Another Incredible Weekend For Habs Prospect Bryce Pickford

When you would eventually think that Montreal Canadiens defensive prospect Bryce Pickford’s production may start to slow down in the WHL, on Friday night he scored his 2nd hat trick of the season. Pickford continues to be the hottest goal-scoring player in the WHL despite being a defenseman. Along with his hat trick, the Medicine Hat Tigers captain had 2 assists to help lead his team to an 8-3 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds.

5 Point Night. No Biggie.🤷@tigershockey | @CanadiensMTL | #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/WInJqXOhjN

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 10, 2026

While Pickford has been a dominant force all season, this was the first time the Habs prospect recorded a 5-point game on Friday. His 3 goals allowed him to be the first player in the league to surpass 30 goals, finishing the game with 31 markers on the year. On Saturday, Pickford and the Tigers played against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, where the defenseman scored a goal and an assist in a 7-4 win, extending his current point streak to 15 games, which includes 36 points in that span.

Pickford now has 32 goals (tying the Tigers defenseman goal record held by Kris Russell, which he was almost guaranteed to pass within the next few games) and 60 points in 38 WHL games so far this year. He currently has a 2-goal lead for the league lead over Dallas Stars prospect Cameron Schmidt, who hit 30 goals on the year on Saturday with the Thunderbirds. Even if Schmidt does catch up to Pickford’s goal-scoring numbers, it won’t take away just how legendary a year that Pickford is having, as it seems there is no end to this point streak that feels like it could go on all season.

Bryce Pickford is on pace for 56 goals in 66 games 🤯🤯

He already tied the Tigers franchise record of 32 Goals (28 games left) pic.twitter.com/ckbdhuyvGZ

— Maietta Sports Media (@MaiettaSports) January 11, 2026

The most impressive part of Pickford’s scoring is that he can get his goals in many different ways. Most defensemen get their goals with point shots or pinch in for a pass by a forward for those more shifty defenders. However, Pickford is almost equally good at scoring using both methods, which makes him more of a threat throughout the WHL than anybody right now.

PICKFORD WITH A POWER PLAY GOAL TO GET US STARTED!! 🚨🐅 pic.twitter.com/EXozEBNTDP

— Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) January 10, 2026

When looking at his four goals that were scored throughout the entire weekend, the first goal came on the power play, where teammate Markus Ruck put the puck on a platter in the slot for Pickford to get off a one-timer slapper to get the Tigers on the board. This is likely the most common type of goal that Pickford has scored all season, as his one-time slapper is one of a kind in the WHL.

DING DING DING 🔔 THAT’S 30 FOR PICKFORD ON THE YEAR!!! WE ARE TIED 3-3!!! 🚨🐅 pic.twitter.com/VBFMiMUQS4

— Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) January 10, 2026

Later on, Pickford, during yet another power play, had his initial shot from the point blocked, and the puck came back around the zone to his teammate at the other side of the net. The Habs prospect saw this and immediately skated towards the net to connect with a cross-ice pass, where he would beat the Thunderbirds goaltender with a one-time wrister to tie the game on Friday night.

BRYCE PICKFORD MAKES IT RAIN WITH HIS 2ND HAT TRICK OF THE YEAR!!! 🚨🐅🧢🧢🧢#WHL #GoHabsGo | @CanadiensMTL pic.twitter.com/khNqoK06BJ

— Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) January 10, 2026

His hat-trick goal was again on the power play, but rather than use a one-timer, Pickford took the time to place his shot perfectly with a wrister that would give him his 2nd hat-trick of the season. This goal was the 7th of 8 unanswered goals by the Tigers that night.

THERE IT IS! #32!!

BRYCE PICKFORD TIES KRIS RUSSELL FOR THE MOST GOALS BY A TIGERS D-MAN IN A SEASON!!! 🚨🐅#GoHabsGo | @CanadiensMTL | @TheWHL pic.twitter.com/MOyC55l2xE

— Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) January 11, 2026

Finally, his goal on Saturday night would be the only one that wasn’t scored on the power play. He would receive a pass from his defensive partner, Jonas Woo, at the point and then skate into his shot before firing it with another great wrister from just outside the left circle to tie the all-time defenseman record in goals with the Tigers. The most insane part is that he has 27 games to break that record.

Thanks to the brilliance of Pickford, the Ruck twins, and his defensive partner Jonas Woo, the Medicine Hat Tigers are on a 17-game winning streak. It will be interesting to see how long both Pickford’s point streak and the Tigers’ winning streak will go, as both are completely dominating the WHL.

Do you think Pickford and the Tigers can be stopped anytime soon?