Played on Jan 20, 2026
Game Played in Co-Op Place
General Game Notes: After Calgary opened the scoring, Medicine Hat responded with four goals of their own. The game remained fairly even over the full sixty minutes, but the Tigers dominated the second period, which ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.
Aidan Hesse (G, L, 6’1″, 177, Calgary Hitmen, 02/23/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Hesse blends his size with a relentlessly competitive edge. At his best, he stays around the puck, plays with confidence when holding it, and is not hesitant to shoot. He leans more toward a shooter’s mindset than a playmakers, and his commitment away from the puck, particularly on the defensive side, is a noticeable strength. Meyer is not the player to impress with his extended possession on the puck, rather what he does to get the puck back.
Kaden Meyer (D, L, 6’4″, 188, Calgary Hitmen, 04/05/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Meyer blends his size with a relentlessly competitive edge. At his best, he stays around the puck, plays with confidence when holding it, and is not hesitant to shoot. He leans more toward a shooter’s mindset than a playmakers, and his commitment away from the puck, particularly on the defensive side, is a noticeable strength. Meyer is not the player to impress with his extended possession on the puck, rather what he does to get the puck back.
Axel Hurtig (D, L, 6’5″, 208, Calgary Hitmen, 06/10/2005)
Game Rating
B
Axel Hurtig’s strengths lie in his physical presence and ability to provide a strong defensive factor on the ice. He excels at throwing his body around, making him a formidable force in penalty killing situations and shutdown games. His size and strength allow him to overpower opponents, creating opportunities for turnovers and clears. Hurtig’s consistency and diligence defensively are notable aspects of his game. While he may not be an offensively skilled player, he can provide marginal contributions in this area. However, his tendency to prioritize hits over smart defensive play raises questions about his overall defensive value.
1 Viewing
Comments: Hurtig was able to show that he is effective at tying up sticks around the net, establishes strong positioning along the boards, and uses his frame well to hold space and control body position. He makes life difficult for opponents in front of his net with his physical presence. With the puck, he generally keeps things simple, though he’ll occasionally surprise by jumping into the rush and carrying play up ice But his offensive possession usually ends there.
Andrei Molgachyov (LW, L, 5’10”, 187, Calgary Hitmen, 03/01/2008)
Game Rating
A-
Molgachev showcased impressive skills on the ice, particularly in his speed and agility. He excels at finding space behind the defense and utilizing quick releases to beat the goalie. While smaller in stature, he moves with a fast pace that forces opponents to respect their gaps when he’s on the rush. Notably, his ability to generate power and control is a significant strength. However, he can be vulnerable when forced into stationary situations, inviting contact and struggling with physical play. His shooting ability is also a notable aspect of his game.
1 Viewing
Comments: Down a couple goals, Molgachev scored an absolute rip of a goal. As he got the puck on the half wall, he was given time and space to walk in and that is exactly what he did. With a couple stick handles, he picked his spot, and blew it past the goalie with a wrist shot. Molgachev is a smaller forward but the power he was able to get behind his shot suggests a lot larger of a player. He is quick on his feet and because of this, he is one of the harder players to play against in small areas. He makes smaller areas seem bigger with how quick he can expand his range of motion.
Rylan Ng (RW, R, 5’9″, 157, Calgary Hitmen, 09/22/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Ng won a battle at the net front when it mattered most and scored a goal that put his team within one. He has a knack for slipping into soft spots, particularly on the off-side post, where he often goes unnoticed. He competes hard, finishes checks, and is effective at disrupting and killing plays. While his puck skill is not flashy, he has adequate hands and can consistently deliver a reliable first pass. He is smaller in size and because of this, has a tendency to get pushed around a little bit.
Shaun Hildebrandt (LW, L, 5’10”, 178, Calgary Hitmen, 06/15/2009)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Hildebrandt took advantage of a misplay by the goalie and, as he was in on the four check, pounced on a loose puck, and was able to bury it in the back after the open goal. Just three minutes into the game, this set the tone early. As one of the smaller forwards on his team, Hildebrandt plays with pace, and the scope was a good example of that and how he was able to get on a loose puck so quickly.
Carter Casey (G, L, 6’1″, 179, Medicine Hat Tigers, 12/03/2007, Minnesota)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Casey He does a good job at staying patient in his crease, he avoids flexing out and when scrambling, he stay compact as opposed to flopping all over. He looks like he keeps his eyes on the puck and square to it, forcing shooters to really pick their spots. He could get out of his net more to play the puck, too often tonight the puck was playable and he stayed in the net allowing the other team to set up and sometimes create offensive chances.
