PHOTO COURTESY USA HOCKEY
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Noah Davidson won gold with the United States at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring three times in the five-game tournament.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Noah Davidson is ready to prove himself in his first season in the WHL.
The 16-year-old Irvine, Calif. product is one of the seven signings the Medicine Hat Tigers made this offseason. He’s one of six to sign from the U.S., playing last season with Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 prep team.
The signing, announced the same time as fellow Shattuck skater defenceman Kyle Heger, is reflective of the new era in junior hockey, with CHL players eligible to commit and play at NCAA schools. The Tigers have seen firsthand, with forwards Gavin McKenna, Cayden Lindstrom and Ryder Ritchie all making the move to the NCAA.
It also allows players, previously committed to or aspiring to play at NCAA schools, the ability to play in the CHL. Davidson is committed to Boston College for 2027 and he looks forward to taking advantage of the rule change and ice time available with the Tigers.
“With the rule change and some kids aging out, it left a big hole in the top half of the lineup,” Davidson said. “It’s a great opportunity for me, I just have to come in and prove to everybody that I belong in the top six and belong in a big role for the team, and that’s my goal. I want to help the team as much as I can.”
Davidson was selected by the Tigers 31st overall in the 2023 WHL U.S. priority draft, the same year they selected forward Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll ninth overall. He’s known the sophomore Tiger throughout the years and he’s looking forward to spending the next two seasons on the same team.
“Shaeffer is a really good player and we played together in different camps and tournaments throughout the years, so some familiarity with him,” Davidson said. “Everybody on the Tigers lineup, all of them are great players, so I really can’t wait to get going.”
The pair recently helped the United States capture gold at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the country’s first gold at the U18 tournament since 2003. Davidson had three goals and six points in five tournament games, with a goal and an assist in the 5-3 gold medal win over Sweden on Aug. 16.
On that U.S. team Davidson was utilized on the power play and in the top six, making his presence felt at the net front. He says he prides himself on playing a heavy, powerful game, wanting to use all of his 6-foot-3 frame to his advantage.
“I like to spend a lot of time around the net and a lot of my goals in that tournament were around the net front,” Davidson said. “Just creating havoc in front of the net, whether it’s screening and letting my teammates shoot around me, or if it’s myself, putting in a rebound or taking the puck to the net.
“I like to play low in the zone, know what my strengths are and I try to play to my strengths, my size and my ability to win puck battles in that net front area.”
When it comes to winning those puck battles at the net front, Davidson says it comes down to body positioning and working to get himself between the goalie and defenceman and staying there.
“If you’re cycling puck in the O-zone, you can’t just stand in front of the net and let your teammates do the rest, you have to help them out on the cycle, help them out high in the zone,” Davidson said. “Just knowing the right time to go to the net and create havoc.
“Definitely a nice reward when you get kind of beat up in front of the net and when your teammates score or you score yourself.”
Davidson and the Tigers begin training camp Thursday ahead of their first preseason game Sept. 2 in Lethbridge. They host the Hurricanes Sept. 6 at Co-op Place.
