Played on Feb 27, 2026
Game Played in Scotiabank Saddledome
Ty Meunier (LW, L, 5’8″, 159, Calgary Hitmen, 08/16/2008, Nebraska Omaha)
Game Rating
B-
Meunier played an energetic game as an energy forward, demonstrating a strong compete level with noticeable motor, hustle, and angling. His skating showed some average qualities, including bursts of acceleration and stride recovery. In transition and zone play, he displayed elements of vision and anticipation, although execution was inconsistent at times. Meunier’s shooting mechanics were solid, with good weight transfer and release, but accuracy was not up to par. He will need to focus on developing his puck skills, such as management, receptions, and passing, in order to build upon his game. With continued refinement, there is potential for growth and improvement in his overall performance.
2 Viewings
Comments: Meunier has shown notable improvement over his WHL career so far. He plays a playmakers game with smooth and efficient puck movement, quality skating, and senses. Meunier’s skating is decent with good skating mechanics, flashes of acceleration, and hints of agility the 2008 born forward can get anywhere he needs positionally, and is a rush asset for Calgary. Meunier blends this skating with consistent stable puck handling, even with pace, as he receives pucks well, has playmakers vision to move plays forward, and stable short passing ability and placement that makes the young forward a quality play connector at the WHL level. Even on the defensive Meunier knows how to use his stick as he blocks lanes and passing options with his always-on active stick and scanning ability. Meunier’s senses also stood out in this game, with stable play reads, route creativity, and offensive awareness. He had a good sequence in the second with 5:50 left, where he used his pace, puck skills, and senses to create a good centering scoring chance for one of his teammates. Compete level projected closer to average in this game by all regards. Physicality (board play effectiveness, and playing through contact) remain areas of growth for Meunier, along with amplifying his offensive creativity and showing his playmaking more consistently to find greater success at the WHL level.
Landon Amrhein (RW, R, 6’5″, 192, Calgary Hitmen, 04/06/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Amrhein had a capable game for the Hitmen, even getting a secondary assist on the Hitmen’s first goal. He plays an honest game with good pace, and plenty of soft skill. His game is best defined as a power-forward with a bit of an adjustment period and is highlighted by a high compete level, decent senses, and quality puck skills. He showed good hustle, and responsible positioning throughout all of his transitional shifts, and blended this with clear awareness, and cautious but capable play reading ability. Defensively Amrhein employs good angles of attack, evident lane management, and minor defensive pressure exertion that was generally effective. Decent puck control and protection on his puck touches throughout, and can move plays forward. His skating does project below average, as he has awkward stride recovery, and issues with power generation that is characteristic of players still getting use to their larger frames. He could be a prime candidate to have a breakout season in the WHL next year.
Rylan Ng (RW, R, 5’9″, 157, Calgary Hitmen, 09/22/2008)
Game Rating
C+
Rylan Ng’s game is characterized by a strong focus on playmaking, with improved defensive skills that showcase his ability to manage space effectively. He demonstrates a high energy level on the forecheck, using his motor and presence to generate pressure, although his positioning and spatial awareness still need growth. On offense, Ng shows good timing and option awareness, consistently making safe decisions and pushing the pace of play. His skating has improved significantly since last viewing, with notable strides in lateral acceleration, stride recovery, and elusiveness. While he lacks physicality, Ng’s puck skills are a highlight, particularly in terms of his ability to handle the puck in tight spaces. However, his shooting mechanics require work, and he tends to rely on power rather than finesse.
3 Viewings
Comments: Ng had a slightly better game this time around. He continues to play a playmakers game with defensive upside. Ng’s game was best highlighted by his defensive senses, and puck skills in this one. Skating continues to improve from where it was at the start of the season, but his busy feet were more evident, and his acceleration looked more tame then it normally was. Defensively he employs an active stick, shows good puck tracking, and overall awareness that it makes him an asset in his own zone, in transition, and even on the penalty kill. Ng also has lots of transferable defensive habits like positioning, space management, and a commitment to finish all defensive zone assignments and responsibilities before thinking offensive efforts. On the offensive side of the puck Ng shines as a play connector with solid puck skills through his sometimes elusive handling mechanics, lane creation, and pass placement that regularly moves plays forward for his club on the breakout. In the offensive zone NG showed some playmaking and vision upside, but was most stable in his bumper and cycle support roles where he adequately facilitated plays for the Hitmen. Compete level looked a bit uncharacteristically below average in this one, and offensively he struggled with play reads, and play anticipation that reduced his quality of playmaking in this one as well.
Shaun Hildebrandt (LW, L, 5’10”, 178, Calgary Hitmen, 06/15/2009)
Game Rating
B-
Hildebrandt showcased a solid two-way forward skillset, with notable playmaking upside. His skating ability is somewhat average, with room for growth in terms of power and edge work. In defensive transitions, he demonstrated good space management and stick control, exerting effective defensive pressure. On offense, his active stick and high hockey IQ allowed him to generate scoring chances, showcasing strong lane creation and manipulation skills. He displayed excellent playmaking instincts, scanning frequency, and shooting ability, making him a threat on the ice. However, his compete level was somewhat average, with hints of lacking confidence in physicality and puck skills. The player’s overall game seems to be held back by confidence issues, but there are promising signs of growth potential.
