The puck drops and the bets are on
Attention Springfield and Shelbyville, this is how a rivalry between two cities is done properly.
As the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs kick off tonight, two teams not lacking in familiarity — or dislike — of one another will lock horns in a battle of southern Alberta as the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers hit the ice for Game 1 of the teams’ bestof-seven series tonight in Medicine Hat.
With Games 1 and 2 slated for tonight and Saturday in Medicine Hat before coming back down the highway to Lethbridge for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday at the Enmax Centre, it’s becoming apparent the intense competition won’t be relegated to just the ice with wagers already flying between both cities.
The verbal jousting between the two cities and placed bets that will take place over the next week will no doubt be more of the friendly variety than the heated battle fans of both teams will see on the ice, but the storied Medicine HatLethbridge rivalry is still one that would make the fictitious Springfield and Shelbyville from The Simpsons sit up and take notice.
Leading the off-ice charge are the cities mayors with Lethbridge’s Chris Spearman and Medicine Hat’s Ted Clugston having already thrown down the gauntlet on behalf of their respective cities.
“I had a conversation with Mayor Clugston from Medicine Hat today,” said Spearman Thursday afternoon. “We agreed on the terms of the bet. The terms of the bet are when the Tigers lose, Mayor Clugston will come to Lethbridge and he will work for an hour at the Lethbridge Food Bank wearing a Lethbridge Hurricanes sweater. He’ll empty the contents of his wallet and make a cash donation to our Food Bank.”
The guaranteed win on behalf of the Lethbridge mayor aside, the both mayors agreed that no matter which venue, both teams will enjoy ample representation in the seats.
"We expect a lot of their fans coming to see games in the Canalta Centre and a lot of our fans going there to see games," said Clugston
“We’re expecting sellouts in both cities,” said Spearman. “So I think it’s going to be great for hockey. We’re hoping it’s going to be a fun series with good-natured competition. Let’s all be friends and recognize we live in the same region of southern Alberta and the friendly rivalry is important.”‘
It’s the first time the Tigers and Hurricanes have faced off in a playoff series since 1991.
“That’s something, and of course we’re on a winning streak here,” said Spearman of the Canes rallying from a 3-1 series deficit in the opening round to the Red Deer Rebels. “We’ve won three in a row and won our first series since 2009. The guys are showing a lot of heart and a lot of character to come back the way they did and persevere in the Red Deer series.”
The wagering has already started between media outlets and businesses in both cities.
Lethbridge Herald publisher Brian Hancock and Medicine Hat News publisher Mike Hertz have place their bet of the publisher of the losing team donning the jersey of the winner for one day, while Lethbridge and Medicine Hatbased businesses also throw their hat into the ring.