Canada West Week 4 Football Preview

Week 4 of the Canada West Football Season will see both the UBC Thunderbirds and Regina Rams trying to keep the pressure on first place Calgary. A preview of the weekend contests can be found here

This And That

Welcome to Friday!  Here are the usual weekly thoughts running through my muddled mind, and as always they come in no particular order.

 --Can they do it? Could the Saskatchewan Roughriders take down the juggernaut known as the Calgary Stampeders Sunday afternoon at Mosaic?   Many will say no way, and they are justified in doing so seeing the Stamps have once again shown themselves to be the dominant team in the CFL’s regular-season having won eight in a row. If these two teams were playing in Calgary, EVERYTHING would have to go right if the /=S=/ were to be victorious.

It might be another story here though.  The Riders are a different team at home as they are energized by a raucous home crowd which makes life difficult for the opposition.  That crowd should be even more insane than usual when Bo Levi Mitchell and company take the field.  This should be the game where TSN has its decibel meter going! 

If the 13^th man can bring it and then some and make life miserable for Bo Levi and company right of the bat and keep that going throughout the game, the Riders have a chance. The medical report came back favourable so a lot of guys who got wounded in Hamilton should be back. The Stamps will have their fair share of injuries. They will be favoured, and they should be, but if home field advantage was ever needed by the guys in green, it will be Sunday. Are you up to the challenge? Somehow, I think you are.

--The news from 3 Down Nation's Drew Edwards on the Ottawa-Montreal game last week drawing only 190,000 fans as it went head to head against Sunday NFL wasn't a surprise. Why would anyone want to watch two Eastern teams sludge their way through 60 minutes when the NFL was on.  I certainly didn't watch and neither did many by the looks of it.  What did surprise me was more people watched an NHL pre-season, Formula 1 and NASCAR.  Edwards then goes on to report numbers are down 13 percent from last year.  Some advertisers did jump on board this year, but Wendy's and RONA decided to cut bait. This should be very worrisome for many.  The league has to seriously look at going head-to-head with the NFL especially when TSN is showing NFL games on a Sunday as well. They own the rights so they will do it. If Sportsnet had them, it would be the same thing with the same numbers.

   While the numbers are a bad for the CFL, the fact they have launched a game for your phone is a plus. Look for CFL Frenzy and have fun with it. The game will come out for Android in a couple of weeks so I'll have to wait.

--The Regina Pats team that takes the ice tonight in Brandon won’t be the same Regina Pats team that takes the ice against whoever in the opening game of the Memorial Cup in May.  The Pats begin the road to the Memorial Cup which will end at the Brandt Centre without the likes of Sam Steel, Nick Henry, Jake Leschyshyn and Josh Mahura as all are either hurt or at NHL camps.

As I have stated before, if you are thinking this Pats team will be as good as the one last year, you can think again because a 52 win season is improbable.  I can see this team trying to hold its head above water until the trade deadline when John Paddock will do what has to be done to make his team a viable contender for both the Ed Chynoweth Cup and Memorial Cup while attempting to keep the cupboard somewhat stocked so that playoff runs can be achieved and they are not a bottom-feeder as was the case after the last Memorial Cup here when it took forever for the team to be competitive on a night-after-night basis. 

It is going to be a great ride this season watching Paddock’s proteges do their thing, and with this being the 100^th season of Regina Pats hockey, it will be one to celebrate and one to remember.  Can’t wait for the puck to be dropped and see guys like Jeff DeWit, Bryan Lockner, Tyler Brown and Dawson Davidson amongst others do their thing.

--If you are going to the Pats game Saturday night, may I suggest checking out the Rams as well.  They will play Manitoba at 2 o’clock at Mosaic. As Rob Vanstone correctly stated in this week’s “Robservations”, “Why is it the Rams can’t draw more people in a supposedly “football-crazed” city? The same goes for the Thunder!  It’s not as if both teams are bad either because they are definitely not. 

--The "Hockey News" is picking Pittsburgh to beat Edmonton in the Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers back in the Final? That would be somewhat delightful for this blogger.

--Whoever runs the Vegas Golden Knights Twitter account is wayyyyyy too smart for that job. It is the best sports Twitter account out there today and the gap between first and second is a wide one. 

--The Blue Jays signed Marco Estrada to a one year, 13 million dollar deal. Yes, Estrada pitched much better in the 2nd half of the season, but is Marco Estrada the answer to getting back to the playoffs on a one year deal? I really don't understand what Mark Shapiro is doing, and I'm thinking the average Blue Jays fan is wondering that as well.  At least after next week, they shouldn't have to worry about Jose Bautista anymore.  What a grand decision it was to bring him back for a year when no one else wanted him. 

--Week 3 NFL Lock Of The Week ---- Packers over Bengals 

   Week 3 NFL Upset Of The Week --- Saints over Panthers

--I can't forget about offering a hearty congratulations to Wes Cates and Roger Brandvold. Both will go down in Riders folklore by being formally inducted to the Plaza of Honour. It's a great accomplishment for two who helped make the Riders "Canada's Team!"

WHL Central Division Preview

CALGARY HITMEN

General Manager: Jeff Chynoweth

Head coach: Dallas Ferguson

Pre-season record: 2-3-0-0

2016-17 record: 30-32-8-2, Fourth in Central Division

2017 Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference quarter-finals to Regina (4-0)

Top scorers: C Matteo Gennaro (43-37-80), LW Beck Malenstyn (32-24-56), LW Jakob Stukel (23-30-53)

20-year-olds: Gennaro, Stukel, RD Brady Reagan (7-20-27), G Nick Schneider (32-11-1-0, 3.43, .886)

Imports: LW Andrei Grishakov (Russia), RD Vladislav Yeryomenko (Belarus)

Forwards: Gennaro broke out for a career year in 2016-17 and will looked to for his high-end scoring ability once again in 2016-17.

