Mathew Ward finishes a check against Spokane's Brayden Crampton in game 4 of the WHL Championship Series. (IMage Credit: WHL)

By Victor Kaisar

WHL Champions

Kamloops native Mathew Ward wins WHL title with Medicine Hat Tigers

May 17, 2025 | 9:45 AM

SPOKANE, WASH. — Mathew Ward is a Western Hockey League champion.

The Kamloops native and his Medicine Hat Tigers beat the Spokane Chiefs 4-2 in a game 5 Friday (May 16) night to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time since 2007.

Ward picked up the primary assist on Hunter St. Martin’s WHL-winning goal in the third period as the Tigers claimed their sixth WHL title to move into a tie with the Kamloops Blazers.

The 16-2 Tigers also beat the Swift Current Broncos in five games in the first round of playoffs, and followed that up with sweeps over the Prince Albert Raiders and the Lethbridge Hurricanes in rounds two and three.

Stay Ahead of the Curve with Kamloops' Trusted Property Manager - Rohit Kumar

May 20, 2025

Two and Out

PETERS: Funny how some psychoactive substances are acceptable in public and some aren't

14h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Should Kamloops drivers get a hybrid or go fully electric?

20h ago

The 21-year-old Ward joined the Tigers in May of last year, after 199 games over five seasons with the Swift Current Broncos. A former first round pick in the WHL draft, Ward had 73 goals and 208 points with the Broncos.

As a Tiger, he scored 19 goals and 44 points in 64 regular season games, and added five goals and 12 points in 18 playoff games.

Ward has committed to playing hockey for Northern Michigan University, and he is expected to join the NCAA Division II Wildcats for the 2025-26 season.