, the host Giants avenged their earlier losses, defeating the Tigers 3–1 at Pacific Coliseum.
Since their last title run in 2007, the Tigers have missed the playoffs only twice, but have failed to advance past the second round of the playoffs, even despite securing division titles in 2016–17 and 2017–18. In 2015, the team moved from the old Arena to the new Co-op Place. In 2024, Gavin McKenna became the fourth Tiger and the first since Neil Brady in 1986 to be named the winner of the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL rookie of the year.

## Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1970–71 | 66 | 22 | 43 | 1 | - | 271 | 351 | 45 | 5th West | Did not qualify |
| 1971–72 | 68 | 35 | 30 | 3 | - | 351 | 312 | 73 | 4th West | Lost in quarterfinal |
| 1972–73 | 68 | 39 | 20 | 9 | - | 348 | 254 | 87 | 2nd West | Won Championship |
| 1973–74 | 68 | 29 | 31 | 8 | - | 305 | 314 | 66 | 3rd West | Lost in quarterfinal |
| 1974–75 | 70 | 40 | 22 | 8 | - | 380 | 291 | 88 | 2nd West | Lost in quarterfinal |
| 1975–76 | 72 | 38 | 24 | 10 | - | 379 | 306 | 86 | 3rd West | Lost in quarterfinal |
| 1976–77 | 72 | 32 | 28 | 12 | - | 330 | 304 | 76 | 1st Central | Lost in preliminary round |
| 1977–78 | 72 | 22 | 41 | 9 | - | 293 | 365 | 53 | 3rd Central | Lost in Central Division final |
| 1978–79 | 72 | 15 | 50 | 7 | - | 270 | 479 | 37 | 4th Central | Did not qualify |
| 1979–80 | 72 | 37 | 30 | 5 | - | 344 | 315 | 79 | 3rd East | Lost in East Division final |
| 1980–81 | 72 | 40 | 29 | 3 | - | 358 | 302 | 83 | 3rd East | Lost in East Division quarterfinal |
| 1981–82 | 72 | 25 | 46 | 1 | - | 308 | 446 | 51 | 7th East | Did not qualify |
| 1982–83 | 72 | 37 | 34 | 1 | - | 345 | 338 | 75 | 6th East | Lost in East Division quarterfinal |
| 1983–84 | 72 | 45 | 26 | 1 | - | 404 | 288 | 91 | 2nd East | Lost in East Division final |
| 1984–85 | 72 | 53 | 17 | 2 | - | 355 | 224 | 108 | 2nd East | Lost in East Division final |
| 1985–86 | 72 | 54 | 17 | 1 | - | 384 | 245 | 109 | 1st East | Lost in final |
| 1986–87 | 72 | 48 | 19 | 5 | - | 383 | 264 | 101 | 1st East | Won Championship and Memorial Cup |
| 1987–88 | 72 | 44 | 22 | 6 | - | 353 | 261 | 94 | 2nd East | Won Championship and Memorial Cup |
| 1988–89 | 72 | 41 | 27 | 4 | - | 359 | 326 | 86 | 3rd East | Lost in East Division quarterfinal |
| 1989–90 | 72 | 32 | 38 | 2 | - | 298 | 331 | 66 | 5th East | Lost in East Division quarterfinal |
| 1990–91 | 72 | 40 | 27 | 5 | - | 366 | 296 | 85 | 2nd East | Lost in East Division final |
| 1991–92 | 72 | 48 | 24 | 0 | - | 336 | 264 | 96 | 2nd East | Lost in East Division quarterfinal |
| 1992–93 | 72 | 29 | 38 | 5 | - | 285 | 343 | 63 | 7th East | Lost in East Division semifinal |
| 1993–94 | 72 | 33 | 33 | 6 | - | 263 | 264 | 72 | 5th East | Lost in East Division quarterfinal |
| 1994–95 | 72 | 38 | 32 | 2 | - | 244 | 229 | 78 | 5th East | Lost in East Division quarterfinal |
| 1995–96 | 72 | 30 | 37 | 5 | - | 243 | 288 | 65 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 1996–97 | 72 | 39 | 32 | 1 | - | 270 | 278 | 79 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 1997–98 | 72 | 16 | 50 | 6 | - | 188 | 340 | 38 | 5th Central | Did not qualify |
| 1998–99 | 72 | 15 | 56 | 1 | - | 185 | 323 | 31 | 5th Central | Did not qualify |
| 1999–00 | 72 | 21 | 39 | 6 | 6 | 222 | 295 | 54 | 5th Central | Did not qualify |
| 2000–01 | 72 | 24 | 40 | 5 | 3 | 271 | 316 | 56 | 5th Central | Did not qualify |
| 2001–02 | 72 | 30 | 36 | 4 | 2 | 277 | 316 | 66 | 5th Central | Did not qualify |
| 2002–03 | 72 | 29 | 34 | 2 | 7 | 278 | 314 | 67 | 3rd Central | Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal |
| 2003–04 | 72 | 40 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 277 | 216 | 92 | 1st Central | Won Championship |
| 2004–05 | 72 | 45 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 234 | 143 | 96 | 1st Central | Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal |
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2005–06 | 72 | 47 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 257 | 171 | 103 | 1st Central | Lost in Eastern Conference final |
| 2006–07 | 72 | 52 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 264 | 175 | 107 | 1st Central | Won Championship; Lost Memorial Cup final |
| 2007–08 | 72 | 43 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 234 | 191 | 93 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2008–09 | 72 | 36 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 249 | 242 | 79 | 2nd Central | Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal |
| 2009–10 | 72 | 41 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 276 | 232 | 90 | 3rd Central | Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal |
| 2010–11 | 72 | 46 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 265 | 196 | 100 | 2nd Central | Lost in Eastern Conference final |
| 2011–12 | 72 | 42 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 255 | 209 | 90 | 3rd Central | Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal |
| 2012–13 | 72 | 36 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 243 | 244 | 75 | 4th Central | Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal |
| 2013–14 | 72 | 44 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 260 | 196 | 92 | 3rd Central | Lost in Eastern Conference final |
| 2014–15 | 72 | 45 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 268 | 213 | 94 | 2nd Central | Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal |
| 2015–16 | 72 | 30 | 37 | 3 | 2 | 223 | 287 | 65 | 5th Central | Lost tiebreaker game vs Edmonton |
| 2016–17 | 72 | 51 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 350 | 248 | 103 | 1st Central | Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal |
| 2017–18 | 72 | 36 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 260 | 252 | 80 | 1st Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2018–19 | 68 | 35 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 217 | 222 | 76 | 4th Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2019–20 | 63 | 41 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 265 | 182 | 85 | 2nd Central | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020–21 | 23 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 87 | 69 | 29 | 2nd Central | No playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021-22 | 68 | 11 | 53 | 3 | 1 | 154 | 315 | 26 | 6th Central | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 68 | 30 | 29 | 8 | 1 | 248 | 224 | 69 | 4th Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2023-24 | 68 | 37 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 280 | 231 | 82 | 2nd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |

