Game Notes – Medicine Hat

MOVING INTO MEDICINE HAT – This weekend, for the fourth time in history, PBR Canada’s elite Cup Series will buck into Medicine Hat, Alberta. The PBR Medicine Hat Classic, the ninth elite tour event of the season, will be held at Co-op Place on Saturday, October 19. Action will begin at 7:00 p.m. MT.

 RELATED: Click here for the complete Medicine Hat Game Notes.

THIS WEEKEND’S FORMAT – The PBR Medicine Hat Classic will feature two rounds of bull riding and is a Tier 1 event. Each rider will get on one bull in Round 1 on Saturday. The 10 bull riders with the best combined scores will then advance to the championship round later than evening, where they will attempt one final bull in an effort to be crowned the event champion. This weekend, one rider will have the chance to earn 120 national points, in addition to ride score points.

COVERCHUK GOES FROM SIDELINED TO WINNER’S CIRCLE – After spending two months on the sidelines with a torn groin, two-time PBR Canada Champion Cody Coverchuk made his return to competition at the most recent Cup Series event in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and did so in triumphant form. Going a perfect 3-for-3, Coverchuk won his second elite tour event of the season, reclaiming the No. 1 rank in the race for the 2024 PBR Canada Championship and accompanying $100.000 bonus. The Saskatchewan man first put points on the board when he tied for third in Round 1 via an 84-point ride on Times A Wasting. He then overtook the second spot on the event leaderboard when he covered Two Bills for 83 points. In the championship round, Coverchuk elected to go head-to-head with Langham Kid, a decision which proved dividends. Remaining in perfect time with the powerful animal athlete, Coverchuk reached the whistle for an event-best 87.5 points, clinching the victory. Coverchuk’s golden finish earned him a crucial 231 national points. After traveling to Grande Prairie ranked No. 2 in Canada, 3 points behind then No. 1 Nick Tetz, Coverchuk overtook the top spot, now leading new No. 2 Tetz by 105 national points. Coverchuk has been dominant in 2024 as he chases his record tying third national title. In addition to leading the PBR Canada ranks with the top riding percentage of all riders with more than 10 outs, going a torrid 28-for-49, riding 57.14% of his animal athlete opponents, Coverchuk has won the second most Touring Pro Division events (5), leads the organization in Cup Series round wins (6) and holds the second most Touring Pro Division round wins (7). Eager to continue his winning form, Coverchuk, who was crowned the 2024 PBR Challenger Series Champion Thursday night, has drawn Watermelon Sugar Hi in Round 1 of the PBR Medicine Hat Classic.

TETZ KEEPS PACE AT NO. 2 – While 2022 PBR Canada Champion Nick Tetz surrendered the No. 1rank in the Canadian standings at the most recent event in Grande Prairie, Alberta, he prevented Cody Coverchuk from gaining too much ground by registering a fifth-place finish inside Bonnetts Energy Centre, going 1-for-3. His 84-point ride on Night Stalker earned him a crucial 55 national points. Tetz is amid a record-setting campaign as he chases his second national title. Having ridden to a PBR Canada-best eight Touring Pro Division victories and two Cup Series wins, Tetz shattered the record with most event wins in a single season in Canada, currently with 10. Converting atop nearly 50% of his draws, Tetz has gone 24-for-49 (48.98%). In addition to excelling on home soil, Tetz has been the lone Canadian competing during the 2024 PBR Teams season, a key member of the Arizona Ridge Riders. Prior to returning home for this weekend’s penultimate event of the Cup Series’ regular season, Tetz was in Las Vegas for the 2024 PBR Camping World Teams Championship. Arizona, however, was eliminated in the Ride-In Round. Looking to join the elite club of multi-time PBR Canada Champions this November, Tetz will take on House Fire in Round 1 of the PBR Medicine Hat Classic.

HANSEN, BUTTAR MAKE MOVES IN GRANDE PRAIRIE – Both Jordan Hansen and Dakota Buttar made the most of the recent Cup Series event in Grande Prairie, Alberta, parlaying Top 5 finishes into notable gains in the 2024 PBR Canada Championship race. While Hansen is on the hunt for his first title, Buttar is looking to further etch his name in the record books. Should the Eatonia, Saskatchewan resident win the 2024 title he would not only tie Aaron Roy for most Championships won by one rider with three, but he would become the first to win the coveted honor in back-to-back seasons as the reigning Canadian Champion.

For Hansen he finished second inside Bonnetts Energy Centre in both the main event and accompanying 5/5 Bucking Battle. Hansen led the PBR Peace Country Invitational entering the final round after riding Here and Now for 80 points in Round 1, tying for the sixth-best score, and Time Marches On for 87.5 points to win Round 2. The charismatic Albertan, however, was denied the event win when he was upended by Tailor Made in 3.61 seconds in the final round. On the event’s opening night, Hansen logged a matching silver showing in the special round when he bested MoBamba for 84.5 points. Garnering 156.5 national points, Hansen surged from No. 15 to No. 9 in the PBR Canada national standings. He now trails No. 1 Coverchuk by 707 national points. Eager to continue his climb, Hansen has drawn Crazy Little Thing in Round 1 of this weekend’s event in Medicine Hat.

