NEWS PHOTO James Tubb
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Liam Ruck jumps into the arms of goaltender Carter Casey after the latter stopped the Calgary Hitmen's seventh shootout shooter to secure a 7-6, comeback shootout win Nov. 22, 2025 at Co-op Place. Ruck, and Casey were both ranked in the NHL Central Scouting's mid-term list released Monday.
Medicine Hat News
The Medicine Hat Tigers have six players named on the NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings.
The rankings, announced Monday, are split between North Americans skaters and International skaters as well as North American goalies and international goalies.
Five Tigers were ranked on the North American skaters list, forwards Liam Ruck (26th), Markus Ruck (31st), Yaroslav Bryzgalov (99th), defenceman Riley Steen (188th) and forward Kadon McCann (215). Goaltender Carter Casey was ranked 12th among North American goaltenders.
Liam, the younger of the Ruck twins, has 22 goals and 58 points in 40 games. He’s surpassed his rookie point total of 41 and is three away from recording consecutive 25-goal seasons. He sits second on the Tigers in goals and points and fifth in the league in points.
Markus is having a career sophomore season with nine goals and 55 points in 40 games. His 46 assists leads the WHL and also leads the entire CHL, the 2026 NHL Draft class and he leads all U18 skaters in North America major junior and Jr. A in helpers. He is fourth on the Tigers in points and eighth in the league for points.
Bryzgalov, draft eligible for a second year, has seven goals and 32 points in 39 games in his first season in the WHL. The 18-year-old Mogilev, Belarus product is fifth on the Tigers in scoring.
Steen is in his first full WHL season and has tallied two goals and seven points in 32 games. McCann is also draft eligible for a second year and is in the middle of a career season. He has 14 goals and 30 points in 40 games, both career highs. He sits sixth on the team in scoring.
Casey has 10 wins in his first WHL season, running a 10-3-2 record with a 3.34 goals against average and a .873 save percentage. He’s also recorded a shutout.
All six were named to the Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings in October. Both Rucks received ‘B’ rankings, indicating a second/third round candidate. Bryzgalov and Casey each received ‘C’ ratings, fourth/fifth round candidates. McCann and Steen were given a ‘W’ rating, indicating a sixth/seventh round candidate.
Former Medicine Hat Tiger Gavin McKenna tops the Central Scouting’s mid-term North American skaters list.
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is to be hosted in Buffalo, N.Y. on June 26 and 27.