Aged out is veteran leader Tyler Mrkonjic, but beyond that, the Hitmen return a solid core up front for 2017-18. A strong group of 1998-born forwards includes Malenstyn, Jake Kryski, Luke Coleman and the ever-feisty Andrew Fyten.

Beyond that, Mark Kastelic, Lucas Cullen and Tristen Nielsen can all be expected to take on greater roles having added valuable WHL experience to each of their respective resumes.

Defence: Jake Bean will serve as an elite anchor on the Hitmen blue line once again, providing a valuable presence at both ends of the rink.

Yeryomenko, the Belarussian rearguard, improved steadily over the course of 2016-17 – his first season in North America – and will look to continue that trend as he takes on a greater role in 2017-18.

Veteran Brady Reagan could find himself in tough, depending on what management intends to do with an overage group that includes the scoring-machine Gennaro, speedster Stukel and goaltender Schneider.

Additional depth is provided by Jakob LaPointe, Drea Esposito, Jameson Murray and others.

Goal: Schneider comes to the Hitmen following four seasons with division-rival Medicine Hat. A signed prospect of the Calgary Flames, the product of Leduc, Alta., will look to end his WHL career on a high note while playing under the watchful eye of his NHL club. Despite losing his starting role to Michael Bullion in the second half of 2016-17, Schneider still managed to collect a career-high 32 wins. With 76 career WHL victories in 142 career regular season appearances, he should provide a reliable and experienced presence in the blue paint.

Player to watch: The towering Jackson van de Leest serves as the biggest addition to the Calgary Hitmen for 2017-18… literally. The former 16^th overall selection from the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, van de Leest rings in at 6-foot-6 and 213 pounds. Why is that notable? The kid only turned 16 years old in June. A product of Kelowna, van de Leest earned seven regular season appearances in 2016-17 and was steady as a tender, young 15-year-old. He then rejoined the Hitmen for three post-season appearances and did not look out of place against the high-flying Regina Pats. Forwards in the Central Division can expect nothing short of a nightmare when trying to work around the long reach of Calgary’s newest rookie.

Prognosis: While much remains the same with the roster for 2017-18, plenty of change happened in Calgary throughout the off-season. New GM Jeff Chynoweth crossed lines, joining the Hitmen from the other side of a heated rivalry with the Kootenay ICE. He put together a long run of quality clubs, managing the ICE to 17 consecutive post-season appearances and now brings his expertise to Calgary. Behind the bench, Mark French shipped off to Europe and was replaced by Dallas Ferguson. A 44-year-old native of Wainwright, Alta., Ferguson comes to the Hitmen following 13 seasons at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, including nine as head coach.

With a fresh outlook from the management group and bench staff, it will be interesting to watch how this Hitmen squad keeps pace in the Central Division. Once again, a wildcard berth isn’t out of the question for 2017-18. It seems quite likely the Rebels and Hitmen will duke it out for a spot within the division’s top three.

LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES 

General Manager: Peter Anholt

Head coach: Brent Kisio

Pre-season record: 1-4-0-0

2016-17 record: 44-21-4-3, Second in Central Division

2017 Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference Championship to Regina (4-2)

Top scorers: RW Tyler Wong (51-58-109), C Giorgio Estephan (35-54-89), RW Zak Zborosky (41-33-74)

20-year-olds: C Giorgio Estephan, LD Brennan Riddle (4-14-18), RD Brennan Menell (12-59-71)

Imports: LW Egor Zudilov (Russia), RD Igor Merezhko (Ukraine)

Forwards: The Tyler Wong era in Lethbridge is over and how the Hurricanes handle that will define their immediate success in 2017-18. As much as the club will miss the Cochrane, Alta., product’s 109 points, the greater void exists in the leadership and stability the spark plug provided on the ice and in the dressing room.

A dynamic Estephan returns in 2017-18 after playing some of the best hockey of his WHL career during the 2017 WHL Playoffs, collecting 24 points (11G-13A) in 18 outings.

The next generation heart-and-soul for the Hurricanes comes in the form of Jordy Bellerive, the club’s second overall selection from the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. Passed over at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the native of North Vancouver signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins following a lights-out performance at the club’s rookie camp. Notching a career-best 56 points (27G-29A) in 2016-17, Bellerive will be leaned up to lead his Lethbridge running mates.

Quality depth and grit exists in the form of Tanner Nagel, Ryan Vandervlis and Zane Franklin, with a new crop of youngsters including Josh Tarzwell and Dylan Cozens provide exciting potential.

Defence: Veteran Minnesotan Brennan Menell took his game to a new level during the Hurricanes 2017 post-season run and there’s no reason he can’t find a place as one of the top defenders in the Central Division in 2017-18.

Calen Addison has blossomed into one of the most enjoyable young defenders to watch in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. Thanks, largely in part, to poise well beyond his years, the 17-year-old product of Brandon, Man. helped Hockey Canada claim a gold medal at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, chipping in with six points (2G-4A) in five games. He is very quickly becoming one of the most highly-touted WHL blue liners eligible for the 2018 NHL Draft.

While Menell and Addison provide excellent mobility, there’s no shortage of size in the Hurricanes defensive zone. A host of big bodies includes 6-foot-3 Ty Prefontaine, 6-foot-4 Kyle Yewchuk, 6-foot-5 Merezhko and 6-foot-3 Brady Pouteau.

