Irrespective of who you cheer for, the primary group that made you a hockey fan will at all times be particular. For me, that’s the Drugs Hat Tigers. As quickly as my brother and I had been sufficiently old to grasp what was occurring, my dad and my uncle had been taking us to video games with them. Sadly, whereas we might perceive the sport of hockey, we extra usually selected to not and as an alternative ran across the area, giving the one that took us panic assaults as they tried to look at each the sport and two youngsters with excessive vitality and low consideration spans.
The hockey bug by no means actually received my brother, but it surely certain received me. Because the years handed, I grew increasingly more invested within the group, cheering on the likes of Darren Helm, Kris Russell, and Tyler Ennis. Noticing my burgeoning curiosity, my dad and uncle taught me what to search for, who to concentrate to, and lots of the finer factors of the implausible sport of hockey. It was they who gave me my first hockey playing cards, taught me how you can pronounce the celebrities’ names, and at all times gave me the prospect to speak in regards to the sport I used to be rising to like.
I continued to assist the Tigers after I went off to school in Saskatchewan, ensuring to examine in Emerson Etem, Tyler Bunz, and Hunter Shinkaruk after they got here to city. However regardless of now being a number of hours aside, I continued to share the experiences with my dad. When he’d come to go to, we’d attempt to schedule it round when Drugs Hat was additionally on the town so we might watch a recreation collectively. It stays a few of my fondest reminiscences of that point — simply hanging out with my dad and speaking hockey.
After graduating, I remained in Saskatchewan, which made catching video games collectively more and more more durable. Earlier than I noticed it, it had been almost a decade since we watched any recreation in individual collectively, not to mention the Tigers. So, after watching the Saskatoon Blades, Regina Pats, and Prince Albert Raiders, I knew I had one essential area to cross off my checklist earlier than I received a lot additional in my journey to see each Western Hockey League (WHL) group play at their dwelling rink.
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If that is your first time studying my journey, welcome! That is the fourth cease I’ve made in my effort to go to all 22 locales within the WHL. Junior hockey performed an enormous half in me turning into the hockey fan I’m at the moment, and I wished to recapture the thrill of strolling into an area for the primary time once more. It’s additionally my approach of giving again to the communities that love and assist their groups by means of thick and skinny. You may take a look at my first three stops over on The Hockey Writers’ Premium Substack, however future episodes can be posted right here on the principle web site. Keep tuned for extra to come back!
However earlier than we get to the sport, let’s take a look at how the Tigers ended up in Drugs Hat within the first place.
Tigers Historical past
As with many prairie cities, Drugs Hat’s historical past is deeply intertwined with the game of hockey. Hockey groups could be traced again to as early as 1901 when the primary hockey rink was constructed, and within the Nineteen Thirties William Henry Grey established town’s first midget hockey program. It was he who seemingly first got here up with the title ‘Tigers;’ the primary reference I might discover confirmed up with a 1927-28 senior group. It’s hardly an unique concept; the Hamilton Soccer Membership ‘Tigers’ had been round since 1869 and sure impressed the NHL’s Hamilton Tigers, who joined the league in 1920. Out west, the Calgary Tigers grew to become one among Alberta’s first skilled groups in 1921, successful two league titles in 1923-24 and 1924-25. The Tigers moniker labored for them, so why reinvent the wheel?
Whereas there have been all ranges of hockey being performed in Drugs Hat, the primary aggressive junior group arrived within the Forties and was additionally known as the Tigers. William Grey’s seventh little one, Richard, started his taking part in profession with the group, later taking his abilities to the Vancouver Canucks of the Pacific Coast Hockey League in 1945-46. The hard-nosed defenceman caught round only one season earlier than returning to Alberta and becoming a member of the Lethbridge Maple Leafs, who had been chosen to characterize Canada on the World Hockey Championship in 1951 in London, which they received. After that, Grey returned to Drugs Hat, the place he coached the Tigers, who had been taking part in within the Western Canada Junior Hockey League (WJCHL).
