Bryce Pickford scores overtime winner as Medicine Hat Tigers take win over Moose Jaw Warriors
Moose Jaw takes early 2-0 lead, go on to drop 4-3 decision in Western Hockey League action
MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Warriors had the unenviable task of facing the Western Hockey League’s hottest team on Friday night, and despite taking an early lead, the Medicine Hat Tigers would prove too tough a nut to crack.
Bryce Pickford scored his second goal of the night 20 seconds into overtime and the Tigers would secure a 4-3 victory over the Warriors at Temple Gardens Centre in Moose Jaw.
The Warriors fall to 12-13-2-1 and remain in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, while the Tigers improve to 18-6-3-1, have points in their last 10 games and have moved within a single point of Edmonton for the Conference lead.
The Warriors didn’t get off to the greatest of starts as Medicine Hat controlled the zone time through the first five minutes, but it would be Moose Jaw who hit the scoresheet first.
Steven Steranka got the play started, dipsy doodling around a couple of Tigers defenders and getting off a shot that just missed the inside of the far post. The play continued, and Connor Schmidt would snare a loose puck just inside the blueline, take a few strides, and put a shot home five-hole for a 1-0 lead six minutes into the period.
What a way to open the scoring! Connor Schmidt!! 1-0 @MJWARRIORS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9Fojumokiz
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 6, 2025
Not long after action resumed the Warriors had another great scoring chance. A neutral zone turnover sent Pavel McKenzie and Casey Brown in on a two-on-none on Tigers goaltender Jordan Switzer, but the Moose Jaw duo would be unable to finish off the opportunity.
The Warriors then increased their lead with 14 seconds remaining in the frame, as Landen McFadden broke into the Tigers zone and took a feed to his wing from Schmidt before scoring with a shot low glove side.
LANDEN MCFADDEN HAS US UP BY 2!
2-0 MJ | 14 Seconds 1st pic.twitter.com/vQn4w8ZTlf
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) December 6, 2025
Moose Jaw might have felt a touch fortunate to come away with their 2-0 lead out of the first, as Medicine Hat came away with an 11-3 edge in shots.
The teams exchanged power plays to start the second period but neither resulted in a shot on net, and the Warriors wouldn’t get their first shot of the period until just after the eight minute mark.
The Tigers would get on the board with 7:57 gone in the frame, with Kyle Seger putting a shot from the point through a screen to make it a 2-1 game. The goal was a controversial one, as it appeared that six Medicine Hat players were on the ice when it was scored, but the marker was allowed to stand.
KYLE HEGER!! What a goal! @tigershockey | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/SfeXf8FeAB
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 6, 2025
The Warriors got that one back with 1:11 to play in their period, and it was a pretty one. Brady Ness channelled his inner Connor McDavid, breaking into the Tigers zone and skating through three defenders before lifting a backhand top shelf for the 3-1 lead. The goal was the first of the season for the Moose Jaw defenceman and also saw Cohen Williams pick up the first point of his career with an assist.
BRADY NESS!!! COAST TO COAST!!! 😱😱@MJWARRIORS pic.twitter.com/aChcRBRDha
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 6, 2025
The two-goal edge wouldn’t last the period, though, as Pickford scored his 16th of the season on a shot that went off Warriors goaltender Chase Wutzke’s glove before finding the back of the net with seven seconds remaining.
THE CAPTAIN!! BRYCE PICKFORD!!
Gets one back for his squad with less than 1 minute left in the second.@tigershockey | @CanadiensMTL | #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/eNJl79Awza
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 6, 2025
The Tigers took no time at all to tie the game in the third period. Noah Davidson found the puck during a goalmouth scramble and poked it past Wutzke to make it a 3-3 game only 18 seconds into the frame.
NOAH DAVIDSON!! 18 SECONDS INTO THE THIRD!! TIE GAME 💪@tigershockey pic.twitter.com/ZluayjISLd
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 6, 2025
The two teams settled into a back and forth battle for the majority of the rest of the period, but the Tigers would press late, with Wutzke coming up with a couple of big saves in close in the final four minutes.
Neither team would hit the scoresheet, though, sending things to overtime.
There, it would take Medicine Hat only 20 seconds to pick up the win, with Bryce Pickford putting home a shot from the right face-off circle.
OH ME… OH MY!!! BRYCE PICKFORD!! OVERTIMEEEEE WINNERR 🐅🔥@tigershockey | @CanadiensMTL | #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/v7jQeP8vvL
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 6, 2025
Wutzke finished with 39 saves on the night while Switzer turned aside 14.
The Warriors are back in action on Saturday night when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings, with puck drop at 6 p.m. at Temple Gardens Centre.