Goal: Coming off the excitement of being drafted by his hometown Edmonton Oilers (3-78), Stuart Skinner returns to the Hurricanes in search of a Central Division crown. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound puck-stopper went viral in 2015-16 when he scored into an empty net and followed up by producing career goaltending marks in 2016-17 with 34 wins in 60 appearances.

Player to watch: Dylan Cozens, a 16-year-old product of Whitehorse, Yukon, flashed a glimpse of his abilities during the 2017 WHL Playoffs. With the Hurricanes battling injuries, the six-foot-three, 177-pound pivot posted eight points (3G-5A) in 12 games and earned praise from many corners of the hockey world because of his knack for coming up big in key moments. While full-time duties will present a greater challenge, Cozens is a vital piece of the Hurricanes future.

Prognosis: Though Wong is irreplaceable, this Hurricanes squad might boast more depth up front than it did in 2016-17. With the added experience of a challenging post-season run, this is a club poised to make some noise in 2017-18.

Assuming Estephan and Bellerive build upon career seasons and grab hold of the leadership reins, the sky is the limit for the Hurricanes with Skinner providing the backbone in net.

It isn’t out of the question to expect the Hurricanes to challenge for the club’s second Central Division crown in the past three seasons.

MEDICINE HAT TIGERS 

General Manager: Shaun Clouston

Head coach: Shaun Clouston

Pre-season record: 2-2-0-0

2016-17 record: 51-20-1-0, First in Central Division

2017 Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal to Lethbridge (4-3)

Top scorers: RW Chad Butcher (27-76-103), C Mason Shaw (27-67-94), C Steven Owre (26-62-88)

20-year-olds: LW Mark Rassell (36-25-61), RW Zach Fischer (34-29-63), LD Kristians Rubins (3-21-24), G Michael Bullion (21-10-1-0, 3.17, .897, 3 SO)

Imports: LD Kristians Rubins (Latvia), LW Mick Kohler (Germany)

Forwards: Losing the likes of veteran leaders Chad Butcher and Steven Owre will not only have an impact at the offensive end of the rink, it will factor into the defensive end as both provided reliable two-way ability.

After being selected by the Minnesota Wild (4-97) this past summer, Mason Shaw was set to take on an added share of the leadership left behind with the departure of Butcher and Owre. Unfortunately, the energetic playmaker from Wainwright, Alta., suffered a knee injury while in camp with the Wild and is expected to miss four-to-sixth months.

All that considered, plenty of quality ice is up for grabs. Former first-round bantam selections James Hamblin and Ryan Chyzowski will be relied upon heavily, as will veteran Max Gerlach – the pride of Flower Mound, Texas.

Defence: New York Islanders prospect David Quenneville (7-200, 2016) holds the key on the Tabbies’ blue line. Planted firmly on the Hockey Canada radar for the 2018 World Junior Championship after an appearance at the World Junior Summer Showcase, the 5-foot-9 product of Edmonton, Alta. is set to guide the back end following the departure of captain Clayton Kirichenko. Quenneville boasts outstanding mobility and will serve in the Tigers quick transition game that resulted in a Central Division-best 350 goals-for during the 2016-17 season.

Rubins, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Latvian bruiser, will need to prove his value as a two-spotter in order to secure a roster as a 20-year-old. His shutdown ability is unquestionable, though he is still recovering from shoulder surgery.

Dylan MacPherson and Dalton Gally return to provide additional depth.

Goal: Jordan Hollett was the Tigers’ big off-season acquisition, coming to southern Alberta in a deal that sent veteran goal scorer Matt Bradley to the Mastercard Memorial Cup host Regina Pats. Hollett, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound product of Langley, B.C., saw 19 games of action as the backup to Tyler Brown in the Queen City, but he managed to collect wins in 15 of those outings. The Ottawa Senators prospect (6-183, 2017) will start the season on the shelf as he battles a case of mononucleosis.

In the meantime, that leaves crease duties to Duncan McGovern and Michael Bullion. The 17-year-old McGovern hung around for seven games at the start 2016-17, while 20-year-old Michael Bullion carried the mail for the Tigers, appearing in 25 regular season games and 11 post-season contests following a mid-season trade from the Portland Winterhawks.

Player to watch: While Peyton Krebs and Kirby Dach might have the spotlight from the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft class, don’t sleep on Josh Williams. The fifth-overall pick from the same draft, Williams got into four games during the 2016-17 season and has lit up the scoreboard with nine points (7G-2A) in four pre-season appearances in 2017. At the age of 16, he is already 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, bringing a beautiful blend of speed and skill to a Tigers system that thrives on that.

Prognosis: There’s no way around the devastation of losing an impact playmaker like Shaw for four-to-six months. That being said, the Tigers have blossoming depth up front in form of the Hamblin and Gerlach. Veteran Mark Rassell will be leaned upon heavily, as will the likes of Ryan Jevne, Gary Haden and Tyler Preziuso.

If the Tigers can overcome the loss of Shaw and get Hollett back healthy in quick order, they have all the tools in place to defend their Central Division title. A second consecutive playoff appearance should be a fair expectation for 2017-18.

RED DEER REBELS

General Manager: Brent Sutter

Head coach: Brent Sutter

Pre-season record: 4-1-0-0

2016-17 record: 30-29-9-4, Third in Central Division

2017 Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference quarter-final to Lethbridge (4-3)

Top scorers: C Michael Spacek (30-55-85), LW Brandon Hagel (31-40-71), LW Evan Polei (33-29-62)

20-year-olds: RW Mason McCarty (21-16-37), LW Grayson Pawlenchuk (4-5-9), G Lasse Petersen (17-16-4-0, 3.19, .896)

Imports: C Kristian Reichel (Czech Republic), RD Alexander Alexeyev (Russia)

Forwards: Gone is the playmaking prowess of Michael Spacek and the hard-nosed presence of Evan Polei and Adam Musil.

