Medicine Hat Tigers

Medicine Hat Tigers - Feed https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/tag/thomas-carr/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:55:40 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Pickford Named Finalist For CHL’s 2025-26 David Branch Player Of The Year https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/pickford-oreilly-and-masse-named-finalists-for-the-chls-2025-26-david-branch-player-of-the-year Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:57:00 +0000 chlwebproduct https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/pickford-oreilly-and-masse-named-finalists-for-the-chls-2025-26-david-branch-player-of-the-year Bryce Pickford of the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), Sam O’Reilly of the Kitchener Rangers (OHL), and Maxim Massé of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) have been named finalists for the CHL David Branch Player of the Year Award. Formerly known as the CHL Player of the Year Award, the trophy was renamed in 2019-20 in honour of David Branch, who served as OHL Commissioner from 1979-2024 and CHL President from 1996-2019. The award is presented annually to the CHL player judged to have had the most outstanding regular season across the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The three finalists earned their place after being named MVP in their respective leagues. Pickford captured the WHL’s Four Broncos Memorial Trophy, O’Reilly won the OHL’s Red Tilson Trophy, and Massé received the QMJHL’s Michel-Brière Trophy. The 2026 recipient will be announced and presented with the trophy at the CHL Awards ceremony on Monday, June 15, in downtown Toronto. Past winners of the David Branch Player of the Year Award include Dale Hawerchuk (Cornwall Royals / QMJHL), Mario Lemieux (Laval Voisins / QMJHL), Joe Sakic (Swift Current Broncos / WHL), Eric Lindros (Oshawa Generals / OHL), Sidney Crosby (Rimouski Océanic / QMJHL), Connor McDavid (Erie Otters / OHL), Mitch Marner (London Knights / OHL), Connor Bedard (Regina Pats / WHL), Jagger Firkus (Moose Jaw Warriors / WHL), and most recently Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL). WHL Nominee – Bryce Pickford (Medicine Hat Tigers) 45G-38A, 83 PTS, +55 in 55 GP during the 2025-26 season Bryce Pickford authored one of the most productive seasons by a defenceman in modern CHL history, becoming the WHL Player of the Year after a remarkable campaign with the Medicine Hat Tigers. If selected as the CHL David Branch Player of the Year, Pickford would become the second Tigers player in as many seasons to win the award, following Gavin McKenna’s 2024-25 victory. It would also mark the first time in CHL history that two different players from the same franchise have captured the award in back-to-back seasons. The 20-year-old captain from Chauvin, Alta., finished the regular season with 83 points, including 45 goals and 38 assists, in 55 games. His 45 goals were the most by a WHL defenceman in a single season since Greg Hawgood scored 48 in 1987-88 and the highest total by any CHL blueliner in the 21st century. He finished just five goals shy of the WHL and CHL single-season record for goals by a defenceman, set by Saskatoon’s Lawrence Sacharuk in 1971-72. Pickford would also become just the fifth defenceman to win the CHL’s top individual honour, and the first since Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires in 2010-11. A Montreal Canadiens prospect, he was the only defenceman to rank among the CHL’s top 10 goal scorers in 2025-26. His 45 goals were tied for second among all WHL skaters, while his 19 power-play goals led the league and his 11 game-winning goals finished tied for first. Pickford’s season featured three hat tricks, a 15-game point streak, and two separate eight-game goal-scoring streaks, further underlining the consistency of his offensive impact from the blue line. His production helped Medicine Hat claim a second consecutive Central Division title, while he also earned WHL Defenceman of the Year honours and was named to the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team. By winning both the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy and the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy in the same season, Pickford became just the fifth player in WHL history to be named both WHL Player of the Year and WHL Defenceman of the Year in the same campaign. A two-time WHL Champion, Pickford previously helped Seattle win the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2023 before playing a key role in Medicine Hat’s championship run in 2025. OHL Nominee – Sam O'Reilly (Kitchener Rangers) 29G-42A, 71 PTS, +20 in 56 GP during the 2025-26 season Sam O’Reilly was named the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player after making an immediate impact with the Kitchener Rangers following a mid-season move from the London Knights. If selected as the CHL David Branch Player of the Year, O’Reilly would become the second Kitchener Rangers player to win the award, joining Justin Azevedo, who earned the honour in 2007-08. The 20-year-old from Toronto recorded 71 points, including 29 goals and 42 assists, in 56 regular season games. After producing 28 points in 28 games with London, O’Reilly elevated his game in