A Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators] first-round pick has a chance to win the most coveted trophy in Canadian junior hockey. Defenseman Tanner Molendyk [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/tempest-predators-ci02e8843dd0002696], who was selected by the Predators 24th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/tempest-predators-ci02dd6485d0002554] and the Medicine Hat Tigers will play in the Memorial Cup championship [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/2025-memorial-cup-what-s-at-stake-in-the-final-round-robin-games] on Sunday in Rimouski, Quebec. Hailing from Medicine Hat, Alberta, the Tigers lost just two games [https://thehockeynews.com/news/t0llWdHdPFgRnGVwqpMB] en route to their seventh Western Hockey League championship. In the Memorial Cup, Medicine Hat went undefeated in group play, defeating the host Rimouski Océanic 5-4, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) champion Moncton Wildcats 3-1, and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) champion London Knights 3-1. This is Molendyk's fifth and final season in the WHL, as he has reached the league's age limit of 20 years old. He had played with the Saskatoon Blades since 2020 before being traded in January. [https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/tigers-acquire-molendyk-from-saskatoon-in-blockbuster/] Molendyk's trade made headlines in the Canadian Hockey League as the Tigers traded five draft picks, defenseman Jack Kachkowski, and forward Hayden Harsanyi for Molendyk and forward Misha Volotovskii. Between his time in Saskatoon and Medicine Hat this season, Molendyk recorded 47 points (nine goals and 38 assists) in 49 games. He also has 20 points (four goals and 16 assists) in 18 playoff games. His regular-season point total is the second-best of his career, following the 46 points in 50 games he recorded during the 2023-24 season. Molendyk's playoff point total is a career-best. He also represented Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/tempest-predators-ci02ebd021600027e9], recording two points in five games. Canada placed fifth after losing to Czechia, 4-3, in the quarterfinal round. Molendyk is also tied for fifth in total points in the Memorial Cup, with three all from assists. Two of those assists came in the 5-4 win over Rimouski. While he hasn't made his official professional debut, Molendyk has played for the Predators in the preseason. He wore No. 50 in the Predators' preseason game against the Florida Panthers on Sept. 25, 2023. He had 22 shifts for 18:15 minutes of ice time. During the 2024 preseason, he played in three games. He had 20:26 minutes of ice time in a 6-2 loss to the Panthers, 14:14 minutes of ice time and a tripping penalty in a 6-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes and 15:23 minutes of ice time in a 5-3 loss to the Hurricanes. With this being Molendyk's final junior season, he will be battling for a spot on the Predators' main roster.
