Played on Jan 9, 2026
Game Played in Co-Op Place
Kadon McCann (LW, L, 6’3″, 202, Medicine Hat Tigers, 03/25/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Kadon is a gritty power forward who understands his role and loves to finish his checks. With his long reach, Kadon forces wins in battles by using his body to shield the puck or knock opponents off it. His game is centered around hard work, finishing plays by going to the net and creating traffic and chaos. He is a responsible center, making sure to stay above the play in the offensive zone and below it defensively. At 6’3′, he has a long, powerful stride but lacks fluidity through his edges. This also affects stamina, as his size leads to shorter shifts. His goal early in the third period was well earned, burying a rebound at the net. His effort and consistency were rewarded.
Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll (RW, R, 6’0″, 187, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/26/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Schaefer is a skater. He zips around the ice and never stops his feet unless it is to give or receive contact. He excels in all areas of skating, including edge work, stride length, and agility. He also brings effort and determination, consistently being first on pucks in all three zones. While he is not a gritty, tough player, his constant pressure makes him a pest that opposing defensemen would rather not deal with. Offensively, he can spring from the defensive zone and get behind defenders, which is exactly what he did through the neutral zone when he was slashed to earn a penalty shot. Schaefer showed great poise and hands, sliding the puck five-hole after freezing the goalie. Just under a point per game in his second WHL season, the 2008 is doing all the right things to continue to be noticed.
Jonas Woo (D, R, 5’9″, 177, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/19/2006, Arizona State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Jonas Woo is an incredibly talented skating defenseman. He is a one-man breakout machine, using explosive feet and deception to beat opponents. Combined with his lateral skating and quick cutbacks, he is extremely dynamic. He can create offense on his own and recover from mistakes because of his skating ability. Finishing with two assists and a plus-two rating came from smart passing and puck decisions. However, especially early in the game, it seemed Jonas was forcing plays. He wanted to be a major offensive factor, which led to unnecessary puck decisions. This was not selfish, but well-intentioned. He needs to understand that sometimes the simplest play leads to the best result. There is no question how dynamic Jonas Woo can be, but balancing that with smart hockey is crucial, especially as a defenseman.
Cameron Parr (LW, L, 5’9″, 187, Medicine Hat Tigers, 09/06/2006)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: For an undersized forward, Cameron Parr plays with a serious edge. At times, his emotions get the best of him, which explains why he leads his team in penalty minutes. His first penalty was unnecessary, but to his credit, his fight came after a beautiful open-ice forechecking hit he laid on a Seattle opponent. As a player, Cam is a good skater who moves well and understands the game. In one defensive-zone sequence, he found himself as the swinging center on the breakout, giving his defenseman a perfect option. As he carried the puck up ice, he dazzled with a clean spin-o-rama and threw the puck on net, showcasing a skill set the opposition was not ready for. Overall, it was a solid performance, as he fully embraced his role and finished with an assist on the game-winner.
Bryce Pickford (D, R, 6’0″, 192, Medicine Hat Tigers, 04/02/2006)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Bryce Pickford was an offensive weapon in this game, possessing an NHL-caliber shot from the blue line. As a defenseman, Bryce prioritizes a simple game. He keeps a good gap, uses an active stick to break up plays, and manages his assignments well. With adequate skating ability, he can lead breakouts but does not try to overcomplicate things, regularly moving the puck to his forwards. Once he gets to the offensive blue line, especially on the power play, he becomes extremely dangerous. All three of his goals came off rocket shots that beat the goalie clean. Even on his third goal, during an extended shift, Bryce stepped into space and ripped a wrist shot from distance to beat the goalie clean. Leading a top WHL team in points as a defenseman proves his offensive impact. What might go unnoticed is his ability to keep things simple and trust that his chances will come.
Andrew Basha (C, L, 5’11”, 174, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/08/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Basha is a dynamic forward with great skating ability and vision. His skating is quick and explosive, and he can cut back on opponents to create space. Basha wants the puck so he can use his feet to draw players toward him before distributing to teammates. Without the puck, he finds holes, uses his quality shot, and always makes himself available for his linemates. With three power-play assists in this game, Basha showed a strong understanding of time and space, utilizing what was given to him to set up his unit. He controlled play for Medicine Hat’s top power-play group, putting lethal shooters in perfect positions to succeed. On the defensive side, he did lose his man at 4v4, which cost them an early goal. Improving this part of his game would help round out the 2005’s overall play.