Nonetheless, by the mid-Fifties, the Tigers disbanded, seemingly as a result of continually shifting leagues and poor efficiency (they by no means completed increased than fourth place within the WCJHL.) The senior Tigers remained, though they had been now referred to as the Blades, however they too met an premature finish when their area burnt down in 1969, filling town’s skyline with smoke.
That left Drugs Hat with out a top-tier hockey group at any stage for the primary time in a long time, and that didn’t sit properly with Joe Fisher. A minor celeb, Fisher grew to become the first native to hitch an NHL group and get his title on the Stanley Cup in 1942-43 with the Detroit Pink Wings. When his taking part in profession led to 1949, he returned to his hometown and coached the Tigers for a season earlier than getting changed by Richard Grey. Fisher was on the forefront of getting a junior group again in Drugs Hat, and when the newly-formed WHL lastly granted town an enlargement franchise in 1970-71, he, together with fellow house owners George Maser and Rod Carry, carried on the wealthy custom within the metropolis and dubbed the brand new group the Tigers.
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Since becoming a member of the WHL in 1970-71, the Drugs Hat Tigers have been one of many most profitable groups within the league, successful 5 league championships and claiming two Memorial Cups. Their first got here simply two seasons into their existence because of the dynamic duo of Lanny McDonald and Tom Lysiak. Then, in 1987 and 1988, the Tigers received back-to-back Ed Chynoweth Cups and back-to-back Memorial Cups, turning into the third group to perform the feat in match historical past, because of the management of Trevor Linden. Within the 40 years since solely two different groups have joined them. Drugs Hat needed to wait almost 20 years earlier than they noticed their subsequent league championship, claiming it in 2003-04, then once more in 2006-07, however neither resulted in one other Memorial Cup.
It’s been nearly 20 years since their final championship, and there have been some very lean seasons, however there’s hope on the horizon because of phenom Gavin McKenna, who almost tied Connor Bedard’s 16-year-old scoring report, in addition to Cayden Lindstrom, Andrew Basha, Tomas Mrsic, Hayden Harsanyi, and 16-year-old twins Liam and Markus Ruck. In any case, you possibly can by no means totally rely out the Tigers for too lengthy. Not even a burning area can maintain them from making their mark on hockey within the prairies.
Different Franchise Leaders:
- Most Factors (Complete): Al Conroy (1982-86) – 446
- Most Factors (Season): Greg Carroll (1975-76) – 171
- Most Objectives (Season): Don Murdoch (1975-76) – 88
- Most Video games Performed: Ben Thomson (1997-03) – 352
- Most Wins (Complete): Tyler Bunz (2007-12) – 115
- Most Wins (Season): Matt Keetley (2005-06) – 42
- Retired Numbers: 2 – #8 Lanny McDonald; #9 Tom Lysiak
- Highest Drafted Gamers: Trevor Linden, 2nd (Vancouver, 1988); Barry Dean, 2nd (Kansas Metropolis, 1975); Tom Lysiak, 2nd (Atlanta, 1973); Cam Barker, third (Chicago, 2004); Jay Bouwmeester, third (Florida, 2002), Mike Rathje, third (San Jose, 1992); Neil Brady, third (New Jersey, 1986); Cayden Lindstrom, 4th (Columbus, 2024); Wayne McBean, 4th (Los Angeles, 1987); Bryan Maxwell, 4th (Minnesota, 1975); Lanny McDonald, 4th (Toronto, 1973); Rob Niedermayer, fifth (Florida, 1993)
Co-Op Place
After 45 years in the identical constructing, the Tigers moved to the brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, the Canalta Centre, in 2015. Followers had been initially sluggish to welcome the brand new constructing; regardless of an improve from 4000 to 7100 seats, the brand new constructing was a far cry from the beloved Drugs Hat Enviornment, nicknamed “The Loudest Barn within the ‘Dub.” It was exterior town, had an terrible car parking zone, and lacked a lot of the old-school appeal that made the outdated Enviornment such a enjoyable hockey expertise. Rising working prices and lagging ticket gross sales pressured town to discover a new associate for his or her area, and forward of the 2021-22 season, the Canalta Centre was formally renamed to Co-Op Place.
