NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers captain Bryce Pickford unleashes a shot in the third period of a 4-3 overtime win Feb. 21 at Co-op Place over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Edward Pola and George Wyle wrote ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’ to celebrate and describe the festivities associated with the Christmas season.
If Bryce Pickford was tasked with re-writing the festive tune, he might spin it to describe the wonders of his favourite time of year, the postseason.
The Medicine Hat Tigers’ captain has had plenty to enjoy in his three trips to the WHL Playoffs. He suited up as an underager in the 2022 playoffs with the Seattle Thunderbirds a year before winning his first Ed Chynoweth Cup with the U.S. division team. After missing the playoffs in 2024, he captured his second championship in 2025, scoring aplenty as the Tigers won it all in 2025.
As he gets his second look at the playoffs in the orange and black, the Montreal Canadiens prospect can’t wait to start playing his postseason tune.
“I love the playoffs, it means more, the fans are wilder and the games matter more,” Pickford said. “It’s just the environment, I feed off that, and I really love the playoffs. I love going into away rinks when they’re booing, it’s going to be fun.”
The 19-year-old defenceman gives opposing teams a lot of opportunities to boo, scoring 45 goals this season and throwing bone-crushing hits, all the while just enjoying the ride. Beyond a month-long injury absence, it’s been a year of all ups for Pickford, seeing him sign a pro contract and break the franchise’s single-season goal record.
He’s allowed himself a little bit of time to think on the historic year he’s had, but he’s looking to add onto the campaign stats.
“This year has been a blessing, I’m super grateful for everything that’s happened to me and the Lord’s shown me a lot and he’s done a lot through me,” Pickford said. “Just the things that I’ve been able to do, it’s been special and I’m super grateful.”
In the 2025 playoffs, Pickford set a modern WHL record with an eight-game goal streak, potting an empty netter in the Game 5 series-clinching win over the Spokane Chiefs to cap off a run that saw him tally 13 goals and 24 points in 18 playoff games. He scored in the Tigers’ 5-4, comeback Memorial Cup opening win over host Rimouski Oceanic.
He’s looking forward to seeing who can step up in this year’s run for the Tigers.
“Our main guys are going to produce, but there’s also going to be some guys that are lower in the lineup who are going to also produce in playoffs,” Pickford said. “Because you never know what happens. Like last year, Nilo (Muhonen) scored in the finals, so you never really know what’s going to happen. Guys are just going to wait for their time to shine.”
Pickford has gotten his fair share of high-intensity junior hockey, playing in 43 WHL playoff games and nine Memorial Cup games. His advice to his teammates getting their first look at the playoffs is succinct, just play.
“Just don’t get too nervous, that’s the biggest thing,” Pickford said. “There’s a lot of fans in the buildings and it’s way louder. So emotions and nerves get the best of some guys, but just go out there, it’s just another game.”
He’s gotten the chance to enjoy some full buildings in his WHL playoff runs. In 2023, the Thunderbirds averaged 4,868 in their 10 playoff games. Last year the Tigers averaged 5,637 in their nine.
In the final regular season game this year, Co-op Place saw 6,084 Tigers faithful roll in to send them off to playoffs. He has not doubt, the Tigers’ fans have showed up the strongest and he’s looking to give them another show.
“Medicine Hat has been the best hockey town I’ve lived in,” Pickford said. “Just having the fans behind us, it just gives us so much to play for. That last game, it just shows we have more to play for than just us.
“We’re playing for our community, and we’re doing it for them. I love them.”
With a pro contract waiting and this being his age-19 season, it’s more than likely this is Pickford’s last look at those WHL Playoffs he holds so dear. He’s thought about that a little, but he’s more focused ensuring the Tigers’ overagers get their chance to go out on top.
“It’s their last ride for sure, so if we can go as far as we can with these guys and just be able to hang out with them as long as we can, it would mean a lot,” Pickford said.