Kitchener, posting 43 points and a plus-31 rating over 28 contests to help the Rangers finish atop the Western Conference standings for the first time since 2008. One of the biggest acquisitions of the OHL trade deadline, O’Reilly brought veteran experience, leadership, and championship pedigree to Kitchener’s lineup, quickly becoming a driving force for the Rangers in the second half. A Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, O’Reilly also won 58 percent of his faceoffs and was recognized in the OHL Coaches Poll as the Western Conference’s smartest player, best faceoff man, and best defensive forward. His ability to drive offence while handling difficult defensive assignments made him one of the OHL’s most complete players in 2025-26. O’Reilly became the first Rangers player to win the Red Tilson Trophy since Justin Azevedo in 2008, joining a franchise list that also includes John Tucker and Walt Tkaczuk. Over his OHL career, he has built a résumé that includes three OHL championships, two Memorial Cup titles, and 198 points in 191 regular-season games. His standout season continued deep into the spring, as O’Reilly went on to earn OHL Playoff MVP and Memorial Cup MVP honours. With that sweep, he became just the fourth player in CHL history to win regular-season, playoff, and Memorial Cup MVP honours in the same season, joining Brad Richards, Corey Perry, and Mitch Marner. He also helped Kitchener capture the Memorial Cup after winning the tournament with London one year earlier, making him part of a rare group of players to win back-to-back Memorial Cup titles with different teams. QMJHL Nominee – Maxim Massé (Chicoutimi Saguenéens) 51G-51A, 102 PTS, +62 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season Maxim Massé was named the QMJHL’s Most Valuable Player after leading the league in scoring and helping the Chicoutimi Saguenéens finish second overall in the standings. If selected as the CHL David Branch Player of the Year, Massé would become the second Chicoutimi Saguenéens player to win the award, joining Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who earned the honour in 2001-02. He would also become the first QMJHL player to capture the award since Alexis Lafrenière of the Rimouski Océanic won it in back-to-back seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Massé, the CHL Rookie of the Year in 2022-23, would also become just the sixth player to win both CHL Rookie of the Year and CHL David Branch Player of the Year, joining Sidney Crosby (Rimouski Océanic / QMJHL), John Tavares (Oshawa Generals / OHL), Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters / OHL), Lafrenière, and Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL). The Anaheim Ducks prospect recorded 102 points, including 51 goals and 51 assists, in 63 games to capture the first scoring title of his QMJHL career, finishing six points ahead of Val-d’Or Foreurs forward Philippe Veilleux. His 51 goals also tied for the CHL lead and made him one of only two players across the CHL to surpass both the 50-goal and 100-point marks in 2025-26. Massé surpassed the 100-point plateau for the first time in his junior career and recorded 30 multi-point performances, providing steady offence for one of the QMJHL’s top teams. Massé’s all-around impact was reflected across several major categories. His plus-62 rating ranked second in the QMJHL, as did his 16 power-play goals and eight game-winning goals. Among players who appeared in more than 60 games, Massé also posted the CHL’s highest points-per-game rate, averaging 1.62 points per contest. In his fourth QMJHL season, Massé delivered the most productive campaign of his career while serving as the offensive catalyst for one of the league’s top teams. The third-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2024 NHL Draft became the first Chicoutimi player to win the Michel-Brière Trophy since Francis Paré in 2007-08, adding another milestone to one of the top individual seasons in the CHL.]]> Pickford Named Finalist For CHL’s 2025-26 Defenceman Of The Year Award https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/pickford-aitcheson-and-bleyl-named-finalists-for-chls-2025-26-defenceman-of-the-year-award Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:56:41 +0000 chlwebproduct https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/pickford-aitcheson-and-bleyl-named-finalists-for-chls-2025-26-defenceman-of-the-year-award Bryce Pickford of the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), Kashawn Aitcheson of the Barrie Colts (OHL) and Tommy Bleyl of the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) have been named finalists for the 2025-26 CHL Defenceman of the Year Award, presented annually to the top defenceman in the Canadian Hockey League. The three finalists are the recipients of their respective league awards: the WHL’s Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy, the OHL’s Max Kaminsky Trophy and the QMJHL’s Émile-Bouchard Trophy. The winner of the 2025-26 CHL Defenceman of the Year Award will be announced at the 2026 CHL Awards ceremony on Monday, June 15 in Toronto, Ont. Over the years, the CHL Defenceman of the Year Award has been won by several notable players, including Chris Pronger (Peterborough Petes / OHL), Dan Hamhuis (Prince George Cougars / WHL), Keith Yandle (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL), Ryan Ellis (Windsor Spitfires / OHL), Dougie Hamilton (Niagara IceDogs / OHL), Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL), Thomas Chabot (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL), Olen Zellweger (Kamloops Blazers / WHL), Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit / OHL) and, most recently, Sam Dickinson (London Knights / OHL). WHL Nominee — Bryce Pickford (Medicine Hat Tigers) 45G-38A, 83 PTS, +55 in 55 GP during the 2025-26 season Bryce Pickford delivered one of the greatest goal-scoring seasons by a defenceman in modern CHL history, finishing the 2025-26 WHL campaign with 83 points, including 45 goals, and a plus-55 rating in 55 games. His 45 goals were the most by a CHL defenceman in a single season in nearly 40 years, dating back to Greg Hawgood’s 48-goal campaign in 1987-88. The total also left Pickford just five goals shy of the WHL and CHL single-season record for goals by a defenceman, set by Saskatoon Blades blueliner Lawrence Sacharuk, who scored 50 in 1971-72. Among CHL defencemen, Pickford’s 45-goal campaign stands as the highest single-season total of the 21st century, surpassing Marc-André Bergeron’s 42-goal season with the Shawinigan Cataractes in 2000-01. The Montreal Canadiens prospect was also the only defenceman to finish among the CHL’s top 10 goal scorers in 2025-26, while his 0.82 goals-per-game rate was the best among that group. Pickford’s 83 points ranked second among WHL defencemen, trailing only Medicine Hat teammate Jonas Woo, who finished with 86 points. A constant offensive threat from the blue line, Pickford led all WHL skaters with 19 power-play goals and tied for the league lead with 11 game-winning goals. The 20-year-old from Chauvin, Alta., helped the Tigers claim a second consecutive Central Division title and was named to the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team. He is the third player in Medicine Hat history to be named WHL Defenceman of the Year, joining Kris Russell, who won the award in 2005-06 and 2006-07, and Wayne McBean, who earned the honour in 1986-87. With a win at the CHL Awards, Pickford would also become the second Tigers player to capture the CHL Defenceman of the Year honour, following Russell in 2006-07. Pickford’s season included three hat tricks, recorded on December 6 against Wenatchee, January 9 versus Seattle and March 4 at Brandon. He also posted one five-point outing and two separate four-point performances. From November 28 to January 10, he recorded points in 15 straight games, producing 36 points, including 20 goals, during that stretch. He also enjoyed two separate eight-game goal-scoring streaks, scoring 14 times from December 3 to December 28 before adding another 10 goals during an eight-game run from February 21 to March 7. Pickford signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on December 24, 2025. At the time, he led the WHL with 25 goals in 31 games. Montreal selected him in the third round, 81st overall, of the 2025 NHL Draft. OHL Nominee — Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts) 28G-42A, 70 PTS, +46 in 56 GP during the 2025-26 season Kashawn Aitcheson put together a record-setting season in Barrie, leading all OHL defencemen with 70 points while establishing a new Colts franchise record for goals by a defenceman with 28. His offensive production, physical presence and ability to impact the game in every situation made him one of the OHL’s most complete blueliners throughout the 2025-26 campaign. Along with his 70 points, Aitcheson finished among the league leaders with a plus-46 rating and scored six game-winning goals. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound defenceman was especially dangerous on the power play, where his 15 goals led all OHL blueliners. He also thrived in an expanded role under first-year Colts Head Coach Dylan Smoskowitz, contributing as a puck-mover, shooter, shutdown presence and physical force. Aitcheson’s season capped an outstanding career in Barrie. The Toronto, Ont., native finished as the Colts’ all-time leader in goals and points by a defenceman, with 63 goals and 171 points. Selected by the New York Islanders with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Aitcheson also stood out in this year’s OHL Coaches Poll, placing first in Eastern Conference voting for best shot, hardest shot, best bodychecker and best offensive defenceman. He was also a member of Canada’s bronze medal-winning National Junior Team this past January. Aitcheson becomes the third Colts defenceman to win the Max Kaminsky Trophy, joining Aaron Ekblad in 2013-14 and Erik Reitz in 2001-02. He was selected from a group of finalists that also included Frankie Marrelli of the Ottawa 67’s, Chase Reid of the Soo Greyhounds and Carson Woodall of the Windsor Spitfires. Should he be named CHL Defenceman of the Year, Aitcheson would become the first Barrie player to win the award. QMJHL Nominee — Tommy Bleyl (Moncton Wildcats) 13G-68A, 81 PTS, +58 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season Tommy Bleyl’s historic rookie season with the Moncton Wildcats earned him the Émile-Bouchard Trophy as the QMJHL’s Defenceman of the Year, adding to one of the most decorated debut campaigns in recent league