Medicine Hat Tigers win Western Hockey League championship
Medicine Hat won the best-of-seven final for the Ed Chynoweth Cup 4-1
Bryce Pickford, Gavin McKenna and Niilopekka Muhonen also scored for Medicine Hat.
Goaltender Harrison Meneghin made 34 saves for the win in net.
The Tigers will be the WHL's representative in the Memorial Cup, Canada's national major junior championship.
Assanali Sarkenov and Andrew Cristall replied for Spokane, while goaltender Dawson Cowan stopped 32 of 35 shots.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2025.
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The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Commitments to schools started not long after the NCAA announced in November that it was opening up scholarship opportunities for Major Junior players from leagues like the WHL. McKenna's decision ramps up the spotlight on it all. He's the big fish, the projected No. 1 pick for the 2026 NHL Draft. McKenna, 17, is a big enough deal that the Rink Academy Kelowna product broke the news on ESPN that he wouldn't be helping the Medicine Hat Tigers defend their WHL championship this coming season but instead would be suiting up for the Penn State University Nittany Lions. The left-winger is a big enough deal that did a preview story on him going on ESPN and then did a followup piece when he declared. This opening up of scholarships is a sweeping change in hockey development. Now it has a poster boy for the NCAA side. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. We'll see how the WHL pivots. At last count, there were 26 players who have left the league for the NCAA. Other key names include: Victoria Royals defenceman Keaton Verhoeff, 17, a projected early pick in next year's NHL Draft who's going to North Dakota; Royals centre Cole Reschny, 18, the No. 18 selection by the Calgary Flames in last month's draft who's also going to North Dakota; and Tri-City Americans defenceman Jackson Smith, 18, the No. 14 choice by the Columbus Blue Jackets last month who is slated to be a McKenna teammate at Penn State. 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We're disappointed that there are a handful of other players that are testing the waters over there, but there's no definitive conclusion on any of this at all,' Near said. 'I think what's incumbent upon us is to listen to the players, to monitor and evaluate the situation, and give this some time to figure out whether it's a grass-is-greener-over-there-thing, or a money thing, or a campus lifestyle thing. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Over time, it may play out that we should adapt things to come closer to them. Over time, it may play out that they should adapt things to be more like us. But our inclination isn't to suddenly go and decrease our games closer to 35. We're going to need to let this play out.' The Tigers played 90 games (68 regular season, 18 WHL playoff, four Memorial Cup) last season. The Boston University Terriers, who featured Vancouver Canucks prospect Tom Willander and went to the NCAA Frozen Four championship game, played 40. For decades, the WHL has been selling that as a plus, that it's similar to the NHL lifestyle. The NCAA is now promoting the idea that fewer games gives more time to get in the gym and get stronger, and there's not the travel like in junior. It's commonplace for a WHL team to play three games in a weekend, with at least one on the road. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The WHL is in many small towns. The NCAA has many glitzy, state-of-the-art arenas, and especially at schools that are bringing in big money with their football or basketball teams. The NCAA is allowing its athletes to have Name Image Likeness (NIL) personal sponsorship deals. There are reports that McKenna is getting $700,000 this coming season as part of playing for Penn State. 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