NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Kyle Heger skates up ice in the first period of a 3-2 win at Co-op Place over the Spokane Chiefs on Oct. 14.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Early NHL Draft recognition is just a step on the path to draft day, a few Medicine Hat Tigers say.
The Tigers had nine players named to the NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary player to watch list released on Monday. The list breaks players into letter-grade ratings based on which round(s) they are candidates to be selected in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Three Tigers, defenceman Kyle Heger and forwards Markus and Liam Ruck, were given a B ranking, for projected as second- to third-round candidates.
“It’s obviously pretty cool, I’ve always dreamed of being drafted so I’m kind of seeing it lean towards that,” Markus said. “It’s just a ranking, there’s obviously a lot of work that needs to be put in if I want to get drafted. So it’s cool seeing that, but just got to keep working.”
Two Tabbies received C-rankings, forward Yaroslav Bryzgalov and goaltender Carter Casey, tabbed as fourth- to fifth-round candidates.
Four Tigers, forwards Kadon McCann, Kade Stengrim, defenceman Riley Steen and goalie Jordan Switzer, received W ratings as sixth- to seventh-round candidates.
Putting himself in a good spot to get drafted was one of the reasons Heger cited as why he signed with the Tigers in the offseason. He says the early ranking is something he’s excited about, but just a start. Heger says the early exposure as well as the experience he’s had so far has reaffirmed the decision.
“The NHL exposure and the actual NHL experience, Willie (Desjardins) he’s seen it, he’s done it and he’s been around some really talented players here,” Heger said. “Just the whole staff here, Joe (Frazer) and Josh (Maser) it’s great. It was a really good decision and you think you’re playing good and obviously it’s really nice to see yourself to be rewarded in a way. Obviously it’s a temporary ranking but it makes the decision a little bit better.”
Heger has a goal and five points in 11 games in his rookie season in the WHL. He’s enjoyed his time getting used to the league and getting acclimated to Medicine Hat.
“It’s been great so far, we’ve gone out for many team events and we’ve gone to many dinners as a team whether it’s going to ice cream or doing paintball together, we’ve done a lot as a team,” Heger said.
The Rucks both share the same sentiment as Heger, happy about the ranking but looking to keep climbing on the year.
“It obviously gives you a little fire to kind of want more, but I’m happy with it,” Liam said about the second- to third-round candidate projection. “I just try not to think about it too much.”
Markus sits third on the Tigers in scoring with a goal and 11 points in 11 games. Liam sits one point behind him, with two goals and 10 points in the same amount of games.
Both have seen positive steps in their play early in the season but they are each looking to take more as the year progresses.
“As a team we’ve had a pretty good start to the season, we’ve been unreal at home, we just have to start winning some on the road, it’s a lot tougher on the road,” Markus said. “We’re starting to learn that and hopefully get some wins these last couple of B.C. games.
“For myself, I’ve had a pretty good star, I’ve been pretty happy with it. I just need to go to the net more, that’s where all the goals are scored in almost any league. So I want to start creating a little more, score some more goals and get to the net more.”
The Rucks have enjoyed the early parts of the B.C. road trip. They would like to see some wins, with the Tigers starting 0-2, but feel at home with family in the building.
It’s unreal to play in front of your family again, we have a lot of people at every game here, except for PG, so it’s exciting on this trip,” Liam said. “Obviously we have to find a way to start getting some wins. But it’s been great to be back here.”
The Tigers are in Prince George tonight taking on the Cougars.
