Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Bryce Pickford (right) skates toward the bench after scoring 46 seconds into a 6-3 win on March 29 at Co-op Place in Game 2 of the Tigers' first-round series with the Swift Current Broncos.--NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Four Medicine Hat Tigers and one local product have been named to the NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry draft.
Medicine Hat product Ryan Miller was ranked 60th among North American skaters for his efforts in his sophomore season with the Portland Winterhawks. He battled injury but finished with 16 goals and 31 points in 50 games and has a goal and eight points in nine playoff games entering play Tuesday.
Among North American skaters, Tigers’ defencemen Bryce Pickford (100), Jonas Woo (156), forward Kadon McCann (116) maintained a spot on the rankings. All three have been ranked throughout the year.
Goaltender Jordan Switzer jumped into the rankings, tabbed at 25th among North American goaltenders.
“It’s something to be said about putting in hard work and seeing results,” Switzer said. “You don’t need a result all the time, but it’s nice to see that result. It’s a testament to the team in front of me, we have a lot of special guys in there. So it just helps me that much more.”
The 18-year-old net minder had a 23-6-2 record in his rookie season, with a .901 save percentage and a 2.65 goals against average, recording four shutouts along the way. He’s picked up his first two playoff wins, recording the victories in Games 1 and 2 of the Tigers’ second-round series with the Raiders.
He entered the season as one of three Medicine Hat net minders, working as a backup after the Tigers acquired Harrison Meneghin and holding his own in net when the overage net minder went down with injury in November. It’s growth and resilience goaltending coach Matt Wong says isn’t a surprise.
“He’s worked extremely hard both on and off the ice and has come a long way this year,” Wong said. “He’s a big part of our team. He got a taste of starting minutes and did a wonderful job stepping in when Harry was out with injury. We don’t finish top of the Eastern conference without his stepping in and giving us the production that he did in that stretch.”
Pickford finished his regular season with 20 goals and 47 points in 48 games and has added three goals and seven points in five playoff games entering Game 3 tonight in Prince Albert against the Raiders. He’s happy to be ranked and getting the recognition but he was happier for the group of players to get their flowers.
“I honestly love when my teammates get recognized,” Pickford said. “So to see Kadz, Switzer and Woozy, it’s awesome. They’re all good players, so it’s great to see.”
Both Pickford and Woo suffered injuries in the second half of the season, limiting their action and returns to just before the playoffs started. Woo played in 57 games for the Tigers, notching 11 goals and 43 points and has added three assists in seven postseason games. Both say there was some rust to shake off but they agreed, returning for high stakes hockey made it easier to get back up to speed.
“It’s fun, playing the most important hockey at the time you come back, it’s exciting,” Woo said. “It’s cool to jump into those games.”
McCann tallied 11 goals and 18 points in 64 games this season in the orange and black, adding two assists in the playoffs. It isn’t the regular season he would’ve wanted but the Cochrane product plans on letting his playoff performance speak for itself.
” Just playing my role, making sure I’m not letting any chances up against and getting a couple chances on the offensive side, too,” McCann said. “Just playing an all-around game, playing my role and my line’s role is big for me. I’m super, super excited, we have a really good group here and it’s going to be a big, big push in Prince Albert.”
The Tigers hit the road for Games 3 and 4 of the second round in Prince Albert, with Game 3 tonight and Game 4 on Thursday. Associate coach Joe Frazer spoke with the News ahead of the road trip about what it means to have this four players recognized.
“It’s always great to see those guys on the list, it’s not the end all, be all, but all four of those guys have had great seasons,” Frazer said. “All of them have gotten better and better throughout the year and all four are crucial parts to the success we’ve had this year.”
The Tigers’ four were joined by 63 other WHLers ranked by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the NHL draft on June 27 and 28. Across the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL leads the way with the Ontario Hockey League a close second with 64 and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League with 39 players recognized.
Matthew Schaefer, a defenceman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is ranked No. 1 among North American skaters.
