NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Bryce Pickford skates to the bench after scoring his 33rd goal of the season, finding the back of the net in a 7-3 win Friday at Co-op Place over the Edmonton Oil Kings.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Bryce Pickford has further etched himself into Tigers history.
The Medicine Hat captain scored his 33rd goal of the season in the second period of a 7-3 win at Co-op Place over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Jan. 16. The goal, his CHL-leading tally, set a new franchise record for goals by a defenceman in a single season.
The Montreal Canadiens prospect had family in the building for his historic goal.
“It means the world, especially to do it at home in front of our fans and in front of Medicine Hat, my teammates, my brothers and my family made it down too, so it couldn’t have been a better game to do it,” Pickford said. “The feeling was unbelievable, it’s hard to explain.”
Pickford’s goal passes the record of 32 set by Kris Russell in the 2006-07 season. Head coach Willie Desjardins coached Russell that year and says it’s fitting someone like Pickford would set the new record.
“Russ is really a special player, he was unbelievable, he played so hard every day, but Russell would be proud of Picks, he would appreciate him and the effort he puts in,” Desjardins said. “For Pickford, he leads us, our room’s ready, we’ve beaten Edmonton twice this week and those are really hard games. To go up there, we didn’t play great but we found a way. Came back here and the boys played hard and that’s a lot of your leadership. Pickford is a big, big part of that.”
A majority of his 33 goals this season have come from the top of the circles, showcasing a shot that has more than justified his 81st overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft. The milestone-marker was like many more before it, him skating down hill before putting the puck home.
“I saw the defender’s stick on the blue line was a little open so I tapped it through there and then tired using their defenceman as a screen,” Pickford said. “The shot wasn’t very good but it found its way.”
When reflecting on the goal post game, Pickford said it hadn’t sunk in yet where his season stands in franchise history. But he does pass the credit to his teammates.
“A lot of emotions and a lot of hard work from my teammates too, it’s not just me, they give me the puck in a lot of ways and they’ve done it a lot and in some crazy ways, the records are unbelievable,” Pickford said.
His 33 goals and 62 points in 41 games entering play Tuesday has him on pace for 53 goals and 100 points, which would set a CHL record for goals by a defenceman in a single season. It would also be the most productive season by a defenceman in team history.
The level of production from Pickford isn’t a surprise for Andrew Basha. He says the work the blue liner puts in, it was more of when not if he’d have this kind of success.
“I don’t think people really realize the amount of work he puts in, I’ve never seen anything like it, to be honest,’ Basha said. “Right from day one when he got here we had heard he was like that, but the past five years for Picks has been all work.
“The coolest part is just being able to see that. I’m so happy for him for it to translate in such a big way. Starting off with a contract this year, I’m just really great to see the steps he’s taken, he’s a great leader.”
