WHL Morning Skate: May 15, 2025

NEED TO KNOW

– Medicine Hat defenceman Bryce Pickford scored twice to give his team a commanding 3-1 lead in the WHL Championship Series

– Pickford set a modern WHL record for goals by a defenceman in consecutive playoff games (7)

– Medicine Hat has become the fourth team since the 2000 WHL Playoffs to score the opening goal in the first four games of the WHL Championship Series

– The Ed Chynoweth Cup will be in the building on Friday as Spokane tries to extend their season in Game 5

TOP PERFORMER- MAY 14

He sure knows how to pick ’em. 6-foot, 190-pound defenceman Bryce Pickford was the difference on Wednesday night as he struck twice for on the powerplay- including the game-winner- and assisted a third goal on the man advantage in a decisive 5-2 win for the Tigers. The Chauvin, Alta. product picked the top corner on both shots from the top of the right faceoff dot. Pickford, who won the Ed Chynoweth Cup with Seattle in 2023, is on a seven-game goal streak, setting an internet-era record (1996-present) for goals in consecutive playoff games by a defenceman. He closed out a three-point period with a secondary assist on Liam Ruck’s tally two minutes later. Pickford sits third on the Tigers in scoring with 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points and a +22 rating in 17 games. NHL Central Scouting has ranked Pickford 100th among all North American skaters in its final listing ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

RESULTS

Medicine Hat 5, Spokane 2

Medicine Hat leads 3-1

Score early, score often. Minnesota Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie opened the scoring just 31 seconds into the first period, though Spokane’s bruising forward Assanali Sarkenov leveled the score 17 seconds later. The match stayed tied until the second period, where three straight powerplay goals made the difference for the Tabbies. Bryce Pickford scored twice, including a 5-on-3 goal, before rookie Liam Ruck converted a feed from his twin brother, Markus, to make it a 4-1 game. Chiefs alternate captain Shea Van Olm picked up his 13th goal of the postseason to give his team some life with a powerplay one-timer from the right faceoff dot, but Hunter St. Martin dampened the atmosphere in Spokane again with a dazzling solo effort to close out the period, and the scoring. Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin stopped 28 of 30 shots to bring Medicine Hat within one win of its first WHL Championship since 2007.

THREE STARS

1- Bryce Pickford, MH

– 2G-1A

2- Tanner Molendyk, MH

– 3A

3- Liam Ruck, MH

– 1G-1A

ON TAP

The WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien resumes with Game 5 on Friday, May 16.