I by no means received the prospect to see a recreation within the Canalta Centre, however I noticed a number of video games within the outdated Drugs Hat Enviornment. Tucked within the metropolis’s downtown, it was a real relic of the Seventies. The roof was teal inexperienced and, inside, the paths to the seats had been plain concrete and claustrophobic. Initially, the seats had been colored in a rainbow sample, incomes the sector the nickname “The Smartie Field,” however by the point I used to be watching video games, they’d been changed by inexperienced plastic. Rows of championship banners hung across the scoreboard at centre ice. Regardless of the cramped quarters, the ambiance throughout the recreation was unimaginable. There wasn’t a foul seat in the home, and there was no query about whose constructing you had been in. Reportedly, opponents hated coming to Drugs Hat, because it felt just like the followers had been proper on high of them your entire evening.
The outdated Enviornment was a barn, but it surely was beloved, and the final time I heard something about Co-Op Place, it was all unfavorable. So I used to be caught off guard when each my dad and uncle, who’ve adopted the group since 1970, had been pretty complimentary of the place. They nonetheless hate that the sector is situated 5 minutes exterior town in an industrial park and the car parking zone is a complicated labyrinth, however after eight seasons, it appears even essentially the most diehard followers have softened their stance.
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As soon as I stepped inside, I might see why. As an alternative of being shoved by means of tight hallways and crammed into your seat, the constructing is massive and roomy, affording loads of room to get round, and the walkway provides an incredible view of the ice. The standing tables surrounding the ice had been a few of my favorite new additions. I hung on the market for an excellent 15-20 minutes earlier than the sport, chatting with my uncle in regards to the Tigers and the remainder of the WHL and giving me an opportunity to absorb the clear, spacious constructing. Not even the monstrous 15,000-seat Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon feels that roomy.
My solely subject is that I want it was extra…properly, Tigers-centric. The world was designed to be a multi-purpose facility that might function not solely the Tigers’ new dwelling but in addition a serious venue for touring bands and conventions. But these choices eliminated numerous the persona that the outdated constructing had. The banners honouring the 2 retired numbers of McDonald and Lysiak hung quietly close to the highest of the rafters on the far aspect of the sector, above the group’s championship banners, all of which felt tucked out of the way in which. The constructing can be primarily painted in purple relatively than black and orange, making it really feel extra like a grocery retailer than an area. That’s not essentially a foul factor, but it surely left me nostalgic for that outdated Enviornment I grew up in.
Meals and Extras
Abstract
- Tickets – $23.40
- Hat – $34.95-36.95
- Jersey – $129.95
- Puck – $4.95
Initially, I believed that this journey could be just a little factor, with simply my dad and I assembly up with my uncle to look at a recreation. However earlier than I knew it, the journey had turn out to be a household affair, with the entire get together additionally together with my mother, spouse, and aunt. That labored simply as properly for me since my reminiscences of going to video games had been at all times with the entire household. While you stay an hour out of city, you would possibly as properly convey everybody alongside.
Though my uncle offered the tickets — pulling a couple of strings to get all six of us sitting in the identical part — single-game tickets typically price $23.40, which had been the most cost effective tickets I’ve seen to date on my journey. Just like the outdated Enviornment, there nonetheless isn’t a foul seat in the home, too, even in the event you’re within the higher ranges. However our seats had been proper within the nook of the house finish, giving us a implausible view of the entire ice.
There was just one primary meals kiosk, the Fuel Metropolis Grill, which had fairly typical area choices. My uncle warned us of this, saying it’s just about identical to consuming at a Co-Op, however he’s a fan of the burgers. Nonetheless, I like going for issues that I don’t typically see on different menus, so I went for the perogy poutine. At $12 and half the dimensions of a daily poutine, it was just a little costly, however changing the fries with little perogies was enjoyable and labored properly with the gravy, bitter cream, and onions. The remainder of the household didn’t have as a lot enjoyable as I did, although. My dad went for the common poutine, which might have used some extra gravy, my spouse went with a basic taco in a bag and came upon too late that it used scorching sauce as an alternative of salsa, which she didn’t admire, and my mother was not comfortable along with her scorching canine, studying from my aunt that you might want to inform them to burn it or else it tastes undercooked.
