Hurricanes swept in eastern final by Tigers, ending 2025 playoff run

Over 5,000 fans packed the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Wednesday night to cheer on both the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers. 

It was game four of the WHL Eastern Conference Finals. Going into the matchup, Medicine Hat led the series three games to none, and unfortunately for ‘Canes fans, the home team could not get past the visitors, losing 5-3, marking an end to their 2025 playoff run. 

Logan Wormald put Lethbridge on the board first, scoring his sixth goal of the post-season at the 2:32 mark. Brayden Edwards and Miguel Marques earned the assists. 

Mathew Ward responded for Medicine Hat at 9:37, followed by a goal at 14:10 by Bryce Pickford to put the visiting Tigers up 2-1 going into the second period. 

The Tigers had the upper hand for scoring in the second, with goals at 12:20 by Misha Volotovskii and a second goal from Ward at 17:52. 

The Hurricanes had a big hill to climb going into the game’s final frame, down 4-1. The home team fought hard, cutting the Tigers’ lead to one thanks to goals from Kash Andresen at 1:32 and Anthony Wilson at 6:17. 

Unfortunately, the strong effort from the ‘Canes was not enough, with Medicine Hat standout Gavin McKenna scoring the insurance empty-netter at the 19:23 mark of the third to secure the 5-3 win and series sweep for the Tigers. 

In net, Hurricanes’ goaltender Jackson Unger made 34 saves, with former Lethbridge netminder Harrison Meneghin stopping 18 shots for the Tigers. 

Lethbridge’s captain Noah Chadwick was named the game’s third star, with over-age players Brayden Edwards and Logan McCutcheon named second and first stars. 

Medicine Hat will now move on to the WHL championship series to face the winner of the Western Conference Finals series between the Portland Winterhawks and Spokane Chiefs. Spokane leads three games to none going into Thursday night’s game four.