McCarty returns to Red Deer for his second tour of duty and should provide a shot of offense. The expected return of Grayson Pawlenchuk can’t be understated. Providing infectious energy, the product of Ardrossan, Alta., only found his way into 19 games in 2016-17 as his season was cut short due to injury.

Lane Zablocki and Brandon Hagel will help shoulder the offense as well. The addition of veteran Jared Dmytriw from the Victoria Royals will be a welcome presence.

An x-factor exists in new import forward Kristian Reichel. With NHL pedigree in his blood as the son of longtime pro and former Calgary Flames forward Robert Reichel, Kristian landed in Red Deer by stacking up five points (4G-1A) in two pre-season contests.

Defence: The hope is for Alexeyev to be healthy after he missed extended time in 2016-17 due to injury. The product of St. Petersburg, Russia, notched 21 points (4G-17A) in only 41 games during his first year in North America.

There will be plenty of opportunity for growth from the likes of Dawson Barteaux, who was a key piece in the trade that sent Josh Mahura to Regina, as well as Ethan Sakowich, Carson Sass and Jacob Herauf. Brandon Schuldhaus returns to provide an additional veteran presence with the puck-blasting Colton Bobyk having aged out.

Goal: Overage goaltender Lasse Petersen remains in the mix as does sophomore 19-year-old Riley Lamb. While the two virtually split time during the 2016-17 regular season, it was Lamb earning the start in all seven games of the Rebels’ first round playoff series against Lethbridge. He logged 14 wins in 41 regular season appearances, while Petersen laid claim to 17 victories in 41 appearances.

Player to watch: Zablocki, who was also a part of the Mahura trade with the Pats, had an immediate impact upon his inclusion in the Red Deer offense. The product of Wetaskiwin, Alta., rattled off 29 points (19G-10A) in 31 games with the Rebels, building upon the 25 points (9G-16A) he registered in 33 games with Regina prior to the deal. That was good enough for the Detroit Red Wings to call his name at the 2017 NHL Draft (3-79) and he will look to build upon last season’s success in his first full campaign with the Rebels.

Prognosis: The Rebels own plenty of grit and some dark-horse weaponry on offense, in the form of Zablocki and Hagel, among others. While a younger blue line could come with its challenges, there is immense potential in the youngsters holding down the back end.

Riley Lamb appeared ready to grow into the starter’s role and will be given the opportunity to do so once again, in all likelihood. His game will weigh heavily into the fate of the Rebels as they look to battle it out with a Central Division that could end up muddy in the middle.

As usual, a Brent Sutter-coached club will fight, scrap and claw for an opportunity at a playoff berth.

EDMONTON OIL KINGS 

General Manager: Randy Hansch

Head coach: Steve Hamilton

Pre-season record: 0-5-0-0

2016-17 record: 23-43-5-1, Fifth in Central Division

2017 Playoffs: Did not qualify

Top scorers: RW Davis Koch (21-49-70), RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (24-30-54), LW Tyler Robertson (15-21-36)

20-year-olds: RW Colton Kehler (18-15-33), G Travis Child (17-6-1-4, 2.98, .900, 2 SO)

Imports: RW Artyom Baltruk (Belarus), RW Andrei Pavlenko (Belarus)

Forwards: Fix-Wolansky exploded onto the WHL scene in his rookie season, electrifying Edmonton fans with dazzling offensive ability, which he parlayed into an invite to Edmonton Oilers camp. Continued growth and contributions from the locally-developed product will be critical for the Oil Kings in 2017-18.

Veterans Tyler Robertson, Graham Millar and Riley Stadel have graduated from the WHL and their leadership will be sorely missed on a young Oil Kings squad.

Brett Kemp, a former second round (41^st) bantam selection who was a key piece in the deal that saw Aaron Irving shipped to Everett, will look to grow into a bigger role in his first full year in the Alberta capital.

Defence: Conner McDonald came to Edmonton as a part of the trade that sent 20-year-old Lane Bauer to the Kamloops Blazers. The 18-year-old product of Delta, B.C., registered 27 points (8G-19A) in 67 games split between Kamloops and Edmonton in 2016-17. He will be relied upon to take on greater responsibility in his first full campaign with the Oil Kings.

Will Warm returns for his sophomore season after showing well enough to earn an invite to training camp with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. A product of Whistler, B.C., Warm notched 24 point (9G-15A) in 67 contests in 2016-17.

Goal: Child, a savvy veteran of 84 career WHL regular season appearances, joins the Oil Kings after splitting 2016-17 between the Swift Current Broncos and Brandon Wheat Kings. A product of Killam, Alta., Child secured 17 wins in 33 appearances last season, kicking out two shutouts in the process.

He appears to work in tandem with 19-year-old Josh Dechaine, who found his way into 17 games during his WHL rookie season in 2016-17.

Player to watch: While Tyler Robertson departs the organization, his younger brother Matthew steps in to carry forward the family name. The seventh-overall selection of the Oil Kings at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, the 6-foot-3 Robertson suited up in seven games during 2016-17 and was nothing short of steady. While it’s safe to expect his workload to be managed closely, Robertson is the next big thing on the Edmonton blue line and he should get every opportunity to take that and run.

Prognosis: With only Child and Kehler currently on the roster as overage players, the Oil Kings enter 2017-18 as one of the younger clubs in the Central Division.

With some great depth in their 1999-born group and further promise in the 2000-born group, Edmonton is certainly trending upward, but will have to eke out some wins in tight games to keep pace in the Central Division.

If Tyson Gruninger, Fix-Wolansky and Koch can elevate their play, the Oil Kings won’t be an easy opponent to deal with.

