Pickford/Woo return, Sullivan arrives as Tigers roster takes some shape ahead of opening night

By JAMES TUBB on September 18, 2025.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

With the WHL’s regular season a few days away, the Medicine Hat Tigers roster is still influx.

The Tigers will have three skaters at NHL camps to start the WHL season, with defencemen Niilopekka Muhonen (Dallas) and Veeti Vaisanen (Utah) attending their respective camps and forward Kadon McCann getting an invite to the Calgary Flames’ main camp.

Defencemen Bryce Pickford and Jonas Woo were back with the WHL club on Wednesday, taking part in practice, and goaltender Jordan Switzer was reassigned midday by the Flames.

“It was a blast, it’s every hockey player’s dream and for it to come true and me to just be around all the pro guys and see how they they act on and off the ice and how well they take care of their body, it was a lot of fun,” Pickford said.

“Skating with new guys who are a lot bigger and a lot faster, so just getting that experience is cool and playing against a couple of my old teammates in that tournament, so it was an all around good experience,” Woo said.

With pair of blue liners returning, 2009-born defencemen Zack Nieckar and Kayne Wright have been reassigned to their teams.

“Both Kayne and Zack were great in the Yukon, it’s really nice to see when those young guys play well in the preseason, especially later on in the preseason when it’s a little tougher, that’s exciting for the future on the back end,” associate coach Joe Frazer said. “It’s great to have Pickford and Woo back, that great experience up there and now they can bring that experience back here and help our guys out. You can see it today in practice with their energy and their execution, it’s great to have them.”

Beyond the four defencemen who attended NHL camps, the Tigers have overager Josh Van Mulligen, 2007-born Kyle Heger and Tyson Moss, 2008-born Riley Steen and Koray Bozkaya and 2009-born Luke Warrener still in camp. They still have 15 forwards on the roster, including unsigned Dayton Reschny and Dub Eunice III.

Moss did not practise Wednesday, Frazer says the Port Moody, B.C. product woke up under the weather. Forward Gavin Kor also did not practise as Frazer says he was “taking a bit of a maintenance day from practice (Tuesday).”

The Tigers still have forwards Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll and Ethan Neutens out with injury.

Wednesday’s practice was the Tigers’ first look at forward Max Sullivan, acquired from the Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday. Frazer liked what he saw from the first skate.

“He had a good day today, showed some skill, we liked him in the preseason when we watched him,” Frazer said. “He just got in there last night for the skate, so he’s just getting his feet under him, but he definitely has lots of skill.”

The 19-year-old Sullivan was happy to be with the Tigers.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about this place,” Sullivan said after practice Wednesday. “I was back home in Calgary waiting and all I was thinking about was coming to Med Hat. So I was hoping it would work out and I’m so glad it has, it’s been great so far.”

The Calgary product describes himself as a skill player, he likes to make the big play and find the back of the net but he also prides himself on his defensive game. After two seasons with the Blazers, Sullivan is also happy to be closer to his family.

“My parents were just as happy as me that I ended up here, they’re super happy that it’s easy for them to get to games and I get to play in Calgary more, Edmonton, Red Deer, all those places, so it’s great for them and it’s great for me,” Sullivan said.

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