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Photo Credit: Janise Michel / Lethbridge Hurricanes
Sports

Six Medicine Hat Tigers named to NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Season Rankings

Jan 12, 2026 | 6:39 PM

NHL Central Scouting released their mid-season rankings on Monday afternoon, and six different Medicine Hat Tigers found themselves on the list.

Leading the way were Liam and Markus Ruck.

Liam slotted in as the 26th-ranked North American skater, five spots above his twin brother Markus.

Liam sits second on the team in goals with 22 and is tied for 11th in the WHL.

He also boasts a nine-game goal streak, the longest in the WHL this season, and sits fifth in the league scoring race.

Liam is just three goals shy of matching his total from his rookie year and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Meanwhile, Markus leads all WHL skaters in assists this season with 46, seven clear of fellow draft-eligible skater Ryan Lin, who has 39.

Markus sits three points behind Liam with 55 and is eighth in the WHL in points.

Slotting next on the list at 99th is second-year draft-eligible forward, Yaroslav Bryzgalov.

In his first WHL season, Bryzgalov has amassed 25 assists and 32 points in his rookie campaign.

The native of Minsk, Belarus, was the Tigers’ lone selection in the 2025 CHL Import Draft and has factored in prominently on their second power-play unit.

With a 6’4″, 220-pound frame and a playmaking prowess, it is easy to see why Bryzgalov has been climbing draft boards.

Next up is rookie defenseman Riley Steen at 188th.

Having appeared in all but eight games this season, Steen’s ice time and opprotunity has been limited in part due to the Tabbies returning five of six defensemen from last year’s championship-winning squad.

Despite that, the Ladysmith, BC, native has managed to carve out a role for himself on the Tigers’ blue line and earn the trust of his coaching staff on a talent-riddled Tiger blue line.

Steen has seven points through 32 games, but may see his ice time increase over the coming weeks with the injury to Veeti Vaisanen this past weekend.

Rounding out the list for the Tigers skaters is third-year forward Kadon McCann at 215th.

McCann has seen an increased role this season, figuring in as a heavy net-front presence on what has been a near-unstoppable Tigers top power play unit.

The Cochrane, Alta., native has become one of, if not the Tigers go-to centerman for key faceoffs and stars on the penalty kill as much as the power play.

Five-on-five, he plays alongside Cam Parr and Carter Cunningham on one of the most physically draining lines to play against in the entire WHL.

Last but not least is Medicine Hat Tigers first-year netminder Carter Casey, who ranked 12th amongst all North American goaltenders.

Casey has split starts this season with second-year Tigers goaltender Jordan Switzer.

Through 17 games, Casey has amassed a 10-3-2-0 record to go alongside a 3.34 GAA, a 0.873 SV% and one shutout.

The Tigers are back on the ice on Wednesday, January 14th, in Edmonton as they battle the Oil Kings for top spot in the Eastern Conference.