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
Saturday started as any other day for Bryce Pickford, with chores around the family farm. The day ended with him as one of the newest prospects in the Montreal Canadiens organization.
The Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman was selected in the third round, 81st overall by the Canadiens on the second day of the 2025 NHL Draft, completing a childhood dream and capping off a year’s work for Pickford, who went un-drafted in 2024.
“I couldn’t thank the coaching staff, teammates enough, without them I couldn’t have done what I did,” Pickford said. “To get my name called, it was a pretty, pretty good feeling, pretty emotional, hugging my mom and sister and my brothers.”
After his 6 a.m. chores of looking after their pigs, chickens, turkeys, sheep and cows, the Pickford clan sat around the TV waiting for the fateful moment, which came in the third round. He shared hugs with his mom Angela, his sister and bothers before calling his dad Jim who is working north on the oil rigs.
“It’s pretty special, gave him thanks for everything because without him I wouldn’t be here for sure,” Pickford said.
The 19-year-old Chauvin, Alta. product finished his regular season with 20 goals and 47 points in 48 games, scoring 13 goals and 24 points in 18 playoff games en route to his second WHL championship, carrying an eight-game goal streak in the post season.
He left for Montreal on Monday ahead of development camp this week. Looking over his last year, going undrafted to being a third-round pick, he says was a moment of relief.
“Not going last year was pretty upsetting so going this year obviously makes it feel a little bit better, waiting for it a little bit longer,” Pickford said. “But getting drafted at any time brings the same amount of fullness. I’m just glad that they want to take a chance on me and I won’t let them regret it.”
Pickford went into the day unsure of which team he could be drafted to, having been called multiple teams once the Tigers’ season was finished. He’s happy to be a Hab.
“It’ll be a great place for me, coaching staff, the arena and all the fans, it’s going to be pretty cool, I’m really excited,” Pickford said. “I’m pumped to get down there and meet the coaching staff and the players. I’m chomping at my bit right now.”
He’ll be reunited with former Seattle Thunderbirds teammate Jared Davidson, a 2022 fifth-round pick of the Canadiens. They both won a WHL championship with Seattle in 2023.
“He’s a very skilled hockey player, a great leader, too, so I’ll be pretty excited if I get to see him there,’ Pickford said.
He leaves his second NHL Draft experience excited for the future and also appreciative of the unpredictability of the weekend. Pickford says he’s learned how much of a privilege it is to be drafted and he hopes teammates who didn’t go this year can see him as an example to keep carrying on.
“You have to realize it’s not just you that got yourself here, it’s your family and everybody else, the feeling is pretty special,” Pickford said. “You just have to try and enjoy it. But even if you don’t get drafted, I’ve been there too, and it feels pretty crappy. But just put it behind you, move on and just grind even harder.”
Woo, Switzer earn Dev. camp invites
Tigers’ defenceman Jonas Woo and goaltender Jordan Switzer are also attending development camps this week.
Woo earned an invite to Florida Panthers development camp, joining forward Hunter St. Martin.
Switzer earned an invite to the Calgary Falmes camp, joining forward andrew Basha.
