Canes thumped by Tigers in Game 2

By Lethbridge Herald on April 26, 2025.

NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Luke Cozens makes a pass with Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Bryce Pickford looking to make a check in the first period of Game 2 Saturday at Co-op Place in the Eastern Conference Championship series.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes find themselves down 0-2 in the WHL’s Eastern Conference final after being thumped by the Medicine Hat Tigers 7-2 on Saturday night at Co-op Place.

“Tough game,” said Matt Anholt, Canes associate head coach.

“Obviously being down 2-0 and two lopsided losses is gonna be a hard thing to overcome but we’re real excited to see what kind of moral fiber we have in our group.”

The Tigers have gotten out to quick starts in the first two games as they’ve scored three goals or more in the first period and Anholt was asked about how they have to dig in more in order to start on time.

“For sure need our top guys to be better,” said Anholt.

“Their top guys are taking it to us, especially early, so I’m excited to see us respond on Tuesday.”

Oasiz Wiesblatt took a backhand pass on top of the crease from Gavin McKenna, who was in the slot, and outweighed Jackson Unger and lifted his own backhand into the net 2: 37 into the game to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

McKenna’s assist marked a record-setting 51^st straight game with a point.

Bryce Pickford gave Medicine Hat a 2-0 lead when he buried a rebound from the slot 6:08 into the first period.

Marcus Pacheco assisted on the Pickford marker.

The Tigers got out to a 3-0 lead when Josh Van Mulligan buried a rebound off a Kadon McCann shot 13:56 into first period.

Misha Volotovskii also got an assist on the goal.

Pickford’s shot 1: 32 into the second period bounced off  of Liam Ruck’s shin pads into the net on the powerplay to give the Tigers 4-0 lead.

McKenna also notched an assist on the Ruck goal.

Pickford  ripped a wrist shot passed Unger for  his second goal of the night  from McKenna and Tanner Molendyk on the powerplay 10:02 into the second to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead.

Misha Volotovskii scored the Tigers sixth goal 17: 39 into the second from McKenna.

Wiesblatt then tipped home the Tigers third powerplay goal of the second period with 51 seconds to go in the middle frame to give the home team  a 7-0 lead.

Pickford and McKenna got the assists.

Kooper Gizowski got the Canes on the board  3:41 into the third period from Brayden Edwards and Vojtech Port.

Logan McCutcheon’s wrist shot from the top of the circle was tipped in by Anthony Wilson 10:19 into the third period to make the score 7-2.

Caden Price also assisted on the goal.

The Tigers outshot the Canes 29-22.

The Canes will look to get back in this series on Tuesday night in Game 3 at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

“Being a family, being a group and staying with it …  and a no- quit mentality,” said Anholt, on getting back in the series.

The Canes will look for ways to create offence after only mustering three goals total in the first two games.

“We just gotta get to simple hockey, get pucks in to the goalie and gets some traffic,” said Anholt.