history. The 2026 NHL Draft prospect finished second among all QMJHL rookies with 81 points in 63 games, setting a new league record for points by a rookie defenceman. The previous mark of 77 points had stood since 1978, when it was set by Gaston Therrien. Bleyl’s 68 assists led the entire QMJHL, regardless of position, finishing nine ahead of Rouyn-Noranda Huskies forward Thomas Verdon and Chicoutimi Saguenéens defenceman Alex Huang. His 68 assists also stand as the highest single-season total by a CHL rookie defenceman in the 21st century and the fifth-highest total by any CHL rookie since 2000. Among QMJHL defencemen, Bleyl ranked first in points, power-play points and shots on goal, finishing 11 points ahead of Huang for the scoring lead among blueliners. His vision, poise and ability to drive offence from the back end quickly made him one of the league’s most dangerous power-play quarterbacks and a key piece of Moncton’s attack. Bleyl also became only the second player in QMJHL history to win both the Émile-Bouchard Trophy as Defenceman of the Year and the Sidney-Crosby Trophy as Rookie of the Year in the same season, joining Dmitry Kulikov, who accomplished the feat with the Drummondville Voltigeurs in 2008-09. After helping Moncton capture a second consecutive QMJHL regular season championship, Bleyl ended the season with three league trophies, having also earned the Raymond-Lagacé Trophy as Defensive Rookie of the Year. A win at the 2026 CHL Awards would make him the third Wildcats player to be named CHL Defenceman of the Year, joining Keith Yandle in 2005-06 and David Savard in 2009-10. His standout campaign has also drawn significant NHL attention, as he is ranked 17th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.]]> Markus Ruck Named Finalist For The CHL’s 2025-26 Top Scorer Award https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/ruck-klepov-and-masse-named-finalists-for-the-chls-2025-26-top-scorer-award Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:56:12 +0000 chlwebproduct https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/ruck-klepov-and-masse-named-finalists-for-the-chls-2025-26-top-scorer-award Markus Ruck of the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), Nikita Klepov of the Saginaw Spirit (OHL), and Maxim Massé of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) have been named finalists for the CHL Top Scorer Award, presented annually to the highest-scoring player in the Canadian Hockey League. The winner will be announced and presented with the trophy during the 2026 CHL Awards ceremony on Monday, June 15, in downtown Toronto. Past recipients of the award include some of the CHL’s most decorated offensive talents, including Connor Bedard (Regina Pats / WHL), Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires / OHL), Jason Robertson (Kingston Frontenacs/Niagara IceDogs / OHL), Patrick Kane (London Knights / OHL), Sidney Crosby (Rimouski Océanic / QMJHL), and Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL). Only two players — Crosby and Garland — have won the award more than once. WHL Nominee — Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers) 21G-87A, 108 PTS, +45 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season Medicine Hat Tigers forward Markus Ruck captured the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL’s top scorer after leading the league — and the entire CHL — with 108 points during the 2025-26 season. The 18-year-old from Osoyoos, B.C., recorded 21 goals and a league-best 87 assists while posting a plus-45 rating in 68 games. His exceptional vision and playmaking ability made him one of the WHL’s most dynamic offensive players and a driving force behind a Medicine Hat team that led the league in goals, owned the WHL’s top power play, and finished atop the Central Division. Ruck’s twin brother, Liam, finished second in both the WHL and CHL scoring races with 104 points (45G-59A), making Markus and Liam the first siblings in CHL history to finish first and second in league scoring in the same season. They also became the first brothers ever to place 1-2 in scoring within a CHL Member League. For Markus, the scoring title placed him in elite company. He became the first Medicine Hat skater since Linden Vey in 2010-11 to lead the CHL in scoring and just the second Tigers player to win the CHL Top Scorer Award. The 6-foot, 167-pound centreman was held off the scoresheet just 12 times all season and recorded at least three points in a game on 11 occasions. His top performance came on February 24, 2026, when he collected five points (1G-4A) in a 10-4 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. He also produced two point streaks of at least 10 games, highlighted by a 13-game run from November 22 to December 30 in which he amassed 25 points (3G-22A). Ruck became the fourth player in Medicine Hat Tigers history to win the Bob Clarke Trophy, joining Linden Vey (2010-11) and Tom Lysiak, who won it in both 1971-72 and 1972-73. The 2026 NHL Draft prospect also became the ninth first-year NHL Draft-eligible player since 2000 to lead the CHL in scoring, joining a list that includes Michael Misa, Connor Bedard, Marco Rossi, Dylan Strome, Nicolas Petan, Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. OHL Nominee — Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) 37G-60A, 97 PTS, +9 in 67 GP during the 2025-26 season Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Klepov captured the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the OHL’s leading scorer after finishing the season with 97 points (37G-60A) in 67 games. He also earned the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the OHL’s top-scoring right winger. The 17-year-old from Deerfield Beach, Florida, became the first rookie in his first two years of OHL eligibility to lead the league in scoring since Jack Valiquette did so with the 1973-74 Soo Greyhounds. He also became the first rookie to lead any CHL Member League in scoring since Patrick Kane did so with the London Knights in 2006-07. Since 2000, the only other rookie to accomplish that feat was Sidney Crosby with the Rimouski Océanic in 2003-04. Klepov carved out a unique place in Saginaw history as well. He became the second Spirit player in as many seasons to win the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy, following Michael Misa in 2024-25, and the first player in franchise history to capture the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy. His 37 goals tied Cole Perfetti’s franchise rookie record, while his 60 assists and 97 points established new Spirit rookie benchmarks. Klepov opened his OHL career with a six-game point streak, recording 13 points (7G-6A) over that span. He went on to register 26 multi-point games and recorded at least three points in a game 13 times, including a five-point performance (2G-3A) on October 4 against the Owen Sound Attack. A 2026 NHL Draft prospect, Klepov also represented the CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and earned the Connor McDavid 97 Award as MVP of the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game after recording a goal and two assists. His combination of playmaking, finishing ability, and offensive consistency made him one of the OHL’s most dangerous players from start to finish. QMJHL Nominee – Maxim Massé (Chicoutimi Saguenéens) 51G-51A, 102 PTS, +62 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season Named both QMJHL and CHL Rookie of the Year in 2022-23, Maxim Massé added another major accomplishment to his résumé by capturing the Jean-Béliveau Trophy as the QMJHL’s top scorer with 102 points in 63 games. In his fourth season with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, the Anaheim Ducks prospect reached the 50-goal plateau for the first time, finishing with career highs of 51 goals, 51 assists, and 102 points. His total put him six points ahead of Val-d’Or Foreurs forward Philippe Veilleux in the QMJHL scoring race. Massé also shared the CHL goal-scoring lead with Seattle Thunderbirds forward Cameron Schmidt and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada forward Justin Carbonneau, who also finished with 51 goals apiece. Massé and Schmidt were the only two players in the CHL to surpass both the 50-goal and 100-point marks in 2025-26. Selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round, 66th overall, of the 2024 NHL Draft, Massé continued to showcase the offensive skill, finishing ability, and playmaking touch that have made him one of the organization’s top prospects. A consistent offensive force throughout the season, Massé ranked sixth across the CHL in points per game at 1.62, the highest rate among players who appeared in more than 60 games. His breakout campaign firmly established him among the QMJHL’s elite players and one of the CHL’s most dangerous offensive threats.]]> Liam & Markus Ruck Impress At Scouting Combine https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/liam-markus-ruck-impress-at-scouting-combine Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:00:09 +0000 chlwebproduct https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/liam-markus-ruck-impress-at-scouting-combine Medicine Hat, AB - The Ruck twins represented the Medicine Hat Tigers at the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo, New York. Liam and Markus Ruck were among 90 prospects that attended the event. The NHL Scouting Combine provides the league’s 32 clubs with physical and medical evaluations of top draft prospects ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, set for June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. "The combine was unbelievable... so much fun to be a part of" said Liam Ruck. "You get to spend a week out in Buffalo, talking to NHL teams and media and all that, it's something you dream of as a kid, so it's just a special week." Markus last 13:08 in the VO2 Max bike test while Liam lasted 12:25. Markus also excelled at one of the two new tests at the combine, scoring a 2.24 in the isokinetic squat test to Liam's score of 2.16. While Markus opted to rest for the latter portion of the combine after tweaking his back in the vertical jump test, Liam completed the bench press, 10-meter sprint, pro agility, pull-ups and the Wingate without his brother. “It was obviously a super fun experience. I've never done anything like this, so to kind of meet with NHL teams and be in Buffalo and experience a new style of life, it was awesome." remarked Markus following the combine. Liam recorded the 23rd highest score in the Aerobic Fitness (VO2 Max) test with a 54.1, the 18th highest score in the Anaerobic Fitness: Fatigue Index test with a 46.3, and the 10th highest score in the Bench Press Power test with a 6.4. For full results from the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine, visit NHL.com. The Rucks are two of 15 Tigers players eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft that will take place on June 26th and 27th in the Keybank Centre in Buffalo, New York. The Tigers led the WHL with eight players ranked in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for the draft.]]