Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds Association

The Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds Association has been and remains a staple organization in Medicine Hat, Redcliff, and surrounding area. Established in 1970, the club has endured over five decades, attracting more than 200 members committed to their Mission:

‘Dedicated to the promotion and development of hockey in Medicine Hat and Area’

Their Core Values are reflected in their players and all the work that they do:

• Integrity
• Passion
• Teamwork
• Positive Attitude
• Work Ethic
• Discipline
• Honor
• Respect
• Coachability
• Fearless
• Humility
• Accountability

Founding member, Mr. Morley Mullen with a handful of like-minded individuals, started the Medicine Hat Tigers Hockey Hounds, volunteering their time as a Booster Club that supported the Medicine Hat Tigers Hockey Club. After two years, the Association changed to a not-for-profit entity, shifting their emphasis to the enhancement of hockey in the community, keeping their focus on the development of all areas of the game – players, coaches, and officials.

To this day, they continue to support the Medicine Hat Tigers through a jersey raffle to support the Tigers Education Fund.

The Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds contribute many volunteer hours through Bingos, Casinos, Raffles, and the annual Hockey Hounds Tournament to sustain the many projects that they support and new initiatives that come their way.

The Hockey Hounds have raised and distributed more than $2 million dollars to advance the sport of hockey in our community. Notable ongoing commitments include providing financial assistance for coaching and official’s clinics and supporting families with funding for children who may otherwise not be able to play the game. In conjunction with the Medicine Hat College, and local high schools’ educational scholarships are provided annually where players, referees and coaches are eligible to obtain monies to further their education. Each year, they sponsor individual teams in minor hockey, Initiation squads, Junior Girls, Junior B Cubs, Southeast Athletic Club Tigers and are strong supporters of the Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport – Sledge Hockey program.

The funding that they provided to the facility that now bears their name – Hockey Hounds Recreation Centre - went specifically to the enclosure of the facility, new board system, lighting, public address system, improved dressing room for referees and more, making it a much-valued recreational facility in Medicine Hat. Caring for the well being of the community, the Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds also donated funding to install defibrillators in all arenas throughout the city.

Their support continues with funding for major national/international events that come to our city, most recently being the Gold Medal Game Sponsor for the World U17 Hockey Challenge in 2019. The club’s generosity extends further into the community with an annual donation to Halo and the Medicine Hat Food Bank.

For 48 years, the Hockey Hounds have put Medicine Hat on the map, hosting the prestigious Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds Major Bantam (15AAA) Hockey Tournament. This showcase event brings in top teams from Western Canada, Ontario and the United States, along with scouts from university, college, junior and professional hockey organizations. Over 700 players that have participated in this event have been drafted to the Western Hockey League (WHL), with some being fortunate to go onto careers in the National Hockey League (NHL).

The members of the Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds remain dedicated to their mission. The commitment from board members is quite remarkable with 12 current members receiving Lifetime Membership honors. This recognition is given to members that have given 20 years of service. A commitment that is unheard of in most organizations. Most remarkably is the outstanding dedication of Mr. Orest Tkachyk who was a founding member in 1970 and remains an active member, doing his good works, to this day.

“It still gets me excited to watch kids get the opportunity to play the game”
- Orest Tkachyk