Played on Mar 23, 2025
Western Hockey League
Game Played in Scotiabank Saddledome
General Game Notes: This was a closer game than the five to two score suggests. It was the goal and the end of the second period and quickly again at the beginning of the third that put the Tigers officially in the drivers seat if they were not before. The two goals created momentum at the end of the game that was hard for the Hitmen to overcome.
Ben Kindel (C, R, 5’10”, 176, Calgary Hitmen, 04/19/2007)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Kindel scored a nice power move goal on a breakaway where he was able to get his body in front of the chasing defender, protect the puck, and still manage to slip it through the goalie legs. He did all this while not being the biggest player on the ice, but showed that he can manage a steady center of gravity. This was an even more impressive goal considering that the defenseman chasing him had a couple inches on him.
Carson Wetsch (RW, R, 6’1″, 200, Calgary Hitmen, 05/04/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Off a fast break, Wetsch showed some pretty impressive hands with the puck on his backhand, he quickly got it to his forehand and barely missed. The shot and play happened that if the puck went to where he wanted it to, it was a goal. Wetsch showed this quick hand movement in small areas looking to beat players one on one. He has a ton of risk to his game which at times, forced plays to happen but his stick handling is undeniable. Where his game could have improved tonight was just picking his spots better to be fancy.
David Adaszynski (C, L, 5’11”, 195, Calgary Hitmen, 05/25/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Scored a nice goal getting a huge bounce, literally, where the puck landed right at his feet while nine other players were lost. He was able to collect the puck, get his body around it, and shoot it into a wide open net, the goalie was looking elsewhere. This goal was a bit fortuitous but the play started back in his own end where he was able to exit the zone with the puck and create a zone entry. Adaszynski does this well where he plays with pace and gets up and down the ice forcing defensemen back on their gaps.
Harrison Meneghin (G, L, 6’3″, 172, Medicine Hat Tigers, 09/13/2004)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Meneghin was able to show tonight that he is a towering goalie, covering a lot of net naturally and owning the frame most goalies dream of. He has all the requisite athleticism and poise that he blocks a lot of shot that are in a scrum. He does not throw himself out position often giving the shooters at a better chance at scoring. He needs to do a better job with his footwork and get out of the net to play more pucks. He relies on his size and players around him to make saves and get pucks out.
Oasiz Wiesblatt (C, L, 5’7″, 180, Medicine Hat Tigers, 04/08/2004)
Game Rating
A-
Wiesblatt showcases impressive skills in his game, particularly with his shot and stick-handling abilities. When entering the offensive zone, he becomes a formidable threat to opponents, consistently making effective decisions regarding puck possession. He tends to carry the puck through the neutral zone, using his speed and agility to evade defenders. While passing is not uncommon, Wiesblatt prioritizes maintaining control of the puck. His tenacious work ethic and energy level allow him to effectively compete for positioning on the ice.
1 Viewing
Comments: Wiesblatt was able to show tonight, and most nights, that he is an elite play driver, and pairs his elusive skating abilities with an unfathomably high hockey IQ to make something happen every time he in the offensive zone with the puck. His intensely aggressive play style means he the lowest risk player on the ice but he can still hold his own there and contribute in his own end. His defense is simply an afterthought, as whenever he is on the ice the puck is on his stick in the offensive zone about to be a scoring chance either by him or by one of his line mates.
Hunter St.Martin (C, L, 6’1″, 175, Medicine Hat Tigers, 06/13/2005)
Game Rating
B+
The player’s distribution skills are notable, as demonstrated by his four assists on the night. They showcase their ability to read the ice and set up teammates effectively. The player’s arsenal includes a reliable slap-pass, where they aim for a low shot to create a scoring opportunity. When faced with defenders, they excel at using body positioning and stick handling to maintain space.
1 Viewing
Comments: St. Martin was able to show tonight that he is a strong two way forward with excellent instincts and a high hockey IQ, allowing him to process the defensive game at a high level. Offensively he has an above average shot that has allowed him to sustain typically unsustainable scoring chance opportunities most shifts. His defensive play as a center is strong, and he can take on decently tough matchups, but he is the type of player who is best possessing the puck down low and looking to attack the net with surprise. Multiple times tonight he took contact only to spin off a guy and get to the goalie.
Tanner Molendyk (D, L, 6’0″, 187, Medicine Hat Tigers, 02/03/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: The goal that Molendyk scored, might have been the best passing play as a team I have ever seen. With four drop passes, Molendyk was left all alone in the slot where he was able to show off his power and accuracy with his shot. Molendyk plays this way where he is not afraid to jump into the play, and does a good job at picking his spots. Another aspect to his game is that he plays with the same amount of passion in his own zone then he does looking to get points. Where he was at his best was when he was using his feet in the defensive zone to close space quickly on players. He does a good job at meeting the puck on time with the player to not let him have space to make a move.
Bryce Pickford (D, R, 6’0″, 170, Medicine Hat Tigers, 04/02/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Pickford was able to show tonight that he is a good skater with strong puck moving abilities, and the fact that he is able to efficiently join the rush as much as he does and help out with zone exits and zone entries makes him a good transitional defenseman, and contributes to his offensive production. His game is more productive in the offensive zone but he has decent positioning skills and while he can sometimes be too slow to react to a play or make the physical choice to react to an opposing player rather than the best defensive play, he makes up for his with his ability to exit the zone with the puck.
Ethan Neutens (C, R, 6’4″, 206, Medicine Hat Tigers, 05/03/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: More of an unlikely scorer to open the scoring for the Tigers but Nuetens scored a nice goal picking a bouncing puck up in the slot and without stick handling, collected it and shot it over the goalies shoulder. The deception and and how quick his release was, made it hard for the goalie to track. The big guys does a lot of things well like controlling space and being able to be dominant in hard areas like getting a shot off in a contested spot. His foot speed could improve where he can excel down the wall off rushes and use that same type of big mentality and attack the net.
Gavin McKenna (LW, L, 5’11”, 163, Medicine Hat Tigers, 12/20/2007)
Game Rating
A-
Gavin McKenna’s hockey skills are centered around his vision, footwork, and puck handling, making him a formidable opponent anywhere on the ice. He excels at pushing the pace north, creating opportunities for himself and his teammates to exit and enter the zone. While McKenna is effective in battling in all three zones, there is room for improvement in his lower body stability along the wall. At times, he can be easily bumped off the puck or pinned by larger defenders, a challenge that comes with being a younger player.
1 Viewing
Comments: McKenna scored a really nice goal to get his team up by two. He showed how powerful his stride is by shooting out of a cannon in his own zone, winning a lose puck race in the neutral zone and going in one a breakaway where he one handed swiped at the puck beating the goalie through his pads. It was such an impressive individual effort of how much faster he is than a lot of the other players on the ice. He does a good job at using this same pace off the rush where he can add deception with his speed and where he wants to go with the puck next. A lot of the time the defenseman does not know if he wants to pass or drive the net, either way, his skill takes over which is how he is able to create so many scoring chances.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images