> Ruck Twins Attending NHL Scouting Combine https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/ruck-twins-attending-nhl-scouting-combine Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:00:06 +0000 chlwebproduct https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/ruck-twins-attending-nhl-scouting-combine Medicine Hat, AB - Two draft eligible players from the Tigers will be attending the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine at KeyBank Center and LECOM HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York. Liam Ruck (Osoyoos, B.C.) and Markus Ruck (Osoyoos, B.C) are two of the top 100 players invited to the combine. Markus led the CHL in scoring with 108 points in the 2025-26 regular season, his twin brother Liam finished second with 104 points. Both had career years in their sophomore seasons, following up their 2025 WHL Championship with a big role on the top-line for the Tigers. Liam Ruck tied Bryce Pickford for the team lead in goals with 45 this season. Running from June 1-6, the combine provides all 32 NHL clubs with an opportunity to conduct interviews, medical evaluations, and fitness testing on many of the top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, set to take place June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. "The NHL Combine is a rite of passage on a player's path to the NHL and is an event that NHL clubs and prospects look forward to participating in," NHL Central Scouting vice president and director Dan Marr said. "The NHL Combine is the final showcase event before the NHL draft and it's a week full of interviews, medicals, and fitness testing where the players get to interact with NHL personnel and the NHL clubs get to learn as much as possible about the future stars of our game." A total of 90 players will attend the combine, including 56 forwards, 29 defencemen, and five goaltenders. All invitees are listed in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings of North American and International skaters and goaltenders. Teams can have 1-on-1 interviews with prospects at KeyBank Center from June 1-5. The medical examinations will take place June 3, the Maximal VO2 bike test and isokinetic squat test, which is new to the Combine, will take place June 5, and the remaining eight of the 12 fitness tests will occur at HarborCenter on June 6 (standing height/wingspan, horizontal jump, force plate vertical jumps, bench press, pro agility test, pull ups, 10-meter sprint, Wingate Cycle Ergometer test). The 10-meter sprint, also new to the Combine, will be conducted in conjunction with the pro agility test. For more information on the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine, including the complete list of invitees, visit NHL.com]]> Väisänen Signs Pro Contract With JYP Jyväskylä https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/vaisanen-signs-pro-contract-with-jyp-jyvaskyla Wed, 13 May 2026 20:00:16 +0000 chlwebproduct https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/vaisanen-signs-pro-contract-with-jyp-jyvaskyla Medicine Hat, AB - The JYP Jyväskylä have signed defenceman Veeti Väisänen to a professional Liiga contract, the team announced on Tuesday, May 12th. Väisänen was selected by the Utah Mammoth of the NHL in the third round (96th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Shortly after, the Hamina, Finland native was selected by the Tigers in the second round (107th overall) of the 2024 CHL Import Draft. The 6-foot-1 blueliner joined the Tigers at the beginning of the 2024-25 season and would go on to win the Ed Chynoweth cup with the Tigers in 2025. Through 105 games in the orange and black, Väisänen has posted 10 goals and 37 assists totalling 47 points and plus-51 rating. Väisänen has represented his country at the World Junior Championships the past two years, winning a Silver Medal in 2025. The Tigers would like to congratulate Veeti and his family on this incredible achievement and thank him for his contributions to the organization and the community during his tenure.]]> 2026 WHL Prospects Draft Recap https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/2026-whl-prospects-draft-recap Fri, 08 May 2026 20:00:50 +0000 chlwebproduct https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/2026-whl-prospects-draft-recap Medicine Hat, AB - The Tigers started off the 2026 WHL Draft by bringing back a familiar name in the Tigers family in Max Osgood, the son of Tigers Alumnus and three-time Stanley Cup Champion Chris Osgood, with the 21st pick in the first round. Osgood is a smart, agile forward with quickness and slippery skill. He’s hard on pucks, possesses strong vision, and reads the ice well. A detail-oriented player who competes at both ends of the rink. Max Osgood – C

