ICE Host Medicine Hat Tigers to Open WHL Playoffs
March 25, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Winnipeg Ice News Release
The final First Round matchup of the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien is set, featuring the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy-winning Winnipeg ICE and the Medicine Hat Tigers.
The first-round series between the ICE and Tigers was confirmed Saturday after the Tigers defeated the Swift Current Broncos 4-3. Winnipeg is the top seed in the Eastern Conference, while Medicine Hat enters the post-season as the eighth seed.
The series will mark the first WHL Playoffs meeting between the ICE and Tigers since a Second Round affair in 2014. Medicine Hat rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the Kootenay ICE in seven games. Overall, the Clubs have met four times in the post-season with each Club winning two series.
Winnipeg enjoyed a record-setting season, achieving new franchise bests with 57 wins and 115 points. The ICE clinched the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as Regular Season Champions Friday evening, doing so for the second consecutive year.
After winning only 11 games in 2021-22, Medicine Hat makes its return to the WHL Playoffs next weekend, skating to a fourth-place finish in the Central Division and improving the Club's win total by 19.
Three of the four regular season meetings went Winnipeg's way, including the most recent encounter, a 3-1 ICE victory March 7 at Wayne Fleming Arena. The home side ran out winners in three of the four meetings, too, including the lone Tigers victory, a 6-4 affair March 1 at Co-op Place.
The ICE were led in scoring in the season series by veteran forward Connor McClennon, who finished with four goals and six points. Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie and defenceman Ben Zloty each added a half-dozen points versus Medicine Hat this season, while Arizona Coyotes first-rounder Conor Geekie had five goals in the four games between the two teams.
Forward Oasiz Wiesblatt finished with five points (3G-2A) in the season series to hold a share of the Tigers scoring lead versus Winnipeg, with defenceman Reid Andresen also factoring in on five Medicine Hat goals (1G-4A). Wiesblatt was the lone Tigers skater to score more than once against the ICE during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season.
San Jose Sharks prospect Mason Beaupit and Chestermere, Alta. product Daniel Hauser each earned a victory for Winnipeg in the season series, with Beaupit standing as the lone ICE netminder to appear more than once against Medicine Hat.
Rookie puck-stopper Evan May was the goaltender of record in the aforementioned Tigers win March 1, posting a 1-1-0-0 record from his three outings versus Winnipeg.
Game 1 of the first-round series between the Winnipeg ICE and Medicine Hat Tigers is scheduled for Friday, March 31 at 7:05 p.m. CT in Winnipeg(Wayne Fleming Arena). The series will shift to Medicine Hat for Game 3 on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m. MT (Co-op Place).
2023 WHL PLAYOFFS - SERIES A SCHEDULE
Game Date Away Home Time
1 March 31, 2023 Medicine Hat Winnipeg 7:05 p.m. CT
2 April 1, 2023 Medicine Hat Winnipeg 6:05 p.m. CT
3 April 4, 2023 Winnipeg Medicine Hat 8:00 p.m. CT
4 April 5, 2023 Winnipeg Medicine Hat 8:00 p.m. CT
5 April 8, 2023 Medicine Hat Winnipeg 2:05 p.m. CT *
6 April 9, 2023 Winnipeg Medicine Hat 8:00 p.m. CT *
7 April 11, 2023 Medicine Hat Winnipeg 7:05 p.m. CT *
* - if necessary
Western Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2023
- Warriors Drop Regular Season Finale Against Saskatoon - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Giants Come Back But Fall Short in Kelowna, 5-4 - Vancouver Giants
- Chiefs Recognize Overage Players, Hand out Team Awards in Pre-Game Ceremony Saturday - Spokane Chiefs
- Berezowski Sets Single-Season Goals Record, Tips Win 4-3 Shootout - Everett Silvertips
- Pats Lose Regular Season Finale 5-3 to Raiders - Regina Pats
- Pats Lose Regular Season Finale 5-3 to Raiders - Regina Pats
- Tigers Punch Their Ticket to the WHL Playoffs - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Blades Finish 2022-23 Season with Third-Best Winning Percentage in Franchise History - Saskatoon Blades
- Hawks Hit 40 Wins with 3-1 Victory Over Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Host Medicine Hat Tigers to Open WHL Playoffs - Winnipeg Ice
- Raiders End Regular Season with 5-3 Win in Regina - Prince Albert Raiders
- ICE Get Past Brandon, 5-3 - Winnipeg Ice
- ICE Win 15th Straight Over Wheat Kings to Close Season - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Saturday's Season Finale vs Tri-City Officially Sold Out - Spokane Chiefs
- Hitmen Secure Playoff Spot with Win over Oil Kings - Calgary Hitmen
- Oil Kings Edged by Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rebels and Hitmen to Meet in WHL Playoffs - Red Deer Rebels
- Oil Kings Announce 2022-23 Team Awards Winners - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Head to Spokane for Last Regular Season Home Game - Tri-City Americans
- Single Game Playoff Tickets Are on Sale Now - Saskatoon Blades
- Blazers Sign 2004-Born Defenseman Ryan Nolan - Kamloops Blazers
- Preview: Chiefs Host Americans in 2022-23 Regular Season Finale Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Blazers Sign 2006-Born Forward Max Sullivan to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement - Kamloops Blazers
- Game Day Preview March 25 vs Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Final Regular Season Contest Goes Inside the Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- T-Birds Topple Portland - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Game Day Hub: March 25 at Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Game #68 - ICE vs Brandon Wheat Kings, 6:00 at the ICE Cave Inside Wayne Fleming Arena - Winnipeg Ice
- Blades Best Pats 3-2 in Front of 14,786 Fans - Saskatoon Blades
- Second-Period Stumble Fells Hawks - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Triumph in Shootout - Winnipeg Ice
- 7 Different Goal Scorers Lift Cougars Over Blazers - Prince George Cougars
- Berezowski Nets Hat Trick in Home Regular Season Finale, Royals Win 6-4 - Everett Silvertips
- Second-Period Stumble Fells Hawks - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Fall to Giants - Kelowna Rockets
- Sloppy Third Period Chiefs' Downfall in 7-4 Loss at Tri-City - Spokane Chiefs
- Tigers Drop 3-1 Decision to Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Patton Propels Royals to 6-4 Road Win Over Silvertips - Victoria Royals
- Honzek's Last Second Heroics Lift Giants to 3-2 Win - Vancouver Giants
- Uchacz Scores 50th Goal - Red Deer Rebels
- Broncos Down Tigers 3-1 in Regular Season Home Finale - Swift Current Broncos
- Warriors Knock off Raiders in Prince Albert on Friday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Pats Fall 3-2 to Blades in Playoff Preview - Regina Pats
- Hurricanes to Face Warriors in First Round - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- GAME HUB: Wheat Kings Close out Season in Winnipeg - Brandon Wheat Kings
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