Then defending Grande Prairie event winner Buttar finished third. Buttar earned 105 national points for his 86-point, Round 1-winning ride on Pay Day, rising from No. 7 to No. 4 in Canada. Attempting to become the first back-to-back PBR Canada Champion in history, Buttar is now within 618 points of the top spot. Buttar now has his sights focused on Medicine Hat where he’s drawn High Voltage in Round 1.

DAVIDSON, SWITZER AUSTRALIA BOUND – Prior to the PBR Medicine Hat Classic, PBR Australia and PBR Canada announced their annual athlete exchange for each nation’s respective year-end Finals. Via the transcontinental partnership, now in its third year, No. 3 Weston Davidson and No. 7 Chanse Switzer will make their way down under for the 2024 PBR Australia Grand Finals in Townsville, Queensland, on Nov. 1-2.

Thus far in 2024, Davidson’s season has been headlined by his career first Cup Series victory in Brandon, Manitoba, in late May. On home soil, he has logged an additional eight Top 10 finishes. His campaign also included a brief stint stateside, where he rode to three Top 20 efforts, led by a third-place finish in January on the Velocity Tour in Charleston, West Virginia.

Chasing his first PBR Canada Championship this season, Davidson, who has locked up his second career qualification to the PBR Canada National Finals, currently trails top-ranked Cody Coverchuk by 607 points. Before travelling to Medicine Hat, where he’s drawn Uncle Rico in Round 1, Davidson travelled to Las Vegas for the 2024 PBR Challenger Series Championship, qualifying for the event ranked No. 20 in the standings. In Sin City, however, Davidson was shutout, going 0-for-1.

Switzer will travel to Australia for the first time amid a career year, which has included his debut on the premier Unleash The Beast this past January in New York City where he attempted two-time YETI PBR World Champion Bull Ridin’ Solo. On home soil, Switzer has earned an event win, victorious on the Touring Pro Division in mid-July in Diamond City, Alberta, in addition to eleven accompanying Top 5 finishes. Preparing to make his PBR Canada National Finals debut in 2024, Switzer is presently 665.67 points back of the No. 1 rank. In Medicine Hat, Switzer will attempt All About Tonight in the opening round.

WELCOMING WORLD CHAMPS HAMILTON AND LOCKWOOD – The draw for the PBR Medicine Hat Classic will be headlined by two bull riding titans from the world stage – 2023 PRCA World Champion Ky Hamilton and two-time PBR World Champion Jess Lockwood.

For Hamilton, the event will mark his debut on Canadian soil within the PBR ranks. After setting the season’s earning record for a bull rider in the PRCA in 2023 en route to winning both the National Finals Rodeo average title and his first world title, collecting $595,414, Hamilton’s 2024 season was quickly derailed. After dislocating his shoulder in both Denver, Colorado and Fort Worth, Texas, Hamilton elected to undergo surgery in February, sidelined for six months. Since making his return, Hamilton has competed stateside at four PBR events, logging an event win and two additional Top 5 efforts. Now turning his attention to Canada, Hamilton has drawn Busta Rhymes in Round 1.

Lockwood is no stranger to Canadian competition. En route to both of his World Championships in 2017 and 2019, Lockwood earned crucial points at the summer events in the Great White North. However, since winning his second title, Lockwood’s career has been plagued by injury, limiting his time within the PBR. Now with a renewed focus, Lockwood will bring his talents to Medicine Hat, slated to take on Nosler in Round 1.

PAST MEDICINE HAT EVENT WINNERS – When the Cup Series last travelled to Medicine Hat in October 2023, Jordan Hansen went a perfect 2-for-2 to win the PBR Medicine Hat Classic and crack the Top 10 in the heated national Championship race. Hansen got off to a hot start, tying for the Round 1 win when he covered Irish Rebel for 84 points. Hansen then elected to go head-to-head with Bull of the Year contender Langham Kid in the championship round. In a decision which proved dividends, Hansen remained in perfect time with the powerful animal athlete, matching him jump-for-jump en route to the whistle. Marked an event-best 89.5 points, the 8-second effort cemented the tour stop win for Hansen. The golden finish garnered Hansen a much-needed 129 national points. While he began the event ranked No. 13, the Albertan catapulted six positions, climbing to No. 7 in Canada. As the regular season continued, Hansen logged an additional Top 15 finish on the Cup Series in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in addition to winning the event’s accompanying 5/5 Bucking Battle. Concluding the season 17^th at the National Finals, Hansen finished the 2023 season ranked No. 10 in Canada. This weekend, Hansen will make the journey to Medicine Hat ranked No. 9 in Canada, 707 points behind No. 1 Cody Coverchuk. He has drawn Crazy Little Thing in Round 1. Other past Cup Series winners include: Brock Radford (2022) and Zane Lambert (2021).