Liam Ruck (RW, R, 6’0″, 177, Medicine Hat Tigers, 02/21/2007)
Game Rating
A-
Liam Ruck’s playing style is characterized by his ability to quickly build up speed and effectively skate past defenders. He demonstrates proficient leg extension, which enables him to generate more power and maintain momentum. This combination of straight-line speed and agility allows him to cut in on goalies with difficulty. When shooting from the offensive zone, Ruck shows accuracy in picking corners and releasing pucks. During possession, he employs various tricks and fakes to deceive goalies, making it challenging for them to stay in position.
1 Viewing
Comments: Ruck picked up a nice goal just being a big body in front of the net. As the shot came from the point, he moved in position to be able to get a stick on it, using his frame and size well to outmuscle a smaller defenseman for position at the net. One of the more surprising parts about Rucks game is that he is not the biggest on the ice. He does a lot with the size that he has and plays a hard nosed, tough game, which is why he is able to be so effective at the net front. This is also why he is able to have twenty six goals on the year so far.
Jonas Woo (D, R, 5’9″, 177, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/19/2006, Arizona State)
Game Rating
A-
This defenseman’s skill set revolves around his agility and ability to control the puck in tight spaces. He has a strong offensive mindset, often prioritizing scoring opportunities over defensive responsibilities. In one instance, he scored a goal from the net front on a power play, showcasing his accuracy at the most crucial moment. While he may be on the smaller side, Woo compensates with a tenacious and aggressive playing style, frequently engaging in battles for loose pucks and attempting to deliver hits.
1 Viewing
Comments: Woo scored a very woo goal. Getting a loose puck in the high slot, where he cut a crossed to the the middle, then found a lane and beat the goalie with a bit of a screen. This goal was a great example of why he has twenty four on the season. He shoots the puck at first sight and at any type of quality chance, and does not wait for a better play to open up. He does everything extremely quick, skate, stickhandle, pick his head up to shoot the puck. All three of these are reasons why he has that goal scoring touch. He catches a lot of goalies off guard.
Bryce Pickford (D, R, 6’0″, 192, Medicine Hat Tigers, 04/02/2006)
Game Rating
A-
Bryce Pickford’s unique blend of size and offense allows him to dominate from the back end. He excels at being both mobile and stationary, making it difficult for opponents to find space in his own end. His willingness to take risks on offense often leads to big rewards, as seen when he powered home a wrist shot through a screen. Pickford’s ability to create breakaways with his speed and agility is also a valuable asset. While his positioning skills can be relied upon, there are instances where he can improve his timing and reactiveness in certain situations. Nevertheless, his skating and puck-movement abilities make him an effective transitional defenseman who can contribute to the team’s offense. His strengths lie in the offensive zone, but he shows potential for growth in his defensive zone play.
1 Viewing
Comments: Pickford is one of the better players on the ice. He excels at finding solutions under plays, using space well to extend plays through the neutral zone and offensive zone. His instincts are strong on both sides of the puck, and he was able to show that he is dangerous because of the variety of ways he can beat defenders. At times, consistency can be an issue, as he can drift to the outside or be inconsistent with his engagement level, but the tools and awareness are clearly there.
Andrew Basha (LW, L, 5’11”, 188, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/08/2005)
Game Rating
A-
Andrew Basha has demonstrated a solid all-around game, showcasing his ability to create scoring opportunities with quick releases and precise shot placement. His agility and balance allow him to control his speed effectively, making him a reliable option when skating laterally or off the rush. Basha’s skillset is complemented by his versatility, as he can quickly adapt to changing situations on the ice. By using his mohawk stance, he creates opportunities for himself and makes it challenging for defenders to anticipate his next move.
1 Viewing
Comments: Bashas goal came after a pretty impressive passing play from his entire team, five on five, where he was able to slip backdoor and get the puck with a wide open tap in putting his team up one at the time. Basha has been on a tear since joining the Tigers, and the skillful, smoother skating forward showed why in this goal, he is hard to keep track of. He does a good job at reading the play, staying active, putting himself in a good spot for offense, but his momentum will carry him into his own zone for defense.
Noah Davidson (LW, L, 6’3″, 217, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/01/2008, Boston College)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Davidson was able to find the back of the net for the game winner for the Tigers tonight. The big man sat in front of the net and, while under pressure and in contact, backhanded a loose puck over the goalie’s shoulder. The more impressive part about this goal was how quickly he was able to get it raised over the goalies shoulder. He has the hands of a smaller forward and this helps him when he has the puck at the top of the crease. He finds space in the scoring areas off the puck and is able to use his size and hands to get by defenders to find teammates as well, not afraid to use that size to be physical.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images