Grayson Malinoski (G, L, 6’0″, 169, Seattle Thunderbirds, 04/11/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Grayson Malinoski is a key player for the Seattle Thunderbirds, showcasing his impressive skills on the ice. He demonstrated strong positioning and anticipation in his saves, often reading plays before they unfolded. By squaring up to shooters and making timely saves, Grayson proved himself to be a valuable asset to his team. He also controlled rebounds effectively, limiting second- and third-chance opportunities. Grayson’s aggressive playing style, coupled with high defensive hockey IQ, make him a formidable opponent for opposing teams. His ability to stay focused and competitive throughout the game earned him the first star of the contest.
1 Viewing
Comments: Grayson showed serious heart and effort in this game before leaving with an apparent injury. He is a good-sized goalie who works incredibly hard and is one of the highest-effort players on the ice whenever he is in net. His game is focused on staying square to the play with an aggressive approach to attacking the top of his crease. Grayson plays the puck well behind his net but simplifies it by either leaving it for his defenseman or shooting it around the glass. Only stopping 14 of 20 shots may not look great on paper, but factoring in three Tigers power-play goals and a very nice move on a penalty shot, Grayson did what he could against a very dynamic Tigers offense. He has all the tools to be an elite goalie and the compete level to continue growing into a very solid goaltender.
Joe Gramer (D, L, 6’0″, 195, Seattle Thunderbirds, 07/14/2005, Nebraska Omaha)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Joe’s presence on the ice comes across as a steady, consistent defenseman who makes quality decisions with or without the puck. His gap control is textbook, always giving opponents minimal space while using an active stick and strong body positioning to make it extremely difficult to beat him one-on-one. Joe makes simple, effective breakout passes to move the puck forward for the Thunderbirds. At the offensive blue line, he shows awareness by taking available ice and putting quality shots through to the net when given the chance. In his second game with Seattle, Joe got an opportunity at 4v4 to walk into the high slot, where he beat the Tigers’ goalie with a laser shot. His game is perfectly suited to being the third or fourth defenseman-very consistent, able to eat up minutes, and provide stability on Seattle’s blue line.
Coster Dunn (C, R, 6’1″, 191, Seattle Thunderbirds, 09/13/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Coster Dunn is a well-rounded player with great speed, puck skills, and on-ice awareness. His situational awareness is a standout attribute, as he is always scanning the ice and assessing his options. This gives him confidence in all three zones to use his skill set to create offense, make clean breakouts, or execute smart defensive plays. He is a force in the corners, using his body to protect the puck while finding the best solutions. Coster’s solid straight-line speed also makes him a threat on the forecheck, finishing big hits and letting opponents know he is coming. His blend of grit and playmaking ability creates a powerful centerman presence.
Simon Lovsin (RW, R, 6’0″, 189, Seattle Thunderbirds, 01/22/2006)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Simon is an offensively crafty player due to his shiftiness and skating agility, while still being a defensively responsible winger. His shiftiness was best displayed on a zone entry in this game. As he entered the zone, Simon used his eyes to fool the opposing defenseman before cutting into the middle of the ice, which produced a great shooting opportunity in the high slot. His ability to look one way and create deception provides the space and time for his skating to take over and get him to the areas he knows are available. Defensively, Simon is very smart and focused on stick placement and body positioning, which led to turnovers and blocked shots for Seattle. Aside from the two unnecessary penalties he took, Simon played a good game, but his emotions got the best of him and hurt his team with bad penalties.
Cameron Schmidt (RW, R, 5’8″, 167, Seattle Thunderbirds, 01/19/2007)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: In a tough game for the Seattle Thunderbirds, Cameron Schmidt seemed to be the driving force of offense for his team. His speed stands out as the major difference-maker in his game. On multiple occasions, Cameron was circling the offensive zone, weaving through traffic, finding passing options, or putting the puck on net with smart shots. His high hockey IQ was evident as he feathered accurate passes to teammates in tight spaces. What started as a high point turned into a frustrating night, and Cameron did show visible frustration and let the Tigers hear it. To his credit, it did not affect his overall play, but it was a bit unnecessary. With a goal and an assist early in the game, Cameron will surely help lead the Thunderbirds’ offense moving forward.
Marcus Laraque (RW, R, 6’4″, 217, Seattle Thunderbirds, 03/30/2009)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Marcus is a very big forward who is playing a simple game as he continues to refine his overall skill set. Being a 2009, his skating will continue to improve as he grows into his size. While he currently relies on athleticism for his skating, this did not stop his desire to forecheck and play a power forward role. He wants to chase the puck and punish opponents with devastating hits. He did exactly that early in the game on the backcheck, delivering the hit of the game that took out an opposing Medicine Hat player. It was not a dangerous or targeting hit, but a full-force hit from a 6’3′, 215 lb player. Marcus also showed flashes of playmaking ability and off-puck awareness, which will continue to develop as he adapts to this level.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images