2 Viewings
Comments: Hildebrandt continues to adjust nicely to the WHL in his rookie season. The 2009 born forward continues to play a two-way forwards game with hints of play making. This game really demonstrated some of his hard skill, senses, and honest work ethic. Skating still projects around average by all regards, but should improve as the player continues to age up, and build more muscle mass. His shining element in this game was his compete level, as he is relentless on pucks, with good retrievals, hard battles, and heavy play engagement in all three zones. His motor also continues to shine as he remains active and engaged in every single play, and he is starting to get a jump on plays with further growth in his play reading, and pressure awareness. Shined on the forecheck in this game, with good lane awareness, play disruption, and kept up with pace well. In the defensive zone Hildebrandt displays good risk mitigation, the start of effective defensive pressure (through angles and space usage), and this blends nicely with his grit, and relentless pursuit of inside body positioning. This physicality and compete level transitioned to his offensive play quite well too, as he was not scared to get to the dirtier areas of the ice, and support key offensive plays effectively. Offensive senses remain an area of growth, but the young forward is showing real promise in terms of hockey IQ, and offensive awareness. Hildebrandt’s shot selection and shooting power continues to be an area of growth for the forward.
Luc Trevors (LW, L, 5’11”, 174, Calgary Hitmen, 01/20/2006)
Game Rating
C+
Trevors’ game is characterized by his ability to push the pace of play in all three zones. He showcases quality puck skills, which are complemented by decent skating. His strengths lie in his compete level and physicality, allowing him to support plays and exert control on the ice. Trevors excels at getting to dirty areas of the ice and demonstrates good body positioning awareness. His hard skills pair well with his puck skills, showcasing good on-ice vision and stable decision making. He is a consistent breakout asset and play supporter.
2 Viewings
Comments: Trevors continues to play and energy inspired depth role for the Hitmen, and this game once again exemplified that. What he does really well is push the pace and support his teammates in all three zones quietly and effectively. His hard skill game particularly stands out with advanced physicality, compete level, and adequate skating. Skating does project around average by all regards for Trevors, but this neither detracts or adds to his play, and this skating can further along elements like his breakouts where he does continue to display basic handling, and control under pressure. Really the highlights of his game though is his defensive play with a high compete level, and quality physicality. He has a higher end work rate, that Trevors blends with hustle, defensive pressure, and a slightly above average motor that makes opponents know he is there without a doubt. He also battles hard in the dirty areas, has good stability, can play through contact, and displays just how well he uses his frame and mass to protect the puck along the boards in the offensive zone. He is a key play supporter for the Hitmen in their bottom six, and he plays that role well. Areas of growth for the 2006 born forward include his senses (creativity, instincts, and anticipation), as he is a play supporter, but struggles to create on his own.
Liam Ruck (RW, R, 6’0″, 177, Medicine Hat Tigers, 02/21/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Liam Ruck showcased a well-rounded skill set in his recent game, displaying strong playmaking abilities through high-quality senses and decent puck skills. In defensive transition, he attempted to apply pressure by closing gaps and angling, while also demonstrating some lane awareness and risk awareness in the defensive zone. His most impressive performance came in offensive transition, where he excelled at handling, passing, and identifying options. Ruck displayed good on-ice vision, route creation, and spatial awareness, which benefited his puck distribution. While there were minor issues with hand-eye coordination when shooting, Ruck’s overall hockey IQ, decision-making, and positioning were notable strengths. As the forward matures, improvements in physicality, power generation, and top-end speed are expected to enhance his game. His growth in muscle mass and frame should also improve his body positioning and leverage.
2 Viewings
Comments: L. Ruck is one of the most consistent offensive generators for this Tigers team. He is a highly dangerous sniper with pace, senses, and deceptive shooting that makes him a threat every single time that he has the puck. One of the first elements that stand out about L. Ruck is his skating deception as he implements cutbacks, agility, and route creation effortlessly, which amplifies his rate of acceleration, and clean mechanics to be even more dangerous then they already are. Offensively L. Ruck shines as he always knows where exactly to be, making him a positional coverage nightmare for any defenders, and with his higher end scan frequency, and offensive awareness he can be quite the effective opportunist for the Tigers as this game demonstrated. He was prone to making flashy manipulative plays that are almost highlight reel worthy, but can over do it at times needlessly complicating breakouts, but his results more than make up for it. He is equal parts handler on the breakout, and play jumper, which hints at good play anticipation as well. L. Ruck was debatably the most dangerous in established offensive zone plays, where his high frequency shooting was a consistent threat for the Hitmen due to its lightning quick release point, deceptive puck placement, and just sheer volume. His puck skills do need some refinement with a rawer passing ability, and protection/control issues leading to semi-frequent turnovers down-low in the offensive zone. His role as a finisher for Medicine Hat more than makes up for this though. Compete level projects around average.
