2012-13 Record: 24-40-4-4 (missed the playoffs)
The Wheat Kings got off to a good start for the first couple of weeks or so, but thanks to shoddy goaltending, that did not last. Of course, when their offense failed, things turned south for the lone team in Manitoba. Neither Corbin Boes nor Curtis Honey were the answer in net, and it didn't help that there wasn't much of a defense in front of either guy. Jordan Papirny will likely replace Boes at one spot. Tim McGauley and Ryan Pulock were the team's leading scorers at 45 points each, but none of the Wheat Kings scored 20 goals in a season. At 189 goals, they trailed only Moose Jaw for most futile offense in the Eastern Conference and were the worst defense in the Conference, giving up 284 goals. Nick Buonassisi, Tyler Yaworski, and Ryley Miller move on, as they were last year's overagers, as will Marek Kalus, who was cut to make room for Rihards Bukharts, who was picked in the CHL Import Draft recently. Richard Nejezchleb is the team's other Imported player, which effectively fills the two-Imported player rule in the CHL. Pulock is expected to return to the team, as the New York Islanders draft pick isn't expected to make the team right away, given the team's blue line depth, which means he is also likely to be the captain, a role he held last year. Eric Roy, Jayce Hawryluk, and McGauley are also expected to return, giving the Wheat Kings all of their top four leading scorers back from last year.
Prediction: 7th in the Eastern Conference
Too many holes on the blue line and in goal will not be offset by an improving offense that should be better, albeit marginally. A return to health, however, will go a long way in helping reverse the team's fortunes from last year.
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