## WHL Championship history

* Memorial Cups: 1987, 1988
* President's Cups: 1972–73, 1986–87, 1987–88, 2003–04, 2006–07
* Scotty Munro Memorial Trophies: 1985–86, 2005–06

### WHL Championships

* 1972–73: Win, 3-0-2 vs Saskatoon Blades
* 1985–86: Loss, 1-4 vs Kamloops Blazers
* 1986–87: Win, 4-3 vs Portland Winter Hawks
* 1987–88: Win, 4-2 vs Kamloops Blazers
* 2003–04: Win, 4-0 vs Everett Silvertips
* 2006–07: Win, 4-3 vs Vancouver Giants

### Memorial Cup finals

* 1987: Win, 6–2 vs Oshawa Generals
* 1988: Win, 7–6 vs Windsor Spitfires
* 2007: Loss, 1–3 vs Vancouver Giants

## NHL alumni

* Johnathan Aitken
* Ron Areshenkoff
* Cam Barker
* Doug Barkley
* Bob Bassen
* Hank Bassen
* Craig Berube
* Tim Bothwell
* Derek Boogaard
* Jay Bouwmeester
* Neil Brady
* Rod Buskas
* Brian Carlin
* Greg Carroll
* Jason Chimera
* Shane Churla
* Dean Chynoweth
* Martin Cibak
* Al Conroy
* David Cooper
* Murray Craven
* Barry Dean
* Rob DiMaio
* Derek Dorsett
* Rocky Dundas
* Tyler Ennis
* Emerson Etem
* Vernon Fiddler
* Mark Fitzpatrick
* Ron Flockhart
* Val Fonteyne
* Troy Gamble
* Bob Gassoff
* Brad Gassoff
* Josh Green
* Travis Green
* Bruce Greig
* Kevan Guy
* Len Haley
* James Hamblin
* Darren Helm
* Brian Hill
* John Hilworth
* Justin Hocking
* Ken Holland
* Ryan Hollweg
* Doug Houda
* Kelly Hrudey
* Jamie Huscroft
* Gord Hynes
* Eddie Johnstone
* Matt Keetley
* Dan Kordic
* Dale Kushner
* Mark Lamb
* Jamie Linden
* Trevor Linden
* Morris Lukowich
* Joffrey Lupul
* Ron Lyons
* Tom Lysiak
* Clarke MacArthur
* David Mackey
* Mike MacWilliam
* Merlin Malinowski
* Milan Marcetta
* Bryan Maxwell
* Alan May
* Wayne McBean
* Bryan McCabe
* Jim McCrimmon
* Lanny McDonald
* Ryan McGill
* John McKenzie
* Tom McMurchy
* Barry Melrose
* Stefan Meyer
* Jason Miller
* Don Murdoch
* Rob Niedermayer
* Jim Nill
* Jaroslav Obsut
* Chris Osgood
* Allen Pedersen
* Mark Pederson
* Pete Peeters
* Mike Rathje
* Stacy Roest
* Kris Russell
* Paxton Schafer
* David Schlemko
* Cole Sillinger
* Don Smith
* Mads Sogaard
* Ken Solheim
* Brent Thompson
* Rocky Thompson
* Rocky Trottier
* Greg Vaydik
* Stan Weir
* Neil Wilkinson
* Mike Zanier
* Richard Zemlak

## Team records

Team records for a single season :
| Statistic | Total | Season |
| Most points | 109 | 1985–86 |
| Most wins | 54 | 1985–86 |
| Most goals for | 404 | 1983–84 |
| Fewest goals for | 185 | 1998–99 |
| Fewest goals against | 143 | 2004–05 |
| Most goals against | 479 | 1978–79 |
Individual player records for a single season :
| Statistic | Player | Total | Season |
| Most goals | Don Murdoch | 88 | 1975–76 |
| Most assists | Greg Carroll | 111 | 1975–76 |
| Most points | Greg Carroll | 171 | 1975–76 |
| Most points, rookie | Don Murdoch | 141 | 1974–75 |
| Most points, defenceman | Cliff Lane | 82 | 1975–76 |
| Best GAA (goalie) | Matt Keetley | 1.66 | 2004–05 |
| Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played ||||