Ruck twins lead eight Medicine Hat Tigers named to NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings

In their second year of draft eligibility, Yaroslav Bryzgalov and Kade Stengrim slot in three spots apart from one another, with Bryzgalov ranked 90th and Stengrim 93rd.

Both have found another level this postseason, playing just below a point per game pace in their first crack at WHL playoff hockey.

Bryzgalov ended the regular season tied for sixth in the WHL in rookie scoring with 55 points and led all Medicine Hat Tigers rookies in points.

In the case of Stengrim, he ended the regular season on a torrid pace, scoring seven goals in his final four games.

That success has carried over into the postseason as Stengrim finds himself tied for the team lead in goals alongside Jonas Woo, Bryce Pickford, and Liam Ruck.

Stengrim re-enters the final rankings after being omitted from the mid-term rankings.

Riley Steen, Jonas Woo, and Kadon McCann round out the Medicine Hat skaters.

Steen slots in at 146th, a solid ranking for the rookie that has been forced to split time with Tyson Moss for the final spot on a talent-riddled Tigers blue line.

Woo finally cracks the final rendition of Central Scouting’s rankings at 179th after being left off both the preliminary and mid-term lists.

Woo led all CHL defensemen in points with 86.

It is Woo’s third-year of draft eligibility, the sole reason he is not higher on the list.

McCann rounds out the Medicine Hat skaters, ranked 185th.

McCann, in his second season of draft eligibility, has embraced a role of grittiness this season, centering the Tigers’ go-to forecheck line.

Although it may not result in eye-popping statistics, McCann has shown the ability to seamlessly work onto either of the Tigers’ power play units and be an effective net-front presence.

Last but not least, Carter Casey ends up ranked 26th amongst North American netminders.

Casey played second fiddle to Jordan Switzer for the majority of the regular season, something that likely factored into his fall from 12th in the mid-term rankings.

Despite the limited regular-season actions, Casey has made the most of his opportunities in the playoffs.

So far this postseason, Casey is 3-0-0 with a goals-against-average of 1.81 and a save percentage of 0.937, both of which rank in the top three of all WHL goaltenders.

The Medicine Hat Tigers will continue their title defense next weekend as they battle the Prince Albert Raiders in the Eastern Conference Finals.

by Will Bryant

Ruck twins lead eight Medicine Hat Tigers named to NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings

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