KOOTENAY ICE 

General Manager: Matt Cockell

Head coach: James Patrick

Pre-season record: 3-3-0-0

2016-17 record: 14-46-10-2, Sixth in Central Division

2017 Playoffs: Did not qualify

Top scorers: C Colton Kroeker (18-41-59), C Vince Loschiavo (29-28-57), D Cale Fleury (11-27-38)

20-year-olds: C Alec Baer (15-24-39), RW Colton Veloso (18-14-32), C Colton Kroeker (18-41-59)

Imports: LW Gilian Kohler (Switzerland), RD Martin Bodak (Slovakia)

Forwards: Brett Davis could be primed for a big breakout in 2017-18. Coming to Cranbrook from Lethbridge in a late season deal, the product of Oakbank, Man., notched 22 points (11G-11A) in 31 games with Kootenay on top of the 11 points (7G-4A) he etched out during 29 games with the Hurricanes. The Dallas Stars saw enough in the 6-foot-1 winger to call his name at the 2017 NHL Draft (6-163).

Kohler joins the ICE after having his named called as the third-overall selection at the 2017 CHL Import Draft. The 5-foot-11 native of Biel, Switzerland, lit up Swiss Junior A in 2016-17, registering 50 points (8G-42A) in 43 games. Eligible for the 2018 NHL Draft, this is a big year for Kohler as he looks to plant himself on the radar of NHL scouts while also transitioning to life in North America.

Kroeker and Loschiavo will need to produce at greater rates than in previous seasons, but certainly have the potential to achieve that.

Defence: Fleury returns as the ICE captain following a stint at training camp with the Montreal Canadiens, who selected him at the 2017 NHL Draft (3-87). His presence at both ends of the rink remains vital to the fate of the ICE.

Veteran Dallas Hines, Ryan Pouliot and Sam Huston return for another year, while Loeden Schaufler and Bobby Russell look to make the full-time jump in 2017-18.

Goal: The ICE appear set to roll with the tandem of Kurtis Chapman and Bailey Brkin – both training camp acquisitions via the trade market. Chapman brings a grand total of 50 minutes of WHL regular season experience from his time with the Regina Pats, while Brkin owns 60 minutes of WHL experience from one appearance in Swift Current.

Player to watch: Peyton Krebs was the first-overall selection at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft and the first piece in an extensive rebuild for the Kootenay ICE. A product of Okotoks, Alta., he owns incredible vision and anticipates the play unlike most players his age. In 2016-17, he was good for six points (1G-5A) in six appearances with the ICE. To ask for point-per-game production from a 16-year-old rookie might be just a bit much, but Krebs is most definitely capable of having a major impact as arguably the most highly-touted rookie for 2017-18.

Prognosis: Once again one of the younger squads in the WHL’s Central Division, the ICE should be more competitive than what was indicated by their 2016-17 season.

There’s plenty of excitement surrounding the club, which underwent an ownership change in 2017, complete with new management in Matt Cockell and an extensively revamped coaching staff including head coach James Patrick and associate coach Jon Klemm. New uniforms are in order and a new, young face for the franchise in Krebs.

It may take another year or two before we see the extent of this group’s on-ice potential, but the pieces are in place for a brand-new ICE age in Cranbrook.

WHL Eastern Division Preview

REGINA PATS 

General Manager: John Paddock

Head coach: John Paddock

Pre-season record: 3-2-0-1

2016-17 record: 52-12-7-1, First in East Division

2017 Playoffs: Lost in WHL Championship to Seattle (4-2)

Top scorers: Sam Steel (50-81-131), Adam Brooks (43-87-130), Dawson Leedahl (35-54-89)

20-year-olds: C Wyatt Sloboshan (11-20-31), C Matt Bradley (34-43-77), Tyler Brown (33-8-5-1, 2.64, 0.911, 5 SO)

Imports: LD Egor Zamula (Russia), RW Emil Oksanen (Finland)

Forwards: If you know a goaltender in the East Division not playing for the Regina Pats, now may be a good time to say a prayer for them. The forward core for the Pats is built to score and will be taking another run at being the top scoring team in the league as they were last year with 353 goals. The loss of Adam Brooks does subtract some of the team’s firepower, but the addition of Medicine Hat Tigers center Matt Bradley in an off-season trade could set the stage for the Surrey, B.C. native to have a career year.

Sam Steel remains a question mark for the Pats as he attends camp with the Anaheim Ducks. It would seem crazy for the CHL Player of the Year to miss out on such a huge season for the Pats franchise and an opportunity to play in the Mastercard Memorial Cup, but stranger things have happened. Nick Henry tallied 35 goals and 80 points last season and will likely be an offensive threat for the team again.   

Defence: In addition to scoring the most goals last season, the Pats also gave up the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference. Josh Mahura was a mid-season acquisition who contributed his fair share offensively as well as defensively. Other important pieces like Connor Hobbs and import Sergei Zborovskiy are eligible to play and would certainly be welcomed back with open arms, but the logistics of where they fit in the depth chart of their respective NHL clubs has yet to take shape. Once it does, it may shed more light onto what this team will look like at the blue line.

Goal: There won’t be too much change between the pipes for the Pats. Tyler Brown is back and looking to build on a 33-win campaign. The price to acquire a forward piece like Bradley came at the cost of Jordan Hollett. His void will be filled by Max Paddock, who appeared in five games with the Pats last season, sporting a 4-1 record, 3.01 goals against average and .901 save percentage. He may find himself on the bench often with Brown in front of him, but he’ll gain a valuable year of development with the team in such an important year.

