Tigers beat Hurricanes 5-2 in WHL season opener at Lethbridge
Medicine Hat's Casey Carter stopped 25 of 27 shots as the Tigers spoiled Lethbridge's home opener to start the 2026-27 WHL season.
The Medicine Hat Tigers defeated the Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-2 on Friday night at VisitLethbridge.com Arena in the season opener for both WHL clubs. The game was scoreless after the first period before Medicine Hat scored twice in the second, including a goal with just a minute left, to take a 2-0 lead into the third.
Dayne Buecker and Owen Burge scored for Lethbridge, but the Hurricanes could not solve Tigers goaltender Casey Carter, who made 25 saves on 27 shots. Buecker said the team dictated much of the pace but needs to convert more chances, while head coach Matt Anholt credited Carter's early play and noted the Hurricanes struggled to capitalize despite outchancing Medicine Hat in the first two periods.
Lethbridge finished 1-for-5 on the power play, an area Anholt said the team will address at practice. The two clubs meet again Saturday night in Medicine Hat as part of a home-and-home series. The Hurricanes return to home ice on September 25 to host the Red Deer Rebels.
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