There are another meals choices, however in the event you don’t know the place you’re going, they’re difficult to seek out. My uncle stated that there’s a reasonably stable pizza joint within the basement, however I wasn’t clear on the instructions and figured it might be simpler to only stick to the group. I feel I noticed the steps en path to our seats, however, once more, I didn’t must get misplaced earlier than the sport began.
As for snacks, Fuel Metropolis Grill is just about the one spot, however I seen some indicators for a Swirls Ice Cream Stand, an area ice cream store on the town that has some glorious comfortable serve. Sadly, this was additionally just a little difficult to seek out, and after wandering backwards and forwards, I lastly discovered that it was on the far finish of the sector and hidden by an enormous, snaking lineup. It was so congested and noisy in that space that, after I lastly received to the entrance, I attempted to offer my order as shortly as potential, which resulted in me getting one thing I didn’t suppose I requested for. Oh properly, the vanilla ice cream remains to be actually good.
The crowded ice cream expertise left me feeling a bit overwhelmed, so I caught in my seat for the remainder of the sport, considering that I might shortly seize a memento from the shop on the finish. Nonetheless, by the point the sport ended, the shop was already closed, depriving me of one among my traditions on this journey selecting up one thing from the store.
Feb 17, 2024 – Drugs Hat Tigers vs. Saskatoon Blades
One factor I’ve tried to do in my journey is to behave like an area fan since cheering for the house group is at all times extra enjoyable. You may get wrapped up within the pleasure with out worrying about whether or not your group wins or loses. However then I came upon that my dad and uncle had picked the date when the Blades had been on the town. It was like a return to my faculty days when my dad visited. Nonetheless, I used to be not ready to have to decide on the place my true allegiance lay. I knew that I ought to be cheering for the house group, however I’d been supporting the Blades for almost a decade already. May nostalgia win out over latest reminiscence? I wasn’t certain if I wished to know the reply to that, however I used to be going to seek out out.
The Tigers received off to a scorching begin with an incredible short-handed aim six minutes into the primary interval by Hunter St. Martin, which was adopted up with an influence play aim from Shane Smith seven minutes later. Blades’ ahead Brandon Lisowsky added yet another to place Saskatoon inside one earlier than the interval ended, but it surely appeared just like the Tigers had the benefit at dwelling, and so they had been buzzing. Heading into the second interval, I used to be firmly a Tigers fan once more, giving me time to mirror on how all of us received right here.
Each my dad and uncle grew up in Drugs Hat and have been watching the Tigers ever since they arrived, as my grandpa made certain to get season tickets straight away. He additionally made it a precedence to convey alongside one among his two sons, however paying for his or her seat was one other story, and my dad remembers watching many video games from the steel steps beside his dad’s seat. Being the Seventies, you could possibly get away with stuff like that, however my dad additionally remembers one time when somebody tried to cease them from getting into. Relatively than pay for my dad, nonetheless, my grandpa pushed him forward and stated, “Don’t look again, simply maintain going.” I’m wondering how he would have felt about $25 tickets.
From these improvised seats, my dad and uncle witnessed a few of the best moments within the Tigers’ historical past. My uncle, who’s 12 years older than my dad, remembers watching McDonald and Lysiak mix forces to create one of the best line in junior hockey. McDonald clearly went on to be an NHL Corridor-of-Famer, however there have been few junior stars like Lysiak, who could be one of many Tigers’ greatest playmakers of all time and shortly grew to become my uncle’s favorite. He was additionally in attendance when the Tigers took on the Flin Flon Bombers on Oct 7, 1972, and watched Boyd Anderson, who centred McDonald and Lysiak, rating the quickest 5 objectives in league historical past, which took him simply over three minutes. The ultimate rating — 10-1 Drugs Hat. The trio was additionally an enormous a part of that season’s opening playoff collection in opposition to the Calgary Centennials, which was a few of the greatest hockey my uncle can bear in mind.
