The Medicine Hat Tigers will kick off their 2025 Memorial Cup schedule on Friday when they battle the Rimouski Océanic. Medicine Hat returns to the Memorial Cup for the first time since 2007 and will be looking to bring a third championship home to Alberta. After showing how dangerous they can be throughout the WHL Playoffs, it is time for the Tigers to demonstrate to the rest of the CHL why they deserve to be crowned Memorial Cup Champions.
Friday's opener is going to be a challenge as Rimouski will have momentum heading into the tournament. While they did lose the QMJHL Championship, the Océanic have played more recently than Medicine Hat, and did not have to travel across the country to play in this tournament. The Tigers will also have to battle an energized arena, as fans in Rimouski are expected to make the Colisée Financière Sun Life a difficult place to play.
As for the game itself, Medicine Hat will need to continue its trend of scoring early in games. If the Tigers can take a 1-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game, it could quiet the crowd and force the Océanic to make some early mistakes. Once those mistakes start happening, Medicine Hat should be able to capitalize, as they have done throughout the post-season.
Players To Watch:
Andrew Basha
After missing close to five months with an injury, Andrew Basha was a difference maker during the WHL Championship. The Calgary Flames prospect found the scoresheet in all five games and really started to find his groove as the series went on. If Basha can be an offensive presence on Friday, there is a good chance that the Tigers will kick off their round-robin with a victory.
Jacob Mathieu
Captains lead by example and that is exactly what Jacob Mathieu has done this season. The 21-year-old had a playoffs to remember, scoring 17 times and recording 31 points in 23 games. Limiting his impact on the game will be crucial as he is the heart and soul of this Rimouski team.
Round-Robin Game 1 Details:
Opponent: Rimouski Océanic
Game Time: May 23 @ 5:00 pm MT
Television: TSN/NHL Network
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