Whitehorse, Yukon – The Medicine Hat Tigers were simply too much to handle Friday night, as they claimed an 8-4 win over the Kelowna Rockets in Game 1 of the WHL Yukon Showcase presented by Casino Mining.
After a back-and-forth first period, the Tigers took control of the affair midway through the second period, striking four consecutive times to carry a 7-3 lead into the third period.
The two teams traded goals over the final 20 minutes of play, before the buzzer sounded.
Newcomer Noah Davidson, who hails from Irvine, Calif., was named Player of the Game for the Tigers after securing three points (1G-2A). The 6-foot-3, 216-pound left winger tallied an assist on a first period goal by Carter Cunningham before adding his another helper on a second period goal from Zack Nieckar. Davidson finished off the evening by notching a goal of his own moments later.
“It felt really good, it was a good forecheck by Liam [Ruck] and in front of this crowd, it feels really good,” Davidson said to the WHL’s Cami Kepke following the second period. “We came out slow [to start the game] and we were way better in the second period. We knew we would be a better team in the second period, staying consistent and getting pucks deep.”
2026 NHL Draft eligible forward Liam Ruck made his presence known Friday night, collecting three points (1G-2A). During the first period, he drifted a beautiful pass across the ice to send his brother Markus in on a breakaway to give Medicine Hat a 2-0 lead. Liam notched his second primary assist later in the second period, setting up Davidson to make it 6-3 for the Tigers. Liam finished the night showing off his patented pinpoint accuracy, sending a puck high glove side for an 8-3 lead.
Friday’s opening game of the WHL Yukon Showcase started in back-and-forth fashion.
Tigers rookie Dub Eunice III opened the scoring 2:23 into the first period.
Brayden Ryan-Mackay wheeled low below the goalline before finding Eunice in the right circle, who wired a quick shot to the back of the net. For Eunice, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound product of Eagle River, Alaska, was ecstatic, registering his first WHL preseason goal in front of family and friends who had made the trek from Alaska to watch the WHL Yukon Showcase in Whitehorse.
“Being on the first shift, it was a huge goal,” Eunice told Kepke. “I was obviously super excited to get the team on the board in the first shift. It was an unbelievable experience.
“This is probably one of the only games my family will be able to watch this season. For them to be able to drive up and experience my first WHL goal in my first shift, it was a great experience for me.”
Next came the 2-0 goal courtesy of the Ruck twins.
Despite the two-goal deficit, the Rockets weren’t about to fold in the first period.
With 6:11 remaining, 17-year-old Kanjyu Gojsic drove the slot with a great individual effort before snapping a quick shot high glove side to cut into the Medicine Hat lead, making it a 2-1 game. For Gojsic, who hails from Langley, B.C., it was his first goal of the 2025 WHL Preseason.
A mere 31 seconds later, it was 17-year-old Owen Folstrom drawing the Rockets even. The 6-foot, 185-pound right winger from Calgary, Alta., is enjoying a solid preseason, collecting three goals in three games.
The back-and-forth festivities of the opening 20 minutes continued, as Cunningham registered his second goal of the preseason to restore the Medicine Hat lead heading into the intermission. Left winger Dayton Reschny made a great play down low, spinning a pass out front for Cunningham, who found the back of the net to make it 3-2.
Midway through the second period, Czech import Daniel Pekar tallied his first goal of the preseason, pulling the Rockets even once again. Unfortunately for the 2026 Memorial Cup hosts, the momentum didn’t last.
In a span of 5:17, the defending WHL Champion Tigers showed why they currently hold the League title, rattling off four goals to take a commanding 7-3 lead into the second intermission.
First, it was Yaroslav Bryzgalov notching his second goal of the preseason with 5:50 to go in the middle period. Only 52 seconds later, it wasNieckar who found the back of the net to make it 5-3. After another 1:51 ticked off the clock, Davidson struck to extend the Tigers lead to 6-3. Rounding out the second period scoring, Gavin Kor secured the Highlight of the Night, sneaking in behind the defence and besting Pilon to make it 7-3 after 40 minutes of play.
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Rockets forward Eli Barrett concluded the scoring with 1:43 to go in regulation.
Left winger Levi Benson, who grabbed an assist on Folstrom’s first period marker, was named Player of the Game for Kelowna.
At the final buzzer, the Tigers had outshot the Rockets by a margin of 35-31. In net, 2007-born Carter Casey, a product of Grand Rapids, Minn., turned aside 27 shots to secure the victory for the Tigers. Between the pipes, 2006-born Jake Pilon saw the first 40 minutes of action, with 2007-born Nathan Kam taking to the crease for the third period.
A physical affair throughout, Medicine Hat finished the night 1-for-7 on the power play, while the Rockets couldn’t convert on the five advantages sent their way.
Game 2 of the WHL Yukon Showcase is scheduled for Saturday, September 13 (7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT) at Takhini Arena in Whitehorse. With local production provided by NorthwesTel and Ptarmigan Creative, the game will be available and streaming for free on Victory+.
The winner of the WHL Yukon Showcase will take home the first ever WHL Northern Lights Cup, created by Lumel Studios.