In 2019, the PBR debuted in the Alberta city, hosting a stop on the developmental Touring Pro Division. As one of two riders to deliver a perfect performance, Dakota Buttar captured his second PBR Canada event win of the season. Buttar’s evening began strong in Round 1, recording the second highest marks when he reached the 8-second whistle aboard Broken Trigger for 85 points. Continuing the momentum, the then 26-year-old remained flawless in Medicine Hat when he recorded the high-marked ride of the event, scored 88.5 points on Spooky Lukie in the championship round. For his efforts, Buttar earned 320 Canadian points, propelling him from No. 12 to No.5 in the standings. Buttar will return to the lineup for the 2024 iteration of the Medicine Hat Classic, drawing High Voltage. Attempting to become the first back-to-back PBR Canada Champion in history, Buttar is currently No. 4 in the standings, 618 points behind No. 1 Coverchuk.

2023: Jordan Hansen
2022: Brock Radford
2021: Zane Lambert
2019: Dakota Buttar

FAMILIAR WATERS – Round 1 of the PBR Medicine Hat Classic will feature Six rematches. Those riders facing familiar opponents are:

• Coy Robbins will look to remain perfect against Finger Roll. The two first went head-to-head this past May at the Cup Series event in Brandon, Manitoba, teaming for a 85.5 point score.
• Two-time PBR Canada Champion Dakota Buttar will take on High Voltage for the second time. At the 2023 PBR Canada National Finals in Edmonton, Alberta, Buttar rode the bovine athlete for 86 points en route to winning his second title.
• Cody Fraser will climb aboard Jail Break for the fourth time in his career, still on the hunt for his first qualified ride atop the animal athlete. After Jail Break bested Fraser in 6.29 seconds at the October 2023 Cup Series event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the bull has tossed the Australian twice thus far in 2024, first in May at the Cup Series event in Brandon in 6.53 seconds, and then again at the July Touring Pro Division event in Calgary, Alberta, in a quick 2.03 seconds.
• Cole Young will renew his rivalry with Diggin Up Bones. Young was awarded a re-ride after his trip with the bull at the September 2023 Cup Series event in Grande Prairie, Alberta, ended after just 2.84 seconds.
• Cauy Schmidt will look to even the record with Dealing After Midnight. Schmidt first draw the bull this past May at the Cup Series event in Brandon, bested after just 5.47 seconds.
• Ashton Sahli is the final rider facing a familiar foe, set to take on Smog for the second time. In July at the Cup Series event in Kelowna, British Columbia, Sahli proved no match for the bull, bucked off in 4.33 seconds.

NEXT UP – The 2024 PBR Canada Sup Series next travels to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and SaskTel Centre for the PBR Saskatoon Classic on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26. Action will get underway nightly at 7 p.m. CST.   

PROVIDING PROTECTION – The bullfighters on hand for this weekend’s event in Grande Prairie, Alberta, are Tanner Byrne, Brett Monea and Ty Prescott.

2024 5/5 BUCKING BATTLE SCHEDULE AND RESULTS - Each 5/5 Bucking Battle features the Top 5 riders from the event following Round 1, competing against the five highest-ranked bulls at the event for extra bonus points and an additional purse. Here are the winners of the special rounds thus far in 2024:

March 1 in Lethbridge, Alberta | Cody Coverchuk, 86 points on Wild Time
June 4 in Kingston, Ontario | Nick Tetz, 85.5 points on Allemand Left & Coy Robbins, 85.5 points on Wicked Water
September 27 in Grande Prairie, Alberta | Tyler Craig, 86 points on Hou’s Sippin

MEDICINE HAT COMPETITORS BY COUNTRY

Australia (2) – Cody Fraser, Ky Hamilton

Brazil (1) – Gilmar Santana

Canada (22) – Willam Barrows, Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Tyler Craig, Weston Davidson, Tanner Eno, Jake Gardner, Wyatt Gleeson, Elijah Gordon, Garrett Green, Jordan Hansen, Chad Hartman, Griffin Koester, Wyatt Laughlin, Coy Robbins, Aaron Roy, Ashton Sahli, Cauy Schmidt, Dawson Shannon, Chanse Switzer, Nick Tetz, Cole Young

United States (1) – Jess Lockwood

BREAKDOWN BY PROVINCE –

Alberta – William Barrows, Tyler Craig, Tanner Eno, Wyatt Gleeson, Garrett Green, Jordan Hansen, Griffin Koester, Wyatt Laughlin, Coy Robbins, Ashton Sahli, Cauy Schmidt, Dawson Shannon, Nick Tetz, Cole Young; British Columbia – Jake Gardner, Elijah Gordon; Saskatchewan – Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Weston Davidson, Chad Hartman, Aaron Roy, Chanse Switzer.