A trip of returns for Tigers in B.C.

By JAMES TUBB on October 31, 2025.

The Medicine Hat Tigers’ longest road trip of the season brought more than miles on the bus.

The Tigers’ six-game trip through the B.C. division was a homecoming for the four B.C. born players on the roster with forwards Markus and Liam Ruck and defencemen Riley Steen and Tyson Moss getting the opportunity to play in front of friends and family.

“It was unreal, all the support from all our friends and family, especially in the last game, it’s about 200 people there for us, so it’s pretty cool and it was nice getting that win there,” Markus Ruck said.

The Tigers’ twins had a collection of friends and family at the 3-1 win over the Penticton Vees on Monday, also seeing kids from the South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association, their hometown area of Osoyoos in attendance. The Rucks and Steen all played at OHA Okanagan, which plays in Penticton. They were able to watch the youngest Ruck, 14-year-old defenceman Landon play in a 5-4 shootout loss Sunday to the Burnaby Winterclub.

It was a reunion trip for Steen, getting to see former coaches and trainer at OHA where the trio played two years together.

“It was pretty cool to see how far I’ve gone,” Steen said.

The Tigers’ trip opener in Victoria was the family-full one for the Ladysmith, B.C. product, with two dozen faithful in attendance. Ahead of the game against the Royals on Oct. 18, Steen was able to meet up with his dad Marty who works for the Victoria Police Department, located beside the Royals’ arena.

He was able to spend the day with his family in between the final two games, an early season reset he says getting to see his biggest supporters.

“When you’re away from them for so long and you have a road trip and you get to go play at home and see those people, it’s something you look forward to,” Steen said. “Obviously it brought a pep to my step and it was really fun.”

The B.C. trip also a boost for Moss who had around 30 friends and family make the trip from Port Moody to Vancouver.

“I grew up as a kid going to Giants games all the time, so it was pretty cool actually playing now and just recognizing the rink,” Moss said.

Two games after that, the 18-year-old scored his first WHL goal in his 35th game with the Tigers. He’s found more ice time this season after joining mid-campaign last year from the BCHL.

“Last year we had a heck of the team and this year we did as well,” Moss said. “But with me and many other guys, when guys leave you have to step up, so that’s what this whole team has been doing and we’ve been really playing well.”

Beyond returns to home and seeing family again, the B.C. trip also brought a return to the lineup and old stomping grounds. Forward Ethan Neutens made his season debut in the fourth game of the trip, missing the first 11 games due to an injury suffered in the preseason.

The 20-year-old says he was just happy to be back on the ice and playing in games again.

“It was good to get my legs back under me,” Neutens said. “It was important to feel the puck again, get back in the flow of things a little bit. Honestly, I just focused on just sprinting everywhere, just being fast, feeling myself again.”

The penultimate game of the trip saw Neutens return to Kelowna for the first time since he was acquired last November in a trade with the Rockets. He says it was just another game, one he wanted to win.

“There’s a little bit of emotion, but that comes with it,” Neutens said.

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