PHOTO COURTESY WHL
The Medicine Hat Tigers and Kelowna Rockets squared off in two preseason games in Whitehorse, Yukon over the weekend as part of the WHL's Whitehorse Showcase.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Beautiful sights and a pair of wins wrapped up the Medicine Hat Tigers preseason.
The Tigers returned Sunday from the WHL’s Whitehorse Showcase, beating the Kelowna Rockets to sweep the preseason and capture the Northern Lights Cup.
Head coach Willie Desjardins says they were treated well and he enjoyed the trip to the Yukon.
“They did an excellent job and our competition was good, Kelowna played well,” Desjardins said. “They pushed us for sure, both games we scored late in the second period and the first game we got three, maybe that was the difference in that game. Then the last game was tight all the way through. We had a really good third period, which was good to see.”
The players met the Whitehorse community during a barbecue on the Thursday before learning about and taking part in some Arctic and Dene sports the next day. The sports, like one-foot high kick and greasy sick pole are focused on skills people needed to survive in harsh, Northern conditions.
“It was a great experience, the first bonding experience for our group, so that was good for us,” Liam Ruck said. “Seeing all the kids there, excited to see all of us, was pretty cool as a group.”
The weekend was the Rucks first pair of preseason games, getting into the lineup for some WHL contests after taking bronze at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
“It was great to get into those games, felt good out there,” Markus Ruck said. “Just fun for the season and hopefully going to have a good year.”
It’s the second time in the last three seasons the Tigers swept the preseason. They won all four games in 2023 and split their four exhibition games in 2024. The four wins don’t mean a lot to Desjardins, but he did like his players’ response throughout.
“I like the fact you find a way to win, winning is always special,” Desjardins said. “It always shows if you can find ways to win, that part’s good.”
Forward Luke Ruptash was a full participant in practice on Tuesday after missing the last three preseason games with an upper-body injury. The 16-year-old has felt more confident during his second camp/preseason and continues to fight for his spot on the roster.
“Just having that experience last year, it really helped me grow to be a player this year, knowing what the what the program looks like,” Ruptash said. “Just trying to be the hardest worker on the ice, do as much as I can and just prove the coaches I want to be here.”
Ruptash played seven games for the Tigers last season, spending most of the season at U18 with the South Alberta Hockey Academy. He had 11 goals and 20 points in 23 games, also practising with the WHL club after he recovered from an upper-body injury suffered during the 2024 home opener.
Forwards Ethan Neutens and Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll did not practice. Desjardins didn’t have an update on their status and says they’ll have to wait for later in the week.
It’s a similar update for defenceman Bryce Pickford who was reassigned by the Montreal Canadiens after suffering an injury early in rookie camp. Desjardins expects him back soon but he doesn’t yet know if he’ll be in the lineup against the Regina Pats on Saturday.
