NEWS FILE PHOTO
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Bryce Pickford heads to the bench to celebrate a goal in the first period of a 7-3 win Nov. 30 at Co-op Place over the Calgary Hitmen.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Bryce Pickford doesn’t know anything but hard work.
It’s how he’s gotten himself to this level and how he will continue to propel himself into pro hockey.
The Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman has had a breakout season, his first in the orange and black after being acquired from the Seattle Thunderbirds last spring.
Entering play Friday night, the 18-year-old Chauvin, Alta. product has 18 goals and 39 points in 36 games. He leads all WHL defencemen in goalscoring, sits fifth in points among blueliners and 49th in league scoring. He’s outscored his time with the Thunderbirds, where he tallied eight goals and 35 points in 121 games across three seasons with Seattle.
They’re all just numbers for Pickford, as long as the Tigers pick up wins he can enjoy them. If they’re not winning, they’re just like bugs on a windshield.
“It’s obviously pretty cool to have that (point streak) but we’re not winning right now, so it really doesn’t matter. We just have to find a way to win, that’s really what matters,” Pickford said on Nov. 28 about following a 4-3 overtime loss at home to the Saskatoon Blades.
His nine-game point streak didn’t matter at the time to the d-man, the lack of team success was all he could concern himself with. It’s the mindset that flashed itself again with Pickford being ranked No. 73 among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting on Tuesday.
Pickford, who had been ranked in the 200s the year prior and went undrafted in June, reflected for a split second on the news and then went on with his work.
“It’s nice getting recognized, but I try not to look at that too much because I got ranked last year,” he said. “So I’m just trying to focus on the team first and see where it goes.”
He was supposed to attend the Colorado Avalanche’s rookie camp in the fall before falling sick, unable to skate for around a week before playing in the season opener. He enjoys the NHL attention but says they still have too much work to do before he can worry about that.
It’s a self belief and desire to work without focus on individual results from Pickford that has impressed associate coach Joe Frazer.
“He’s got great offensive instincts, can rip a puck, he’s the total package,” Frazer said. “He can play against other teams top guys and shut them down, run your power play, penalty kill. He’s just been a great addition.
“That’s not to mention how important he is off the ice for us. He’s the first one here, last one to leave, works out like a machine every day. He’s just a culture guy and he’s been unbelievable for us.”
He was named an alternate captain on Oct. 14, the first time he’s donned a letter at the WHL level. Pickford spoke at the time about adding a focus of leadership to his game, not getting the chance in Seattle to lead and making a purpose to set an example in Medicine Hat. It’s a lead-by-example effort that has stood out to more people than the coaching staff.
“It rubs off on everyone, that’s why he’s the leader, that’s why he’s playing so well,” forward Gavin McKenna said. “It’s because how hard he works, it rubs off on everybody. He’s a great, vocal guy in the room as well, he’s such a key to our team.”
Pickford takes pride in his daily work. Firing off shots every morning for an hour, starting his day by chiselling away at some concrete with the rubber pucks. All of the extra hours and work spent just adds confidence to an internal fire that sometimes cannot be contained.
“It just gives me confidence, putting the work in off the ice,” Pickford said. “It just gives me the confidence on the ice for what I can do.”
The only thing he hasn’t yet improved upon from his time in Seattle is how many championship rings he has on display. Pickford won a WHL championship with the 2022-23 Thunderbirds and since arriving here, is looking for a second.
“I’m pumped about having a good run to go get another run and get into the Memorial Cup,” Pickford said.