Player to watch: Of all the players whose statuses are unclear with their NHL clubs, one forward that will certainly be back with the Pats this year is Red Deer, Alta. native Jeff de Wit. With seven goals in four pre-season games, the team’s reliance on his offensive contributions could grow exponentially over the coming season. How he measures up to those expectations will play a key role in the team’s chances.

The status of players like Steel, Henry, Hobbs and Austin Wagner remain uncertain, but it seems inevitable that Vegas Golden Knights second round selection Jake Leschyshyn will come back to the Pats at some point soon. His 17 goals and 40 points in 47 games was a solid campaign for the then 17-year-old, but how he elevates his play and of those around him will be interesting and fun to watch at the same time.

Prognosis: Of all the years to win it all, the Regina Pats want it to be this year. In their 100^th season, the Pats play host to the 100^th edition of the Mastercard Memorial Cup. The stage literally couldn’t be bigger for the club. That’s why every game, streak, slump and play will be under the microscope.

The Pats haven’t made it to the Mastercard Memorial Cup on their own merit since they won it all in 1974. Previous hosting opportunities in 1980 and 2001 have resulted in the Pats coming up just short of their championship.

Do the Pats have the right formula of players to go all the way? Time will tell. They seem to be set in net and could return strong defensive and forward cores if NHL camps and injury rehabs shape up in their favour.

The tough part of this process for John Paddock and his players is not knowing what the right formula is until it may be too late. Their tickets to the big dance are already punched, it’s just a matter of how they use them.    

MOOSE JAW WARRIORS 

General Manager: Alan Millar

Head coach: Tim Hunter

Pre-season record: 3-2-1-0

2016-17 record: 42-21-8-1, Second in East Division

2017 Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference quarter-final to Swift Current (4-3)

Top scorers: Jayden Halbgewachs (50-51-101), Brayden Burke (19-63-82), Brett Howden (38-43-81)

20-year-olds: C Jayden Halbgewachs (50-51-101), LW Brayden Burke (19-63-82), LW Tanner Jeannot (19-33-52), RW Spencer Bast (9-8-17)

Imports: LD Oleg Sosunov (Russia), LD Dmitri Zaitsev (Russia)

Forwards: The 2016-17 season was a landmark year for the Warriors as they surpassed the 90-point plateau for the first time since they won their last division title in the 2011-12 season.

They’ll return much of the forward core that helped them get there as well, assuming Warriors captain Brett Howden doesn’t stay in camp longer with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Besides Howden, the Warriors have plenty of other good offensive options, with four of their other top five producers from last season eligible to return, including Halbgewachs and Burke.

Defence: Montreal Canadiens second round selection Josh Brook and 2018 draft eligible prospect Jett Woo lead the defensive corps for the Warriors.

The departures of Josh Thrower and Matt Sozanski will create the opportunity for others to step up, also opening the door for the team’s two imports in Sosunov and Zaitsev to take on significant roles.

Goal:  Between the pipes is where the Warriors could likely feel the biggest loss of all with the departure of 2017 WHL Eastern Conference Goaltender of the Year Zach Sawchenko to the Canada West Conference as he utilizes his WHL Scholarship. That may be a bit of a blessing to the Warriors, who don’t face that tough of a decision now on their overager group going forward for this season

Brody Willms is an experienced candidate to replace Sawchenko in net, but he has yet to play more than 25 games in a season, though he was playing some of his best hockey last year when faced with that workload.

The backup job will likely belong to Penticton, B.C. native and Okanagan Hockey Academy product Adam Evanoff, so seeing how he handles play at the WHL level will be interesting to watch.

Player to watch: The Warriors’ first round selection in 2015, Luka Burzan came as advertised last season with 27 points in 66 games. What does he have in store for an encore? The 2018 draft eligible prospect will be one to watch in an offensively dominant Warriors squad.

Prognosis: This year is a perfect storm for the Warriors. They have a good combination of impactful overagers, the right mix of 1998-born players already making their impact in the league and a whole host of other contributors throughout the lineup.

The Warriors will be challengers to win the division as they were last year when they finished 10 wins back of the Regina Pats and had the eighth-best record in the league.

Translating that to playoff success will be another story as they will have to fight their way out of a fierce Eastern Conference.

SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS 

Director of Player Personnel: Manny Viveiros

Head coach: Manny Viveiros

Pre-season: 2-3-0-0

2016-17 record:  39-23-4-6, Third in East Division

2017 Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal to Regina (4-3)

Top scorers: Tyler Steenbergen (51-39-90), Aleksi Heponiemi (28-58-86), Ryley Lindgren (27-47-74)

20-year-olds: C Glenn Gawdin (26-33-59), Connor Chaulk (10-13-23), Arthur Miller (7-12-19), RW Brandan Arnold (3-4-7), Taz Burman (18-12-4-1, 2.96, .907)

Imports: RD Artyom Minulin (Russia), C Aleksi Heponiemi (Finland)

Forwards: The 2017-18 version of the Swift Current Broncos will once again be deep down the middle with the pair of stars in Steenbergen and Heponiemi. Both selected in last year’s draft, the focus now turns to taking their Broncos club a step forward in a challenging division. Their 39 wins and 88 points were the most since the 2007-08 season and a 30-point improvement over their record from the 2014-15 season.

Mid-season acquisition Ryley Lindgren was the team’s top producer in the post-season as the Broncos went on a surprising run that took them to a seventh and deciding game against the Eastern Conference Champion Regina Pats.

Defence: What will be holding up the Broncos for the time being is the status of Maxime Lajoie with the Ottawa Senators. As a signed 20-year-old, he could very likely stay with the Senators organization for the season, though his offensive upside and style of play would be welcomed back to the Broncos if presented with the opportunity.