Birthdate:	Mar 24, 2011
Hometown:	Plymouth, MI
Height:	5' 9"
Weight:	142 lbs
Shoots	Left

The Tigers kicked off day two of the 2026 WHL Draft by selecting defenceman Nash Springer from the Dallas Stars Elite 14U with the 44th pick of the draft. Springer is an engaged, dynamic defenseman who excels in all three zones. He shows strong puck confidence, fires a heavy shot from the blueline with a quick release, and jumps into seams effectively. A physical player who defends hard, separates opponents with big hits, and uses his skating to shake checks. Nash Springer – RD

Birthdate:	Aug 14, 2011
Hometown:	McKinney, TX
Height:	5' 11"
Weight:	159 lbs
Shoots	Right

Once again adding to their blueline, the Tigers drafted Shane Regehr, son of former NHLer Robyn Regehr, from the Calgary U15 AAA Northstars with the 55th pick of the draft. Regehr is a strong defensive minded defenseman with excellent stick work and gap control. He consistently blocks shots, wins battles along the boards, and plays a physical game that lays out opponents. He showed significant improvement throughout the year and brings reliable, competitive 2-way play to the backend. Shane Regehr – RD

Birthdate:	Jul 28, 2011
Hometown:	Calgary, AB
Height:	6' 1"
Weight:	149 lbs
Shoots	Right

While the Tigers did not have a fourth-round draft pick, they had two third-round picks, and with their second they looked to deepen their talent down the middle with Luke Bodtker at the 57th overall selection. Bodtker is an intelligent two-way center who supports the puck well in all three zones. He creates plays off the rush and in the OZ with strong passing and skating ability, consistently making those around him better. Luke Bodtker – C

Birthdate:	Mar 5, 2011
Hometown:	Calgary, AB
Height:	5' 9.5"
Weight:	132 lbs
Shoots	Left

With the 108th overall pick acquired early Thursday morning via trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds, the Tigers selected Nixon McLean from the Rink H.A. Kelowna U15 Prep team. Nixon is the son of Brett McLean, the all-time leading scorer for the Kelowna Rockets and Assistant Coach of the Vancouver Canucks. McLean skilled playmaking forward with strong hockey IQ. He dictates the pace through his puck skill and heads-up plays, showing excellent poise and confidence with the puck. He navigates traffic well and consistently finds teammates with creative passes, making him an offensive threat Nixon McLean – C

Birthdate:	Oct 11, 2011
Hometown:	Kelowna, BC
Height:	5' 8"
Weight:	141 lbs
Shoots	Left

Just five picks later at 113th the Tigers went back to the blueline, selecting Tyler Thomas from the AEHL Champion U15AAA Lethbridge Golden Hawks. Thomas is a puck-moving defenseman with excellent vision, poise, and high hockey IQ. He draws attention before making crisp plays, walks the blueline effectively to open lanes, and serves as a strong distributor who consistently finds teammates. Tyler Thomas – RD

Birthdate:	May 14, 2011
Hometown:	Lethbridge, AB
Height:	5' 8.5"
Weight:	130 lbs
Shoots	Right

In the sixth round with the 136th overall pick the Tigers added left winger Ryder Lefaivre from the Calgary International H.A. U15 Prep team, who he won the U15CSSHL Championship with this season. Lefaivre is an explosive, high-speed winger who plays a competitive two-way game. He forechecks hard, finishes checks, and drives to the net with physicality. His skating and work ethic create extended zone time for his line while contributing at both ends of the rink. Ryder Lefaivre – LW

Birthdate:	Feb 19, 2011
Hometown:	Cochrane, AB
Height:	6' 0.5"
Weight:	170 lbs
Shoots	Left

In the seventh round with the 159th overall pick the Tigers selected Div. II U15 CSSHL Champion Kelson Hawreluik from the OHA Edmonton U15 Prep team. Hawreluik is a solid two-way forward with a strong frame and good skating ability. He possesses strong skill and a dangerous shot, snapping the puck quickly from prime scoring areas. He protects the puck well in the offensive zone, shows good poise around the net, and moves the puck with purpose and pace. Kelson Hawreluik – C

Birthdate:	Feb 16, 2011
Hometown:	Yorkton, SK
Height:	5' 9.25"
Weight:	159 lbs
Shoots	Right

The Tigers added a pair of defencemen in the last round of their 2026 WHL Draft. The first was 6-foot-2, 160-pound defenceman Max Maas from the Rosemount Irish AA 14U team. Maas is a long, heavy defenseman who skates smoothly with good foot agility and high-level transition ability. He defends effectively with a strong stick, plays with great detail, and is physical in the corners and net front. Plays a mature game, and is hard-to-play-against defender who holds his ice well. Max Maas – RD

Birthdate:	Jan 5, 2011
Hometown:	Rosemount, MN
Height:	6' 2"
Weight:	160 lbs
Shoots	Right

With their final selection of the 2026 WHL Draft, the Tigers kept it in the family by drafting Landon Ruck, the younger brother of Tigers forwards Liam and Markus Ruck, from the Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep team. Ruck is a smart, heads-up puck moving defenseman with solid passes and good deception. He supports the puck and his partner well, makes strong reads, and isn’t afraid to jump into the rush with calculated risks to create offense. Landon Ruck – LD

Birthdate:	Jul 29, 2011
Hometown:	Osoyoos, BC
Height:	5' 7.5"
Weight:	142 lbs
Shoots	Left

Tigers’ 2026 Prospect Draft Overview:

