Played on Oct 25, 2025
Game Played in Prospera Place
General Game Notes: The hometown Kelowna Rockets jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but could not hold off the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers, who prevailed 4-3 in overtime. Carson Wetsch led the way for the Rockets with a goal and two assists. The Tigers had four different goal scorers with the winner going to Dayton Reschny in overtime. Carter Casey was very good in net for the Tigers, making 37 saves on 40 shots.
Mazden Leslie (D, R, 6’1″, 201, Kelowna Rockets, 04/15/2005)
Game Rating
B-
Leslie’s performance showcased his dynamic playmaking ability, consistently creating scoring opportunities with his high-energy style. His impressive mobility allowed him to navigate the ice effectively, while his one-timer proved potent on the power play. He demonstrated increased physicality this game, winning puck battles and utilizing solid body positioning during races for the puck. Leslie’s two-way game is taking shape, with excellent poise and decision-making evident in both offense and defense. His hockey IQ and vision are valuable assets, particularly in the defensive zone where he effectively used the middle 10-foot bump pass to facilitate seamless breakouts. He also showed impressive skating and passing skills, using his speed and puck control to create scoring chances.
1 Viewing
Comments: Leslie (2005, 6′) is an undrafted right-shot defenseman who logs heavy minutes (33+ in this game) and profiles as an offensively driven blueliner: he consistently jumps into the attack and looks to make plays from the top of the zone, where he is a mainstay on the Rockets’ top power play and also trusted on the penalty kill. He’s a good skater in terms of edgework and agility, though his top-end speed is good rather than dynamic. In this outing he showed a more physical edge—finishing checks with authority—and finished with a respectable 53% win rate in battles, but the game also exposed weaknesses: his retrievals were inconsistent and he struggled to deliver a reliable first pass at times, limiting his ability to consistently jumpstart transition. Overall, a high-usage, offensively inclined defensemen with physicality and special-teams value who would benefit from cleaner retrievals and crisper outlet passing.
Levi Benson (LW, L, 5’7″, 156, Kelowna Rockets, 10/04/2007)
Game Rating
B
Benson showcased a promising skill set in his recent game, displaying an ability to step up in crucial situations and create offensive chances with his speed and quickness. His puck-handling skills are particularly noteworthy, allowing him to navigate through tight spaces effectively. While he may not be the most physically dominant player, Benson’s cerebral approach to the game enables him to make effective plays when he has possession of the puck.
1 Viewing
Comments: Benson (5’7′, 155 lb), a draft-eligible left wing, is a a competitive, high-energy winger who plays with urgency despite his size. He is a good skater with strong top-end speed and quickness, uses his speed to enter the zone effectively and to pressure opponents on the forecheck; he’s persistent on the puck chase and willingly battles along the boards and in front of the net, posting respectable battle-win numbers (~43%) for his size. Benson displays reliable puck skills, poise with the puck and patience in possession, and shows the instincts to navigate through traffic as the late guy on power-play breakouts — he earns time on the second PP unit. In this game he logged just over 16 minutes, demonstrating he can handle middle-six minutes reliably while bringing energy, compete level and smart offensive support.
Carson Wetsch (RW, R, 6’1″, 201, Kelowna Rockets, 05/04/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Wetsch, a San Jose draft pick, is a high-effort, ultra-consistent competitor who reliably delivers hard, physical minutes — logged 23+ minutes in this outing — and plays with a purposeful motor every shift. He’s a good skater with good top-end speed which he uses effectively to beat defensemen to the outside, protect the puck and consistently drive to the net; he also creates chaos from behind the goal line by taking the puck to the net and is effective in tight, physical wall battles (55% success rate). Though he’d been a bit snake-bitten around the crease recently, he did what he does best in this game — battled to the front of the net and finished on a tip-in — showing he’ll eventually get rewarded for his work and minutes.
Will Sharpe (D, L, 6’0″, 197, Kelowna Rockets, 03/07/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Sharpe is a smooth-skating defenseman with impressive offensive skills and instincts. He demonstrated an ability to effectively reduce risk in his defensive play, opting to pick his spots rather than aggressively jumping into every opportunity. His skating ability and puck-handling skills are noteworthy, allowing him to be evasive with the puck and join the offense seamlessly. Sharpe’s versatility is also highlighted by his effectiveness on the left side of defense while playing right-side, showcasing a well-rounded skill set that includes good gap control in the neutral zone and solid puck skills. However, he tends to prioritize offense over defense at times, particularly in one-on-one situations, where he circles instead of making quicker stop-and-start transitions. To elevate his game, Sharpe will need to focus on defensive priorities, such as maintaining position, communicating with teammates, and making smart decisions without the puck. With continued development in these areas, he has the potential to become a dynamic two-way player at the next level.
1 Viewing
Comments: Sharpe (6’0′, 195 lb, left shot); Los Angeles draft pick) is an offensively inclined defender whose defensive side of the game has noticeably improved—his timing to jump into plays is smarter, making him a far more reliable 5-on-5 option; he logged 27+ minutes in this outing. A very smooth, explosive skater who reaches top speed quickly, Sharpe complements his mobility with strong puck skills and clean passing, yet he’s rarely forcing jumping in and chooses his moments much better. He brings a physical edge, competes hard along the boards (55% of battles won this season), and is trusted on both the top power-play unit and on the penalty kill, projecting as a player that is developing into someone with a good opportunity at the highest level.