My dad’s favorite participant got here a few seasons later when Don Murdoch joined the Tigers in 1974-75 and have become a direct star, main the league with 82 objectives as a rookie, then scoring 88 the next season. He additionally remembers watching a 16-year-old Trevor Linden take the Tigers again to the Memorial Cup in 1987, defeating the Portland Winterhawks within the Closing for the spot. My dad, who was in faculty on the time, can’t bear in mind a time when there have been extra folks shoved into the outdated Enviornment. The hearth marshal needed to be known as as a result of the constructing was dangerously over capability. But it surely certain made for some nice reminiscences.
When my dad met my mother and moved out to the farm, he didn’t go to as many video games, however would nonetheless take the time to go and see his nephew and my uncle’s son, Mike, play for the Tigers. Though he largely rode the pine for his two seasons with the group, my dad remembers when the Tigers took on the Brandon Wheat Kings. Trevor Kidd, a high goalie prospect, was within the internet, however Mike nonetheless managed to attain a aim in opposition to him. Positive, it was after the whistle had blown and led to a brawl, but it surely nonetheless counts.
As for my uncle, he cherished watching gamers with high-end abilities. An extended-time season-ticket holder, he received to look at first-hand the unimaginable skating of Jay Bouwmeester, Joffrey Lupul’s potential to attain at will, and the shocking twin menace of David Schlemko, who might skate higher than anybody else on the group and was at all times the Tigers’ selection for the shootout, the place he not often missed. Guys who might rating with ease at all times stood out to my uncle, comparable to Chris St. Jacques, Ken Solheim, Stacy Roest, Kevin Riehl, and David Quenneville. My dad, however, talked in regards to the powerful guys he remembers, like Bob, Brad, and Ken Gassoff, the Tigers’ model of the Hanson Brothers, and defenceman Dean Chynoweth, a high NHL decide who suffered a nasty eye damage in his rookie season.
Listening to my dad inform tales of his childhood made me understand how carefully the Tigers had been tied to his household. Positive, the hockey was nice and undoubtedly made him the hockey fan he’s at the moment, however watching video games along with his older brother, or his dad, or watching his nephew play added that particular connection you possibly can’t get anyplace else. Whereas my uncle’s tales had been extra in regards to the talent and the highest gamers, I doubt he could be the identical hockey fan he’s now if he wasn’t in a position to share it along with his brother or his son. Now I used to be a part of each of their journeys, identical to they had been a part of mine.
Nonetheless, the Blades couldn’t let me stay in my good second. After beginning the second interval with penalty hassle, Lisowsky scored his second of the evening to tie it up on the finish of the second interval and Alexander Suzdalev put one other away to begin the third, giving Saskatoon their first lead. The Tigers’ Tomas Mrsic put a highlight-reel aim by Blades’ goalie Austin Elliott to tie it up, however neither group might discover a gap earlier than the top of the sport. That despatched us into time beyond regulation, and it was a detailed matchup till the Blades intercepted a foul move, resulting in a two-on-one and the game-winner from Fraser Minten. I couldn’t assist it; I jumped up and cheered, identical to I do at SaskTel Place in Saskatoon, excited that my group received. I joked with my dad that I assume my allegiance had modified, which was met with little greater than a light-weight chuckle.
As I mirror on the sport and the expertise, I feel that was the improper factor to say. The Tigers aren’t just a few group that you just cheer for. The group is likely one of the causes my dad and uncle have stayed shut all these years and I’ve been in a position to type such a detailed bond with each of them. It might have been any hockey group that achieved that feat, but it surely wasn’t any group: It was the Tigers. Realizing that gave me just a little extra reverence for the group I first cheered for, and though a lot has modified since I first was working across the concourse of the Drugs Hat Enviornment, the Tigers are nonetheless right here, giving my household yet another excuse to spend time with one another. If that’s not what being a hockey fan is all about, then I don’t know what’s.