RD	Pick	Name	Hometown	Position	2025-26 Team	Ht	Wt (lbs)
1	21	Max Osgood	Plymouth, MI	C	Detroit Little Caesars 14U	5’9″	142
2	44	Nash Springer	McKinney, TX	RD	Dallas Stars Elite 14U	5' 11"	159
3	55	Shane Regehr	Calgary, AB	RD	Calgary CNHA U15 AAA Northstars	6' 1"	149
3	57	Luke Bodtker	Calgary, AB	C	Edge School U15 Prep	5' 9.5"	132
5	108	Nixon McLean	Kelowna, BC	C	Rink H.A. Kelowna U15 Prep	5' 8"	141
5	113	Tyler Thomas	Lethbridge, AB	RD	Lethbridge Golden hawks U15 AAA	5' 8.5"	130
6	136	Ryder Lefaivre	Cochrane, AB	LW	Calgary International H.A. U15 Prep	6' 0.5"	170
7	159	Kelson Hawreluik	Yorkton, SK	C	OHA Edmonton U15 Prep	5' 9.25"	159
8	164	Max Maas	Rosemount, MN	RD	Rosemount Irish AA 14U	6' 2"	160
8	171	Landon Ruck	Osoyoos, BC	LD	Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep	5' 7.5"	142

Geographical Breakdown:

Alberta (4)	Shane Regehr, Luke Bodtker, Tyler Thomas, Ryder Lefaivre
U.S.A. (3)	Max Osgood, Nash Springer, Max Maas
British Columbia (2)	Nixon McLean, Landon Ruck
Saskatchewan (1)	Kelson Hawreluik

The Medicine Hat Tigers would like to congratulate all the players & their families drafted today and look forward to watching them develop and see where their game takes them next.]]> Tigers Sign Burmis To WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/tigers-sign-burmis-to-whl-scholarship-development-agreement Fri, 08 May 2026 17:00:27 +0000 chlwebproduct https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/tigers-sign-burmis-to-whl-scholarship-development-agreement Medicine Hat, AB - The Medicine Hat Tigers are proud to announce the signing of 2010-born defenceman Jake Burmis (Rogers, MN, USA) to a WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement. "Jake is a smooth-skating, puck-moving offensive defenseman. He plays with excellent poise and vision, consistently creating scoring chances all over the ice through his passing and skating ability. We’re extremely excited about his addition to the group and see him as a key piece on our backend moving forward." said Assistant General Manager Bobby Fox. The 5-foot-10 defenceman played for Rogers High of the USHS-MN last season, netting four goals and 23 assists for a total of 27 points in 27 games.

The Tigers are excited to welcome Jake to the organization and look forward to his continued development as part of Medicine Hat's growing core of young talent.]]> Tigers Acquire Holberton From Seattle https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/tigers-acquire-holberton-from-seattle Thu, 07 May 2026 15:31:23 +0000 chlwebproduct https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/tigers-acquire-holberton-from-seattle Medicine Hat, AB - The Medicine Hat Tigers have acquired 2007-born Brayden Holberton and a fifth-round pick (108th overall) in the 2026 WHL Draft in exchange for forward prospect Luke Puchner (2008), a seventh-round pick (142nd overall) in the 2026 WHL Draft and a conditional third-round pick in 2029. Holberton, the 6-foot-4 forward, has spent three seasons in the WHL, all with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Originally drafted by Seattle in the 10th round (214th overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, the Sparwood, BC native has posted eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points and 295 penalty minutes across 174 career games. Puchner spent his 2025-26 season with the Shattuck St. Mary's U18 Prep team in the USHS-Prep league. The 5-foot-10 forward is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.]]> 2026 WHL Prospects Draft Preview https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/2026-whl-prospects-draft-preview Wed, 06 May 2026 17:19:09 +0000 chlwebproduct https://chl.ca/whl-tigers/article/2026-whl-prospects-draft-preview Medicine Hat, AB - The 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will begin with the first round on Wednesday, May 6th streaming for free on Victory+ at 6:00pm MT. The remainder of the draft will be completed Thursday, May 7th beginning at 10:00am MT. The Tigers will select 21st overall in the first round of the 2026 WHL Draft. The last time the Tigers picked 21st overall was the 2023 WHL Draft where they selected Markus Ruck. Below is a breakdown of the 13 picks the Tigers have in the first 11 rounds of the 2026 WHL Draft:

1st round (21st overall)
2nd round (44th overall)
3rd round (55th overall) from Victoria
3rd round (57th overall) from Seattle
5th round (113th overall)
6th round (136th overall)
7th round (142nd overall) from Wenatchee
7th round (159th overall)
8th round (164th overall) from Vancouver
8th round (171st overall) from Portland
9th round (205th overall)
10th round (228th overall)
11th round (251st overall)

Players eligible for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft are 2011-born players who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Players not selected in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter.]]>