New NCAA rules shattered the Medicine Hat Tigers, but analysts say the WHL team can still find success

The highest-ranked junior hockey team in western Canada, the Medicine Hat Tigers, were hoping this season could build on last year's success and bring them a national championship.

But the team faces a difficult road back to the Memorial Cup after losing several of its star players to the U.S. this summer.

"Unfortunately, it'll become maybe be a bit of a retool year this next season, trying to engage who's going to be the long-term players for them," said Nathan Murdock, a junior hockey analyst and broadcaster.

"But I think in a lot of ways they've done a good job trying to rebuild as much as they could given the devastating circumstances they were dealt."

A year ago, the Tigers had one of the strongest teams in its history, buoyed by Gavin McKenna, who was named the Canadian Hockey League's (CHL) player of the year. The team also boasted a robust bid to host the Memorial Cup for the first time and a city full of support.

Then it all seemed to fall apart after an NCAA rule change allowed U.S. colleges and universities to offer lucrative contracts to Canada's junior hockey players, who were previously ineligible because they were classified as professionals.

Several core players who helped the Tigers win their first Western Hockey League (WHL) championship since 2007 — and reach the Memorial Cup final — have now signed to U.S. schools, disappointing fans who were hoping for another run at the title.

"It was just a shock," said Dale Engel, a Tigers superfan.

"I never thought that they would've left, and then when they did it was kind of disheartening."

Last summer, the stars seemed aligned for the Tigers. McKenna, a 17-year-old who's projected by many to be drafted first overall in the NHL next summer, was ready to lead a