His return, while welcomed, would make a tough overager situation even tougher for the Broncos, who are already dealing with four forwards and a goaltender up front playing in their overage year.

Import blueliner Artyom Minulin and Colby Sissons can lead the defensive core in Lajoie’s absence while the 1998-born Sahvan Khaira could see an increased role this season.

Goal: Taz Burman was replaced mid-season with Jordan Papirny. With Papirny now aged out, the starting role in net belongs to Burman, who will likely see the bulk of the time in net. He posted relatively stable numbers last season, and if they’re sustained throughout the entire campaign, it could keep the Broncos in the top half of the division.

Player to watch: A pair of first round selections by the Broncos should factor into this year’s roster. Defenceman Dom Schmiemann finally had the experience of his first full WHL season last year. Watching his development from the off-season to his first year of NHL draft eligibility should provide for some excitement.

Up front, 2015 first round selection Riley Stotts had a promising 16-point rookie campaign and will come back to the team with higher expectations.

It goes without saying that Logan Barlage will be a player to watch as well. His 37 goals and 76 points at the Midget AAA level last year in Saskatchewan was the encore performance after a 60-goal and 125-point season in Bantam AA in his WHL draft year. He comes to the Broncos this season already with 17 games of WHL experience, four in the regular season and 13 in last year’s playoffs. How quickly the 2019 NHL Draft eligible prospect makes his mark on his team, the division and the league will be fun for any fan to follow.

Prognosis: How do you measure success when you’re slotted behind two of the top clubs in the conference? That’s a question the Broncos will have to answer as they continue to move upwards.

It’s completely reasonable to expect the Broncos to make it back to the post-season again this year, though likely still as the third seed in their division or as one of the wild card entries.

PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS 

General Manager: Curtis Hunt

Head coach: Marc Habscheid

Pre-season record: 2-3-0-0

2016-17 record: 21-44-5-2, Sixth in East Division

2017 Playoffs: Did not qualify

Top scorers: Simon Stransky (22-26-48), Parker Kelly (21-22-43), Curtis Miske (20-23-43)

20-year-olds: C Curtis Miske (20-23-43), RW Devon Skoleski (14-20-34), C Jordy Stallard (14-23-37)

Imports: LD Vojtech Budik (Czech Republic), LW Simon Stransky (Czech Republic)

Forwards: If the Raiders want to make a push for a playoff spot, they’ll need more offensive contributions up front. In a division as challenging as the East, the motto seems to carry that the best defence is a good offence.

While there are plenty of players in the pipeline expected to contribute in larger roles in years to come, there are pieces with the Raiders now that will be counted upon come Friday’s opening puck drop.

Parker Kelly finished second on the team in scoring last season as a 17-year-old. Him taking the next step forward with his career is of importance to the Raiders.

Sean Montgomery scored four goals in four pre-season games.  His 23-point campaign was a slight improvement over the previous season, so building upon that again this year is critical for the 1998-born forward from Calgary, Alta.

Curtis Miske found his offensive rhythm after a mid-season trade with the Spokane Chiefs, producing close to a point-per-game in 33 contests with the Raiders. Continuing that trend would be beneficial for both sides as he enters he overage year.

Defence: After winning the lottery last year to select first in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, the Raiders went with familiar roots at first overall, selecting Kaiden Guhle, the younger brother of Buffalo Sabres second round pick Brendan Guhle.

His time to join the Raiders may not be for another year, but as a highly-ranked prospect, he may be worth waiting for.

In the meantime, players like Max Martin, Brayden Pachal and Vojtech Budik will work to further their individual careers as well as helping the team improve on last season’s 49-point campaign. The team’s first round selection from 2016, defenceman Rhett Rhinehart will likely get a full season worth of games to grow and help the team as well. Watching his development and rise is another benefit afforded to the Raiders as part of their youth movement.

Goal: The puck stops here when it comes to Ian Scott. Scott finished 14^th among WHL goaltenders last season in minutes played, making the eighth-most saves among that same group with 1,391 stops throughout the season. Scott’s promise and potential between the pipes was enough for the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs to select him in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft. Eligible for three more seasons in the league, Scott’s journey is just beginning and as the goaltender matures, he can help provide a steady presence as the team’s core grows in front of him.

Player to watch: Cole Fonstad made the jump to the WHL last year and didn’t look out of place, tallying 11 goals and 26 points in 69 games. How he elevates his game in his second full season will be of great importance to the team’s growth as well.

While it’d be nice to have Scott play all 72 regular season games, he’ll need a break at some point. That responsibility will fall onto either Nicholas Sanders or Curtis Meger. Sanders has the edge based upon his previous experience with the Raiders, but Meger has been successful in his own right, helping the Regina Pat Canadians to a bronze medal at the Telus Cup in 2014-15 and winning a host of other awards.

The importance of the backup role will be to not only give Scott a night off from time to time, but to help the team continue building in those games as well.

Prognosis: The club has plenty of highly-touted prospects coming through the system each year. How those prospects develop and take their next step is now seemingly the one barrier between the Raiders and success.

Players like Spencer Moe and Carson Miller are already contributing to the offensive upside of the team as 2000-born forwards and they aren’t the only ones. Keeping those cores intact and nurturing them can quickly bring the Raiders back into the Eastern Conference spotlight.

With several key defensive pieces, including Kaiden Guhle, and a budding star in Ian Scott between the pipes, the sky is the limit for the Raiders, who should help add to the competitiveness of the division in years to come.

