How the 2024-25 Tigers roster was built

By James Tubb on September 20, 2024.

The Medicine Hat Tigers roster, like all Western Hockey League clubs, has been constructed through multiple methods.

Whether players were acquired in trades, through free-agent signings, the WHL Prospects Draft or the CHL Import, they all have made it to the same level of junior hockey.

Here is how the Tigers’ 2024-25 roster was built.

CHL Import Draft

Niilopekka Muhonen (D, 18, Kuopio, Finland) was taken 47th overall by the Tigers in the 2024 Import draft.

Veeti Väisänen (D, 18, Hamina, Finland) was taken 107th overall by the Tigers in the 2024 Import draft.

Trade

Marcus Pacheco (F, 19, Edmonton, Alta.) was acquired by the Tigers in a trade with the Kelowna Rockets on Dec. 31, 2023.

Mat Ward (F, 20, Kamloops, B.C.) was acquired from the Swift Current Broncos on May 9.

Bryce Pickford (D, 18, Chauvin, Alta.) was acquired by the Tigers in a trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds on May 9.

Jonas Woo (D, 18, Winnipeg, Man.) was acquired by the Tigers in a trade with the Wenatchee Wild on May 9.

Ryder Ritchie (F, 18, Kelowna, B.C.) was acquired by the Tigers in a trade with the Prince Albert Raiders on Aug. 26.

WHL Prospects Draft

A majority of the Tigers roster was acquired through the WHL draft.

2019 Draft

Oasiz Wiesblatt (F, 20, Calgary, Alta.), 12th overall.

Brayden Boehm (F, 20, Nanaimo, B.C.), 37th overall.

2020 Draft

Josh Van Mulligen (D, 19, Medicine Hat), 39th overall.

Shane Smith (F, 19, Cessford, Alta.), 51st overall.

Andrew Basha (F, 18, Calgary, Alta.), 105th overall.

Hunter St. Martin (F, 19, Edmonton, Alta.), 124th overall

Zach Zahara (G, 19, Rocky View, Alta.), 171st overall.

2021 Draft

Ethan McCallum (G, 18, Brandon, Man.), 39th overall

Cayden Lindstrom (F, 18, Chetwynd, B.C.), 54th overall

Nate Corbet (D, 18, Calgary, Alta.), 60th overall

2022 Draft

Gavin McKenna (F, 16, Whitehorse, Yukon), 1st overall

Hayden Harsanyi (F, 17, Calgary, Alta.), 16th overall

Kadon McCann (F, 17,Cochrane, Alta.), 23rd overall

Matt Paranych (D, 17, Edmonton, Alta.), 45th overall

Jack Kachkowski (D, 17, St. Albert, Alta.), 89th overall

Jordan Switzer (G, 17, Edmonton, Alta.), 111th overall

2023 Draft

Liam Ruck (F, 16, Osoyoos, B.C.), 9th overall

Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll (F, 15, Salt Lake City, Utah), 9th overall (U.S. Draft)

Markus Ruck (F, 16, Osoyoos, B.C.), 21st overall

Koray Bozkaya (D, 16, Maple Ridge, B.C.), 53rd overall

Brayden Ryan-MacKay (F, 16, Calgary, Alta.), 119th overall

Riley Steen (D, 16, Ladysmith, B.C.), 127th overall

Avery Watson (F, 16, Edmonton, Alta.), 159th overall

2024 Draft

Luke Ruptash (F, 15, St. Alberta, Alta.), 16th overall.