By Scott Fisher /
The WHL season is underway and the quest for the Memorial Cup has begun. Here’s a run-down of what’s going on with every Western League Club. For all the latest news on the WHL, check out hockeynow.ca’s daily updates.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EAST DIVISION
BRANDON WHEAT KINGS
The Wheaties might have stumbled out of the gate, but once they get a half-dozen players back from NHL camps, watch out.
Led by potential WHL MVP candidate Brayden Schenn and fellow first-round pick Scott Glennie, the Memorial Cup hosts won’t find themselves in the ‘L’ column too often.
MOOSE JAW WARRIORS
Last year’s cellar-dwellers expect to produce a lot more goals this season.
Overager Jason Bast should be the offensive catalyst while Brendan Rowinski is poised for a breakout campaign.
Jeff Bosch gives the club a legitimate No. 1 goaltender.
PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS
The Raiders were the fourth-worst defensive squad in the league last year, but returning six defenceman to the fold should help improve those numbers.
Overager goaltender Garrett Zemlak shocked the Brandon Wheat Kings on opening night.
REGINA PATS
There’s no way a team this talented can miss the playoffs two years in a row, is there?
With sniper Jordan Eberle, an Edmonton Oilers prospect, filling the net and Team Canada world junior teammate Colten Teubert on the blueline, the Pats should show a
major improvement.
SASKATOON BLADES
If anyone is going to challenge the Wheat Kings in the Eastern Conference, most experts believe it’ll be the Blades.
Seven of the club’s top eight scorers are back from last year’s franchise record-breaking squad, including captain and top scorer Derek Hulak.
SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS
New GM/head coach Mark Lamb will rely on a talented group of forwards to keep the Broncos in the hunt.
Cody Eakin, a Washington Capitals prospect, had 24 goals in his sophomore campaign last season and is expected to make a major impact in 2009/10.
CENTRAL DIVISION
CALGARY HITMEN
The Hitmen can only hope for another ‘rebuilding’ season like the record-shattering one of a year ago.
Losing WHL MVP Brett Sonne and top defenceman Paul Postma hurts, but snipers Brandon Kozun and Kris Foucault should give this team enough firepower to compete for a third straight division crown.
MEDICINE HAT TIGERS
The Bengals have some serious holes to fill up front with the graduation of players like Tyler Ennis.
But five returning defenceman should soften the blow.
So far, so good. Blueliners Mark Isherwood, Jace Coyle and Cody Carlson combined for three goals and eight points in a season-opening win over Lethbridge.
LETHBRIDGE HURRICANCES
The ’Canes will be younger after losing a number of key personnel to graduation.
Michael Tadjdeh and Ville Kolppanen were each shelled in the first two games, giving up 15 goals.
It could be a long year for new GM/head coach Rich Preston unless his squad tightens up defensively.
EDMONTON OIL KINGS
The Oil Kings struggled to score goals last season. And while they won’t be one of the most feared teams, they should find the back of the net with more regularity.
Czech import Tomas Vincour is poised to rip it up after an injury-plagued 2008-09 campaign.
When goaltender Torrie Jung is on his game, there’s no one better.
KOOTENAY ICE
With only two proven goal-scorers — Kevin King and Dustin Sylvester — back in the fold, the Ice will need to keep pucks out of their own net.
The blueline sees six returnees, although only Brayden McNabb has played more than one season in the WHL.
Goaltender Nathan Lieuwen hopes to leave his injury problems in the past.
RED DEER REBELS
After missing the playoff the past two seasons, the Rebels should be back in the post-season party this spring.
And they should be fun to watch along the way with leading scorer Landon Ferraro, sniper Willie Coetzee and rookie of the year candidate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins providing plenty of fireworks.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
B.C. DIVISION
KELOWNA ROCKETS
The WHL champs, as can be expected, lost a large number of major contributors off of last year’s squad.
But both goaltenders — Mark Guggenberger and Adam Brown — are back and should keep the Rockets competitive in the Western Conference.
Many of the team’s veteran defenceman should return, although Tyler Myers has likely seen his last junior action.
VANCOUVER GIANTS
The G-Men will be just fine — if Evander Kane is returned by the Atlanta Thrashers.
The blueline undergoes a major change, but the Giants have done a great job filling the holes with Kevin Connaughton, Ryan Funk and David Musil.
With Tyson Sexsmith graduating, the starting job falls to Jamie Tucker, who was 18-1-1 last season.
CHILLIWACK BRUINS
The WHL’s worst offence is expected to improve with the development of top talents Ryan Howse and Kevin Sundher.
The goaltending tandem of Mark Friesen and Lucas Gore returns to solidify the
back end.
Six defencemen are also eligible to return.
KAMLOOPS BLAZERS
The Blazers have taken a few lumps while patiently developing their young talent.
That approach could pay big dividends this season as five of the club’s top six scorers return.
Sophomore forward Brendan Ranford will play a bigger role in the attack.
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS
Sophomore sniper Brett Connolly is the toast of the town after being named the CHL’s top rookie in the spring.
He had 30 goals and 60 points as a rookie and could be among the league’s top scorers as a 17-year-old.
James Priestner, acquired from Brandon, takes over as the club’s starting goaltender.
U.S. DIVISION
TRI-CITY AMERICANS
The loss of Taylor Procyshen, Jason Reese and Mitch Fadden creates a drain of 104 goals and 238 points.
Overager Johnny Lazo will need to step forward and shoulder more of the offensive load.
Sophomore Justin Feser will also be looked to for increased production.
SPOKANE CHIEFS
The Chiefs may have lost sniper Drayson Bowman, but they’re still a dangerous bunch up front.
Mitch Wahl, Levko Koper and Tyler Johnson should better the 187 points they combined for a season ago.
The back end is solid as well with as many as seven defenceman back in the fold. The only major hole is left by the graduation of world junior goaltender Dustin Tokarski.
EVERETT SILVERTIPS
The young Silvertips have their top five scorers back and will look to join the Ams and Chiefs among the division’s elite.
The majority of the back end, including Chris de la Lande returns as well.
Thomas Heemskerk, 19, is a solid No.
1 ’keeper.
SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS
The rebuilding process is underway in Seattle as four of the club’s top five scorers have moved on.
Veteran Prab Rai will be counted on to put up numbers.
The departure of Team Canada world junior captain Thomas Hickey leaves a hole, but a half-dozen other defenceman are back with the team.
PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS
The painful, lengthy stretch that has seen the Winterhawks occupy the basement could be over.
Chris Francis and Luke Walker, the team’s top scorers from last season should be bolstered by more offensive talent than this team has seen in recent years.
Swiss import Nino Niederreiter could make an immediate impact with the ’Hawks. |