Spokane Chiefs on the Brink as Medicine Hat Tigers Take 3-1 Series Lead.

SPOKANE, WA — The Spokane Chiefs find themselves on the edge of elimination in the WHL Championship Finals after back-to-back losses on home ice to the surging Medicine Hat Tigers. With a dominant 5-2 win on Wednesday night, the Tigers now hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and are just one win away from hoisting the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time since 2007.

The Tigers, representing the Eastern Conference, have steamrolled their way through the playoffs. After sweeping the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Swift Current Broncos, and Prince Albert Raiders, they now have Spokane in their sights. This marks the first-ever playoff meeting between the two franchises, and the Tigers have wasted no time making an impression.

On Tuesday night, Medicine Hat stunned the Spokane Arena crowd with a resounding 6-0 shutout—further evidence of their defensive prowess, which has been on display throughout the postseason.

Yet even in defeat, Spokane’s star forward Berkly Catton continues to shine. Despite Wednesday’s loss, the 19-year-old forward reached a major milestone, becoming the first WHL skater this century to hit the 40-point mark in a single playoff run. His assist in Game 4 raised his playoff total to 41 points—solidifying his place in league history.

Catton’s incredible postseason adds to an already decorated year. The Chiefs captain was named the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player for 2025, a finalist for WHL Player of the Year, and earned WHL Player of the Week honors for the week ending May 11. This marks his fourth weekly award of the season, alongside his WHL Player of the Month recognition from February.

Through the first four games of the Finals, Catton has remained a consistent offensive force. He scored Spokane’s lone goal in a 4-1 Game 1 loss on Friday, May 9, then powered the Chiefs to a bounce-back 6-2 victory in Game 2, leading the way with a goal and two assists. 

Spokane will look to extend the series in a must-win Game 5 on Friday, May 16, at 7:00 p.m. PST. A win would send the series back to Alberta, where Games 6 and 7—if necessary—would be played at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat.

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