SASKATOON BLADES 

General Manager: Colin Priestner

Head coach: Dean Brockman

Pre-season record: 4-2-0-0

2016-17 record: 28-35-7-2, Fifth in East Division

2017 Playoffs: Did not qualify

Top scorers: Braylon Shmyr (35-31-66), Jesse Shynkaruk (31-25-56), Mason McCarty (21-16-37), Josh Paterson (17-20-37)

20-year-olds: LW Braylon Shmyr (35-31-66), C Cameron Hebig (26-43-69 in 2015-16), RD Evan Fiala (4-15-19), G Logan Flodell (22-20-4-0, 2.81, 0.912, 3 SO)

Imports: LD Libor Hajek (Czech Republic), LD Mark Rubinchik (Russia)

Forwards: Kirby Dach, the second overall pick in the 2016 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft impressed in 19 games with the club last season, tallying six goals and 10 points. The Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. native will be counted on for more of an offensive punch this year. How far he rises could dramatically affect the Blades’ chances of making it into the post-season.

There is a looming decision for the Blades to make on their overagers, which includes forwards Cameron Hebig and Braylon Shmyr.

Defence: Saskatoon’s two imports can be found on the team’s blue line in Libor Hajek and Mark Rubinchik. With the departure of Bryton Sayers, both will return as the top two scorers from the blue line for the Blades last year.

Evan Fiala contributed defensively as well, but the team as a whole left a lot to be desired, giving up the second-most goals of any East Division team. It’ll be tough to contain teams like Regina and Moose Jaw this year, but how they handle themselves against the other three teams in their division will be telling in the team’s hopes for a ticket to the post-season.

Goal: Logan Flodell returns for his senior year of junior hockey as the de facto starter for the Blades. After posting back-to-back 22-win seasons, Flodell will be looking to add to that this season as his club aims to go to the playoffs. If things don’t start out well in Saskatoon, Flodell may be an attractive trading piece for a team looking to improve in the goaltending department or acquire an experienced backup.

Backing him up will likely be Hafford, Sask. native Joel Grzybowski, who was a part of the tandem that helped the Battlefords North Stars to a SJHL title last season. His transition to the WHL could be a big positive for the club.

Player to watch: Cameron Hebig’s story may be the most interesting of the bunch. After missing the 2016-17 season due to an injury, the hometown product appears to be healthy and ready to go after notching five goals and six points in four pre-season games.

How close he gets to his 2015-16 form of 26 goals and 69 points remains a question mark. There’s no doubt that the Blades missed his offensive contributions last season, scoring fewer than 200 goals for the just the second time in the past nine seasons. It being Hebig’s overage year of junior hockey, this is his biggest chance to prove he’s capable of continuing his hockey career past this coming season.

Prognosis: Up-and-coming sophomores like Chase Wouters and Michael Farren will continue to have a direct impact on the club this season. Both had promising rookie campaigns last season and part of this year’s growth for the Blades will involve both of them. They have the offensive duo together for four more seasons, giving the Blades plenty of positive options in the present and future.

They’ll be in tough to nab one of the top three spots in the division, but one of the wild card entries seems realistic for the Blades.

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS 

General Manager: Grant Armstrong  

Head Coach: David Anning

Pre-season record: 3-1-0-0

2016-17 record: 31-31-7-3, Fourth in East Division

2017 Playoffs: Lost to Medicine Hat in Eastern Conference quarter-finals (4-0)

Top scorers: Reid Duke (37-34-71), Ty Lewis (30-38-68), Tyler Coulter (30-33-63)

20-year-olds: LD Kade Jensen (4-10-14), LD James Shearer (8-23-31), G Logan Thompson (14-17-5-2, 3.24, .908, 1 SO)

Imports: RD Daniel Bukac (Czech Republic)

Forwards:  Last year’s questions mark was whether the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers would return stud defenceman Ivan Provorov to the Wheat Kings. This year’s question mark centers around Nolan Patrick, the second overall pick from the 2017 NHL Draft. Time will only tell if he will be sent back. Had injuries not shortened his season, Patrick was on pace to record another 100-point campaign, which may have turned the Wheat Kings into a division contender and not a playoff wild card.

The loss of last year’s leading scorer in overager Reid Duke as well as potentially Patrick could be a tough blow to the team, but with the rise of players like Stelio Mattheos, that blow to the team’s chances could be softened.

Defence: With the Provorov era in Brandon over for good, the attention turns to the next generation of defensive stars for the Wheat Kings. Kale Clague is expected to be one of the top defencemen in the league this year and will be relied upon by the Wheat Kings night in and night out in a competitive division. Overagers Jensen and Shearer could provide stability to the team’s backend as well.

Goal: Logan Thompson will more than likely be anointed the starter for the Wheat Kings in his overage year. While he led the team with 14 wins last season, the Wheat Kings will be expecting big things from him and Thompson will have big expectations for himself. Five of those wins came against Moose Jaw and Regina, so he’s shown he can at least hold his own with the division leaders. How he responds to an increased workload as well as the play of expected backup Dylan Myskiw will go a long way in determining the team’s fortunes.

Player to watch: Caiden Daley has already gained a wealth of experience with the Wheat Kings. The team’s first round selection in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft played briefly with the team during their championship run in 2015-16, then missed just 12 games last season.

Prognosis: Two years removed from their run to the Mastercard Memorial Cup, the Brandon Wheat Kings are no longer the heavyweights in their division with two solid teams in the Regina Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors clamoring for the spotlight. That leaves them up against four other teams with their own aspirations of success, making the division that much harder to play in. The return of a player like Patrick could alter the landscape and put Brandon back into contention for the division title.

Thankfully, consecutive years of solid drafting has built the team from within and even features a healthy contingent of hometown players. The division won’t come easy, but the team seems poised to grow from their 72-point season last year as they build towards another lengthy championship run.

(WHL Communications)