Memorial Cup field is set

WHL

MONCTON – The field is set for the 2025 Memorial Cup.

The Medicine Hat Tigers secured the final spot in the tournament on Friday night, defeating the Spokane Chiefs 6-0 to win the Western Hockey League championship in five games. It's the first WHL title for the Tigers since 2007.

Medicine Hat joins an impressive tournament field featuring the Rimouski Oceanic (host), Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) and London Knights (OHL champion).

The Tigers are headlined by 2026 NHL Draft top prospect Gavin McKenna, who posted 38 points in 16 playoff games. This could be McKenna's final games of junior hockey as it's been speculated that he'll make the jump to the NCAA next season.

Medicine Hat goaltender Harrison Meneghin was named playoff MVP. Meneghin, who lost his father just before the playoffs started, was given this special moment by Tigers captain Oasiz Wiesblatt.

Harrison, you're getting this one too 🧡

Your 2025 Ed Chynoweth Cup champs 🏆@TigersHockey | #WHLChampionship | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/MYGVQXS98q

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 17, 2025

The Memorial Cup begins next Friday with the Tigers taking on the host Oceanic. The next day, the Wildcats face the Knights.

A few other news and notes...

• It's a big day in Moncton where the Wildcats will look to win the Gilles-Courteau Trophy on home ice. The Oceanic dominated Game 4, winning 5-1. The Wildcats are 8-0 at Avenir Centre this post-season.
• Saturday's game at Avenir Centre was nearly sold out before Game 4 even ended. All tickets were sold as of Friday morning. 8,512 fans attended a sold out Game 1 of the championship series.
• The Wildcats will be looking to win their third QMJHL championship. Their previous two titles were won on home ice.
• In the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs on Friday, Spencer Smallman had two shots as the Hershey Bears fell 3-2 to the Charlotte Checkers. Riley Bezeau did not play for the Checkers. Charlotte leads the best-of-five series 1-0.
• Joshua Roy had one shot and was a -3 in the Laval Rocket's 5-3 loss to the Rochester Americans. The best-of-five series is tied 1-1.
• The ECHL's Eastern Conference final begins Saturday. Nicolas Guay, Vincent Sevigny and the Trois-Rivieres Lions are facing the three-time defending ECHL champion Florida Everblades.
• Fredericton's Tynan Lawrence and the Muskegon Lumberjacks can win the USHL's Clark Cup on Saturday. The Lumberjacks took a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five championship series with a 2-1 double overtime win over the Waterloo Black Hawks on Friday.