WHL playoff countdown: Regina Pats are back, look to upset Medicine Hat Tigers

The Regina Pats are back in the WHL playoffs, and they’ll open their return with a tall task, taking on the defending champion Medicine Hat Tigers while looking to pull off a first-round upset.

The Tigers will begin their title defence against Regina in the opening round of the 2026 WHL Playoffs, marking the first post-season meeting between the two clubs in nearly two decades.

The last time the teams met in the playoffs came in 2007, when Medicine Hat swept Regina in the second round on its way to capturing the WHL championship.

This time around, the Tigers enter as heavy favourites, but the Pats are embracing the underdog role.

Regina returns to the WHL post-season for the first time in two years and will be looking to pull off an opening-round upset against one of the league’s top teams.

Medicine Hat finished second in the Eastern Conference with a dominant 50-10-5-3 record and swept the season series against Regina, going 4-0 while outscoring the Pats 26-7. Their most recent meeting was a 6-0 Tigers victory on March 10.

Offence has been the driving force behind Medicine Hat’s success, led by brothers Markus and Liam Ruck. Markus topped the WHL scoring race with 108 points (21G, 87A), while Liam wasn’t far behind with 104 points (45G, 59A). The Osoyoos, B.C. duo are both projected to be top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft.

The Pats, who finished seventh in the conference at 25-34-7-2, are back in the playoffs after missing the postseason the last two years and will lean on a mix of youth and experience as they try to defy the odds.

Regina is led by veteran forward Caden Brown, who posted a career-best 61 points (28G, 33A) in 64 games. The 21-year-old has suited up for 289 WHL games and brings experience to a young Pats roster.

The franchise last appeared in the playoffs in 2023, when a Connor Bedard-led squad pushed the Saskatoon Blades to seven games in a thrilling first-round series.

Medicine Hat, meanwhile, cruised to the Ed Chynoweth Cup last spring, winning four straight series with a combined 16-2 record.

Both teams enter the playoffs coming off Saturday night games. The Tigers closed their regular season with an 8-3 win over Red Deer, while the Pats dropped a 4-2 decision in Brandon.

The best-of-seven series opens Friday, March 27, in Medicine Hat, with Game 3 shifting to Regina on March 31.

Series schedule: (all games can be heard on 620CKRM)

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