Played on Feb 21, 2026
Game Played in Co-Op Place
General Game Notes: This was such an even game that needed overtime to decide the winner. Both teams scored three goals consecutively on each other making this for a pretty exciting finish. Medicine Hat had the edge, but Lethbridge had the opportunity, having seven power plays tonight and only converting on two of them.
Leif Oaten (G, L, 6’1″, 193, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 10/03/2009)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Despite the loss, Oaten played a great game that kept the game close when the Tigers were peppering him with shots. With almost forty shots on the net, Oaten had to make a ton of saves to keep it a one goal game. He reacts quickly and gets back into position to get square to second chance opportunities. He challenges shooters and showed confidence in making the first shot, little more help from his defenseman on a couple of the goals, this game might have had a different ending.
Tyden Lafournaise (C, R, 6’0″, 183, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 03/17/2009)
Game Rating
B+
Lafournaise displayed a strong scoring ability, as evidenced by his goal in the second period. He exhibited pace and energy throughout the game, making an effort to stay active on the ice. However, he also showed some youthful impulsiveness, often handling the puck with jitters and occasionally committing mistakes such as throwing pucks away or losing coverage in his own zone. His decision-making at the blue lines was inconsistent, resulting in turnovers that did not always pay off.
1 Viewing
Comments: Lafournaise found a way to tuck one in, shooting the puck from literally the goal line. The goalie gave him puck width and Lafournaise snuck one in to open the scoring for his team. His goal is indicative of the type of player that he is, which is smaller, agile, and stays on the perimeter but has the ability to sneak behind the defenders and get lost in traffic. He plays with a ton of risk in his game and has the need to challenge players one on one when he has the mobility to get around them. This causes unforced turnovers and less puck possession time in the offensive zone. He needs to add another level of scrappiness to his game.
Easton Daneault (C, R, 5’8″, 161, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 04/23/2008, Merrimack)
Game Rating
B+
Daneault is a pass-first forward who excels when given space to operate. He is strong on the puck and uses physical play to create time and space. While his smaller stature might be an area of focus for him, it’s clear that he’s made effective use of his size advantage in other ways.
1 Viewing
Comments: Daneault put his team within one from a flanker shot that beat the goalie, low blocker. The shot was quick, with a quick stick handle and release but put it in a place that made it hard for the goalie to have a chance. Daneault is a smaller player but tries to use that to his advantage where he floats around the perimeter, hoping to get lost in the traffic, and then darts to an open area using his speed and agility to pop out at the right time. His hands and feet work at the same speed, but sometimes his decision making does not. No doubt, he scored a nice goal, but he tends to take too much on, wanting to create the highlight real play when the simple pass is most likely there.
Oli Chenier (C, R, 5’10”, 185, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 01/26/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Chenier’s defensive play was highlighted by his physicality and smart decision-making, allowing him to effectively manage penalties. He demonstrated a solid understanding of his role as a defensive forward, making him a reliable presence on the ice. Chenier’s ability to persevere and give maximum effort in every shift was notable, with multiple instances of him battling for position and finding ways to win the battle.
1 Viewing
Comments: Chenier tied the game for his team with a cheeky little chip shot all alone at the net front that beat the goalie over the glove. Somehow he was left all alone and was given the opportunity to show off his stick handling ability, and with that, beat the goalie in tight. One of the better parts of his game tonight was just his overall compete level. He does a good job at pushing the pace to another level. Couple times tonight, he went out of his way defensively to make the big hit, taking himself out of the play.
Riley Steen (D, L, 5’11”, 152, Medicine Hat Tigers, 09/07/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Steen was able to show tonight that he is a big body and a reliable presence on the backhand for the Tigers. There are times where he will pick his feet up and look to be a part of a late wave rush, but for the most part his game lies in shutting down cycles in his own zone looking to create transition hockey going the other way. He will play the body, but he has an active stick that always seems to do a good job at disrupting shots on net or small area passes. With a pass first approach. He is at his best when he i first on puck, shoulder checks before possession, and snaps it to a teammate with pace heading the other way.
Kadon McCann (LW, L, 6’3″, 202, Medicine Hat Tigers, 03/25/2007)
Game Rating
A-
Kadon McCann showcases a well-rounded skill set that makes him a formidable opponent on the ice. His ability to win battles for position and create turnovers in his own end allows for quick transitions to offense. McCann’s speed and agility enable him to cover a lot of ground, making it difficult for opponents to catch up to him. When given space, he uses his size and lateral movement to his advantage, making him a threat at the net front. His hands are soft and allow him to manipulate the puck in tight spaces. While McCann excels when he can use his speed to drive past defenders, his struggles to find consistency in his shooting create some limitations.
1 Viewing
Comments: McCann showed tonight that he does a lot for his team, but for anyone willing to drop the gloves and fight, deserves recognition, especially in a game where your team wins by one goal. He brings so much to the table with offensive ability, defensive ability, and using his size to be an enforcing unit in all three zones of the ice. He skates well for his size and has the mobility to break the puck out on his own, which he showed multiple times. He does not back down from a battle, obviously with his fight tonight, but works hard defensively to pin guys along the boards and can keep up with smaller, more agile defensemen.
Yaroslav Bryzgalov (LW, L, 6’4″, 216, Medicine Hat Tigers, 03/23/2007, Merrimack)
Game Rating
A-
Bryzgalov’s physicality is a notable aspect of his game, allowing him to throw his weight around and create space for himself and teammates. He demonstrated the ability to play multiple positions on the ice, providing energy and agitating opponents. Notably, he displayed quick hands, finishing plays with shots that found their mark. Bryzgalov’s strength and balance on his skates enable him to be a dominant force in various situations. His ability to identify when to use physicality effectively is a key aspect of his game, while maintaining position remains a challenge at times. Footwork issues can lead to difficulties playing defense one-on-one against quicker opponents.
