2025 WHL Playoffs Preview: 1) Medicine Hat Tigers Versus 8) Swift Current Broncos
Credit: Randy Freer // Medicine Hat TigersThe Medicine Hat Tigers are set to begin their trek to the 2025 Memorial Cup as a heavy favourite out of the WHL.
In their way? The scrappy Swift Current Broncos.
After a fierce season series, which saw a tie between the two clubs, the Tigers and Broncos will meet for the first time in the playoffs since the first round of the 2009 playoffs, where Medicine Hat took a seven-game set.
With a split, comes a couple close games. The last of which, coming on February 7, featured eight game misconducts and Luke Mistelbacher scoring the game winner as the Broncos took a 5-3 win inside Co-Op Place.
There are no question marks around Medicine Hat's lineup, aside from a couple returns. Per the WHL report for the week of March 18, defender Jonas Woo is listed as day-to-day and forward Andrew Basha is still listed as indefinite. Star forward Cayden Lindstrom could potentially make a return, albeit not in round one. He remains out for the forseeable future. Of the players that are in the lineup, Gavin McKenna remains the X-factor. Posting 100 points over a 40-game streak to end the regular season, the 2026 NHL draft eligible phenom can seemingly take a game over at will.
Heading east, the Broncos are no slouches themselves. Despite having limped into the playoffs, going 4-5-0-1 over their final 10 games, Swift Current has players that can score. Dynamic duo Brady Birnie and Luke Mistelbacher, as well as Seattle Kraken prosoect Clarke Caswell have put the team on their back at times this season and will look to do the same heading into April.
While the Tigers are the heavy favourite, as mentioned, a team like the Broncos could steal a game. With that said, Medicine Hat's goaltending tandem of Harrison Meneghin and Jordan Switzer have heated up at the right time and are poised to make opposing shooter's lives a living nightmare.
Prediction: Medicine Hat in 4
Season Series: Tied 2-2
Scoring Leaders:
Medicine Hat:
Gavin McKenna 41-88-129
Oasiz Weisblatt 36-67-103
Ryder Ritchie 29-32-61
Hunter St. Martin 39-20-59
Bryce Pickford 20-27-47
Swift Current:
Luke Mistelbacher 42-51-93
Clarke Caswell 22-62-84
Carlin Dezainde 34-38-72
Rylan Gould 29-37-66
Brady Birnie 26-39-65
Schedule:
Game 1: @ Medicine Hat, Friday, March 28, 7:00 MT
Game 2: @ Medicine Hat, Saturday, March 29, 7:00 MT
Game 3: @ Swift Current, Tuesday, April 1, 7:00 MT
Game 4: @ Swift Current, Wednesday, April 2 7:00 MT
*Game 5: @ Medicine Hat, Friday, April 4, 7:00 MT
*Game 6: @ Swift Current, Sunday, April 6, 5:00 MT
*Game 7: @ Medicine Hat, Tuesday, April 8, 7:00 MT
*- if necessary
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