Medicine Hat, Alta.- Liam Rucks admits it was disappointing not to be chosen for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge.
“Not being there, it was a little tough,” the 2025 WHL Champion said. “But I just didn’t think too much of it, and just tried to be the best I could be.”
His ability to focus on himself has paid off.
Since the initial CHL roster announcement on October 28, Ruck has potted nine points (3G-6A) in seven games, picked up Tempo WHL Player of the Week honours, and set a personal best with a two-goal, two-assist night against the Regina Pats.
So when Oshawa Generals forward Brooks Rogowski went down with an injury, CHL staff tapped Ruck to fill in.
“Obviously, it means a lot,” Ruck added. “Just knowing I wasn’t there at first, I’ve got something to prove for sure. (I’m) just going to do whatever I can to be my best in those couple games.”
Tigers General Manager and Head Coach Willie Desjardins, who will also helm Team CHL at the showcase, stressed that it doesn’t matter how you got your spot on the team- as long as you make the most of it.
Something that goes for every player attending the event.
“That’s one thing we were stressing as a staff, that this is your opportunity,” Desjardins said. “Everybody’s going to be there, everybody’s going to be watching, so you just have to make sure you’re ready to show your best. These events are hard events. You may be going from a team where maybe you played on the power play, and maybe here you don’t get to play power play. People will be watching how you react and what you do with that. It’ll be a challenge for players, but it’s certainly a great opportunity.”
Ruck has certainly been at his best as of late, with three goals and four assists in his last three games alone.
The 6-foot, 175-pound winger sits fourth on the Medicine Hat Tigers with 22 points (7G-15A) in 22 outings.
According to Desjardins, it’s a well-deserved opportunity for a young man whose game has been trending up as he manages an increased workload and big minutes on the powerplay and penalty kill.
“He’s a really gifted offensive player,” Desjardins said. “He’s just too smart, he’s good with the puck, and he really understands the game. He’ll be able to develop chemistry with anybody. His structure is good. He needs to get a little bit quicker- and that’s something he’ll work on, and he’ll get quicker just by getting stronger.”
Ruck has earned a ‘B’ rating as a potential second or third-round NHL Draft pick in NHL Central Scouting’s 2026 preliminary player list.
He’s also garnered plenty of attention for a standout rookie season in 2024-25.
The Osoyoos, B.C. product led all first-year players with 25 goals in addition to 16 assists for 41 points in 61 games.
He continued to turn heads by slotting into Medicine Hat’s stacked first powerplay unit, flanking the likes of projected 2026 top pick Gavin McKenna and Captain Oasiz Wiesblatt.
In his first trip to the WHL Playoffs, Ruck had six goals (four of which came on the man-advantage) and four assists in 18 games to help the Tigers hoist the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time since 2007.
“That was the closest group I’ve ever been a part of, and just doing it with all those guys, it was unreal,” Ruck recalled. “It almost seemed like a movie. The leaders did such a good job bringing us together. Our older guys were great, and I think the closer the group, the better the team. For me, getting older, (I’m) just trying to be as much of a leader as I can, and bringing the guys close together, because it makes a team more successful, for sure.”
Ruck will stay put in Calgary after taking on the Hitmen on Sunday night.
He’s looking forward to reuniting with several teammates from the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he put up two goals and an assist in five games en route to a bronze medal, including his childhood friend and 2025 WHL Championship foe Mathis Preston.
The 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge runs on November 25 and 26 in Calgary and Lethbridge (where Ruck’s father, Derek, played three seasons with the Hurricanes).
Canadian viewers can tune in on TSN, while those in the United States and around the world can stream the action for free on Victory+.