1 Viewing
Comments: Bryzgalov opened the scoring with a lucky bounce where he got the puck in the slot and probably should have shot but decided to pass. The pass went off someone else’s stick and snuck between the goalies legs. Bryzgalov is a huge body where you can tell the comfortability of other players not creating contact on him sometimes affects his game, and this goal is a good example of that. He does not feel the pressure to shoot the puck and has all the time in the world to pass it, when he should probably let his powerful shot get to the net. Ironic part about this goal is that it ended up being a shot on net when you did not want it to be.
Liam Ruck (RW, R, 6’0″, 177, Medicine Hat Tigers, 02/21/2007)
Game Rating
A-
Liam Ruck’s game is characterized by his physical presence in front of the net, where he utilizes his size and frame to create scoring opportunities. His ability to outmuscle smaller opponents for position allows him to get a stick on shots from the point. Despite not being one of the biggest players on the ice, Ruck plays a hard-nosed game that enables him to be effective at the net front. Ruck’s straight-line speed is notable, as he effectively skates past defenders and extends his legs to generate power for acceleration. He can also cut inside, making it difficult for opponents to defend against him. When in possession of the puck, Ruck uses clever tricks and fakes to deceive goalies and create scoring chances.
1 Viewing
Comments: Rucks goal was the best goal of the night, showing why he is one of the best players not only in the game but in the league. As he attacked downhill on the power play with a little time and space, he still shot the pump from a distance and showed his ability to pick a corner. Rucks movement with the puck makes him a threat at all times because his head is up and his deception is on another level. He will pull the puck into his body, looking like he is going to shoot, and right before he does, dish it outside, drawing all the defenders to him and opening up the ice for his teammate. When he does play with his brother, their chemistry is clear and adds another dynamic element to their game that is hard to defend.
Dayton Reschny (LW, L, 5’10”, 162, Medicine Hat Tigers, 06/24/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Clearly being screened, the goalie had no chance for this Reschny wrist shot from the point. Reschny drifted back to the blue line and let a putt go with a ton of traffic throughout the entire lane, all the way to the net, the goalie did not even move when I hit the back of the net. Great awareness of this goal to understand that multiple different layers of traffic were at the net, making it the right opportunity to get a puck to that area whether hard or not, just simply getting it into that space makes it a quality chance. Reschny showed solid skating ability in small areas, with his agility, making him a hard player to be physical against.
Carter Cunningham (LW, R, 6’2″, 187, Medicine Hat Tigers, 01/11/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Cunningham definitely fits in more of a role player with some of the lines that the Tigers put together. But he does have a role to play when the offense is moving and cycling the puck hard. He is a huge body who demands space at the net front and does a good job at retrieving pucks that usually start an extended offensive zone possession episode. Cunningham was his best tonight when looking to disrupt with his body, but also not forgetting about the puck. At times, he stares down the defender, knowing that physical contact is going to be made when there is a puck play also to be made. When he does get it, he makes it hard for smaller opponents to take it from him.
Bryce Pickford (D, R, 6’0″, 192, Medicine Hat Tigers, 04/02/2006)
Game Rating
A
Bryce Pickford is a skilled defenseman who excels at finding creative solutions on the ice. He possesses strong instincts and awareness, allowing him to beat defenders in various ways. While consistency can be an issue at times, Pickford’s tools and positioning are well-suited for his role. His unique combination of size and offensiveness makes him a threat from the back end. Pickford is able to take risks and capitalize on scoring opportunities, often with ease. He does a good job creating transition hockey, making it difficult for forecheckers to keep up. However, he can be selective in his participation in plays, sometimes choosing to stay back rather than engaging. One of Pickford’s strengths lies in his skating and puck-moving abilities, which enable him to efficiently join the rush and contribute to zone exits and entries. While there is room for improvement in terms of reading plays and reacting quickly, Pickford makes up for it with his ability to exit the zone with the puck. His game is more productive in the offensive zone, but he shows decent positioning skills.
1 Viewing
Comments: Pickford is just overall the best player on the ice. There are games where he is not the best player in that game, but you can tell. He is ready for the next level, based on the intelligence he has and the understanding of the flow of the game. With two points tonight, he was able to show how offensively he can be as a defenseman. Where he separates himself from other offensive defensemen is how well he can find the back of the net. He shoots the puck often and with a purpose. He is intentional with his offensive engine, but this does not take away from his ability to defend in his own end. It is hard to tell what position he actually plays, there are times where he ends up at the net front, banging away at a rebound.
Andrew Basha (LW, L, 5’11”, 188, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/08/2005)
Game Rating
A-
Andrew Basha’s skillset on the ice is highlighted by his ability to read the play and put himself in scoring positions. His smooth skating allows him to stay active and agile, making it difficult for defenders to keep up with him. He excels at controlling his speed and direction, often using clever cuts to create multiple options. Basha’s passing play awareness is also a strength, as he can effectively receive passes and capitalize on them.
1 Viewing
Comments: One of the better aspects of Bashas game is that he can fill multiple different roles throughout a night. He has so many tools in his bag that make him effective in a lot of different situations. He sees the ice well making a couple different area passes allowing his teammates to skate into the play with pace. He does not chase a lot in his own end and understands the positioning aspect being ready to attack a different players, not giving all his attention to one player.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images