Four Medicine Hat Tigers selected at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft

Having spent only four days apart in their entire lives, many speculated whether a team would draft both twins or if they would be separated for the first time in their lives.

The Pittsburgh Penguins answered that question early Saturday morning.

After spending the 22nd overall pick on Liam Ruck Friday night, the Penguins held steady and drafted Markus with the 39th overall selection, keeping the twins together.

“It’s a great move by Pittsburgh; their agent did a great job to make sure they stayed together”, said Desjardins

“There weren’t any guarantees at all that they would be together. Like when we drafted them, it was a stretch to make that work.”

Markus and Liam finished 1-2 in the CHL scoring race this season, with Markus taking home the CHL’s Top Scorer award after an incredible 108-point season.

The Ruck twins now join Canadian icon Sidney Crosby on the Penguins, a player whose character is nearly as impressive as his play on the ice.

“Character must be important to them when they’re picking guys; it says a lot about Markus and Liam that people recognize that in them, it says a lot about the Rucks and Penguins.”

Yaroslav Bryzgalov was next off the board for Medicine Hat as the Vancouver Canucks selected the Belarusian forward with the 97th overall pick.

There was plenty of pre-draft speculation that Vancouver would land a Tiger or two, with many around the hockey world manifesting the Ruck twins to the Canucks, but instead, it will be a different Tiger to don the Blue and Green.

Bryzgalov finished the year strong and landed sixth amongst WHL Rookies in assists with 42.

“He came a long way with us this year. He was a guy who learned as he went, his agent took a chance with us, and we’re happy to see it pay off”, mentioned the Tigers Head Coach and GM.

The final Tiger off the board was Jonas Woo, selected 185th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Woo finally got his draft moment in his third year of eligibility, and it’s no surprise why.

The Winnipeg, MB. product set a Tigers single-season record for points by a blueliner this past season, recording 86 points in only 56 games.

“Woo turned down an offer to go to Michigan last season, came back with us and had an outstanding year.”

“All his life has been battling against his size, but he fought hard. He’s so competitive, he’s worked so hard for it, it’s great to see him get rewarded”, Desjardins added.

Woo now joins a list of undersized Tigers to hear their name called by an NHL club.

“We’ve had a history of small guys getting drafted, starting with Russ, Ennis, the Rucks aren’t that big either, really, so it’s great to see.”

For the Tigers, their focus now shifts to a different draft: the 2026 CHL Import Draft, which gets underway next week.

“It’s a tough draft, it’s tough to know who’s gonna be available”, closed Desjardins.

“Last year, Bryzgalov, Veeti, Nilo, were big parts of our team, so we need those picks to be good picks.”

by Will Bryant

Four Medicine Hat Tigers selected at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft

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