Markus Ruck (C, L, 6’0″, 167, Medicine Hat Tigers, 02/21/2008)
Game Rating
B+
Markus Ruck consistently demonstrates his ability to excel in various situations on the ice, showcasing his strong senses, compete level, and effective skating. His agility, stride, and power generation have improved significantly, allowing him to be a versatile player who can adapt to different roles. Ruck’s puck skills are also noteworthy, with solid handling, passing, and playmaking abilities. In this game report, Ruck was more of a play facilitator than a driver of plays, but his ability to read the game and make smart decisions is evident. While he had some physicality in the defensive zone, his skating is still slightly below average, particularly in terms of stride and acceleration. With continued development, Ruck has the potential to become an even more effective player.
3 Viewings
Comments: M. Ruck is an all around solid playmaking forward for the Medicine Hat Tigers, and this game once again confirms his versatility. His game is best exemplified by his quality puck skills, and offensive senses, which make him an asset in both transition and established zone play. His skating projects around average as he has a narrower base, and limitations in top end acceleration, and edgework. On the defensive end of the puck M. Ruck really stood out in this one on the forecheck, as he forced Hitmen defenders into bad decisions, capitalized with his active stick, and found two in-tight all alone chances at the very front of the slot, but was not able to finish on either. He also employed this active stick in the defensive zone and took away some chance opportunity for Calgary. Where M. Ruck stood out the most was as a play connector and distributor on the offensive side of the puck. M. Ruck’s puck skills particularly shined with poise under pressure, quick lane/play identification, and confident decision that matched with smooth passing ability. He particularly had good success at drawing in pressure and then passing to a teammate either on the other side of the rink or crashing the net, which hinted at good understanding of pass timing, and playmaking attempts. As exemplified by his forecheck and playmaking examples M. Ruck demonstrated quality situational awareness, offensive instincts, and flashes of hockey IQ, as he rarely forces plays and is a natural creator for the Tigers. Around average compete level by all regards though. Areas of improvement include his skating, and shooting as he lacked a finishing touch, whiffed on a handful of blatant chances, and has below average accuracy. His physicality also projects below average with lower hit efficiency, and less effective hitting form, but this does not detract from his overall playmaking game.
Bryce Pickford (D, R, 6’0″, 192, Medicine Hat Tigers, 04/02/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Pickford plays an engaged and offensively active role for the Tigers to the tee, and he excels as a mobile, puck moving defender who frequently creates scoring chances both off the rush and in established zone play. His game is one of a versatile offensive minded defender, and is further articulated by quality skating, senses, shooting, and compete level. Skating wise Pickford is a highly 4-way mobile defender with good clean mechanics, higher end speed/breakout ability, and unique route creation that made every single rush a threat. His activation frequency is also second to none on the Tigers as Pickford shows good good timing, spatial awareness, and higher end offensive instincts that are articulated best through his pace and play processing speed at high speeds. In the offensive zone Pickford is a constant shooting threat with a high end shot that echoes deception, a snappy release, and high end shot placement. Areas of improvement for Pickford include his defensive senses (awareness, instincts, and defensive scan frequency), and around average puck skills especially in terms of his puck movement, and dekes.
Andrew Basha (LW, L, 5’11”, 188, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/08/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Since being sent back from the Wranglers Basha has been lighting up the WHL. This game was no different. From his skating, senses, and puck skills Basha continues to work hard, and generate high frequency scoring chances that both excel on the rush and in the offensive zone. Basha has few holes in his game at the CHL level from his skating, puck skills, senses, compete, and even physicality. The overager is a pace driver every single shift he’s on the ice. His play processing and speed make him a hockey IQ weapon in breakouts, and for quick attack plays crashing the net or passing into high danger areas. Skating base is the most projectable to the professional levels as he has good mechanics, clean crossover integration, and obvious separation speed, along with his passing ability and high end hockey IQ. He was a threat that the Hitmen could barely contain this game.
Noah Davidson (LW, L, 6’3″, 217, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/01/2008, Boston College)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Davidson had another stellar game for the Tigers in. Davidson plays a solid power-forward game. His game is highlighted by decent skating, compete level, and physical. His skating gives the larger frame of Davidson more mobility, and elements of elusiveness through a decent stride, ok acceleration, and good space usage. This mobility was best exemplified in this game with 17:35 left in the second when the 2008 born forward had a partial break away. Defensively Davidson plays a hard gritty two-way game that is fueled by his compete level (pace, hustle, second efforts, and pressure absorption), and physicality (grit, physical engagement rate, and good muscle mass). These second efforts and physicality elements were evident in the offensive zone on the power play and even strength where Davidson was a consistent net front presence who battled hard, supported plays, and aided the Medicine Hat cycle down low. He was rewarded with a goal that deflected in off of him, for the Tigers first goal of the game. The biggest barriers to Davidson’s game in this one was his senses where his play anticipation, and play reading project around average leading to limitations in play creation, driving, and innovations if it was not obvious. Puck skills also projected around average as his decision making showed some hesitations, decent passing ability, and capable option awareness, especially on the breakout where he used pace and space well to support his linemates. Davidson could be a selection at this next NHL draft, but either way expect a breakout season next year from the gritty forward.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images