Carter Casey (G, L, 6’1″, 179, Medicine Hat Tigers, 12/03/2007, Minnesota)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Casey (2007, 6’2′, Univ. of Minnesota commit) put together a very good performance, winning the game making 37 saves on 40 shots (19-of-21 in the opening period) and showing the athleticism and leg speed that define his game. He displays explosive lateral movement and quickness down low well while not losing his net and rebound control, rarely losing sight of the puck even when moving. Aggressive and competitive in the crease, he consistently battles for loose pucks. He was comfortable getting out of his net to play pucks in the trapezoid — where he had some success. One blemish came on a hard wrister by Kelowna’s sniper Poletin who, while moving east west through the slot, beat him low on the blocker side; otherwise his positional play, puck-handling willingness, and athletic saves made him the clear difference in this win.
Kadon McCann (LW, L, 6’3″, 202, Medicine Hat Tigers, 03/25/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: McCann (6’3′, 200 lb), is a physically mature 2007-born left center who skates well though his top-end speed is average; his puck skills are serviceable but he occasionally overhandles the puck, which in this game led to turnovers and disrupted tape-to-tape passing thus inconsistency making plays. He’s at his best as a disruptive forechecker and a willing, effective body-checker all over the ice, showing real value on the penalty kill and in 5 on 5 minutes (17+ TOI this game). On the power play he was a strong net-front presence — difficult to move and able to free a stick for a tipped goal — and he wins draws at a strong clip (57% this season) while also posting roughly a 55% success rate in board battle success. Overall a physical, two-way center with net-front power-play utility and clear areas to clean up decision-making and puck management.
Kyle Heger (D, L, 6’1″, 193, Medicine Hat Tigers, 09/21/2007, Western Michigan)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Heger (late 2007) is a 6’0′, 193-lb draft-eligible defenseman who stands out for his quickness, hockey IQ and mobility; a smooth, dependable skater who consistently shows the ability to jump into the play in the offensive zone, timing his entries across the blue line to find open space. He pairs very good puck skills with excellent vision, patience and poise, rarely missing passing lanes and routinely delivering quick, hard flat pass to relieve pressure or spring teammates — one sequence saw him gain the offensive blue, slow the play and thread a neat pass through the defenders triangle to create a scoring chance. He seemed confident with his skating ability, as he would consistently be up in the Neutral Zone and have a tight gap while defending. He was good in front of his own net, using an effective two hands on his stick technique to box out attackers. He logged 20+ minutes a night, is trusted on the penalty kill, takes the ice confidently when space is available and is an active communicator on the ice, projecting as a reliable two-way blueliner with playmaking upside.
Yaroslav Bryzgalov (LW, L, 6’4″, 216, Medicine Hat Tigers, 03/23/2007, Merrimack)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Bryzgalov (6’3′, 215 lb) is a late-2007 draft-eligible left wing committed to Merrimack College who projects as a hard-working, complementary forward capable of giving quality minutes. He skates well for his size with average top-end speed but good mobility and edge work, allowing him to protect the puck while moving or when stationary along the walls; he would benefit from improving his first step and overall speed. Defensively reliable and physical, he consistently finishes checks — in this game he posted an 80+% battle success rate (58% on the season) — and routinely wins puck battles and goes to the hard areas to score. He isn’t a primary driver of the attack but provides dependable two-way minutes and logged over 18 minutes of ice time in this contest.
Liam Ruck (RW, R, 6’0″, 177, Medicine Hat Tigers, 02/21/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Ruck is a hard-working draft eligible right winger who does many things well: a strong, composed skater with excellent edge work that allows him to win and sustain wall battles, spin off contact and quickly make plays; he pairs good overall speed with decent quickness to drive possession and support both offensively and defensively. He shows reliable puck skills and creativity in tight areas — notably pickpocketing a defender behind the net with a quick stick lift and immediately creating net-front danger — and demonstrated physical savvy in using strength and body position to fend off a bigger opponent in a foot race and spring a two-on-one. Defensively he is dependable, using smart stops-and-starts to close lanes and maintain coverage, and he has shot tools to finish — evidenced by a well-released effort that rang off the crossbar on an offensive-zone draw. Overall he projects as a high-effort, two-way middle-six wing who impacts games through competitiveness, physical play, and confident puck skills.
Markus Ruck (C, L, 6’0″, 167, Medicine Hat Tigers, 02/21/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Ruck is a smart, reliable two-way center whose high hockey IQ and positional awareness make him a go-to player — extremely responsible in all zones, rarely losing his assignment in the defensive end and consistently reading play around him. He’s a good skater, though he lacks elite top-end speed and would benefit from improving his overall quickness. Offensively he’s a high-level setup man with excellent vision rather than an elite finisher; that vision was evident on a Tigers power-play sequence where he rolled off the boards to the top and ripped a quick shot through traffic that was deflected for a goal. In the game he logged over 18 minutes, played on the top power-play and penalty-kill units, posted battle numbers that were less than adequate at under 40% that night (though he’s over 50% on the season), and was strong on draws — winning 70% of faceoffs in that contest. Overall a dependable, playmaking center who can be relied on in key situations while needing a bit more explosiveness to impact the game with burst. A player that does many things well, makes him a very good prospect at the next level.
Noah Davidson (LW, L, 6’3″, 217, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/01/2008, Boston College)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Davidson (late 2008) is a big-bodied center at 6’3′, 215 lbs, committed to Boston College, who projects as a high-upside two-way pivot thanks to his size, surprising skating for his frame and strong faceoff numbers (near 60% on the season). He displays decent top-end speed and good puck-handling and vision, capable of making plays when engaged, but in this outing he too often stalled with the puck, failed to consistently move his feet or move pucks quickly to exploit open teammates, and did not fully leverage his skating. Despite the physical tools, he struggled to impose himself in board battles—winning only about 30% in this game (40% on the season)—and logged just over 10 minutes, his lowest ice time this year; overall he needs seasoning to adapt to the pace and heavy, competitive play demanded at this level (and the next) but has the frame, tools and overall ability to develop into a reliable top-six center with playing at a higher pace with both his feet and making plays.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images