Moving Up to the Dub

The Missouri Mavericks are now posting a Help Wanted sign, as they saw Richard Matvichuk move on from the head coaching job to go coach the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. The move comes after just two seasons, with the last one being record-breaking regular season that ultimately fizzled in the Conference semi-finals to Allen, the team Matvichuk led prior to coming to Missouri.

Matvichuk was behind the bench for the Mavericks' regular season to remember this past season. He leaves for a Prince George team that is looking for their first playoff series win since the 2006-07 season. The Cougars also posted their highest season point total this season (77) since the 2001-02 season. Expectations are higher now, and simply making the playoffs won't be acceptable now that there is talent coming and staying for a longer time.

As for the Mavericks, they're now having to find a new head coach, which given their recent success, should attract some proven names.

WHL Playoffs: Western Conference Preview

The WHL Playoffs begin tonight, with the Western Conference teams starting tomorrow. Prior to the season, it was thought that Kelowna would be a favorite to repeat as champions. Now, Victoria is in the driver's seat as the Scotty Munro Champions while Kelowna is struggling with injuries. Meanwhile, Seattle is finally starting to live up to their billing, as they took home the U.S. Division title, but the race to be the Western Conference representative in the WHL Finals appears to be wide open.

Victoria Royals vs. Spokane Chiefs

Don't let Victoria's defense fool you, they can also score. However, it does begin with the goaltending, as the duo of Coleman Vollrath and Griffen Outhouse man the nets ably. Their offense is balanced, as three players scored over 80 points while rookie Matthew Phillips contributed 76 points. Everything begins with MVP candidate Joe Hicketts, as he has been everything for the Royals. The Chiefs needed the last weekend to clinch a spot in the playoffs, and while there is talent in Kailer Yamamoto, asking them to contend this season is a bit much.

Prediction: Royals in 5

Kelowna Rockets vs. Kamloops Blazers

The Rockets looked like they were going to lock up the top spot in the Western Conference, but then injuries to Nick Merkley and Jackson Whistle derailed those chances. They still have Tyson Baillie, but seeing as there's almost a 30 point gap between him and the next highest scorer, it will be imperative that the Rockets get a team effort, particularly since Michael Herringer is untested in the playoffs. Kamloops doesn't score as much as Kelowna, but they got strong goaltending from Connor Ingram, and they've played their best hockey lately. An upset is not out of the cards here.

Prediction: Blazers in 7

Seattle Thunderbirds vs. Prince George Cougars

The Thunderbirds are led by Matt Barzal and Ryan Gropp, but are also getting contributions from players like Ethan Bear and Donovan Nelus. However, it was the mid-season pickup of Landon Bow from Swift Current that put the Thunderbirds over the top on the way to the U.S. Division title. If Seattle hopes to win a league title, this year is their best shot yet. The Cougars are led by Chase Witala, and along with players like Tate Olson and Jesse Gabrielle, the Cougars will need to pick up their offensive output, as their defense has been at its best in recent history.

Prediction: Thunderbirds in 6

Everett Silvertips vs. Portland Winterhawks

The Silvertips are riding Carter Hart's goaltending into the playoffs, but with a goal differential of just +10, it will be imperative that their offense shows up because if it doesn't, it's possible that they will be wasting Hart's efforts. In Portland, it's been a time of transition, as they struggled to get to the playoffs this season. They haven't been able to replace the scoring of recent seasons adequately, and they give up goals in bunches. However, it is the playoffs, and the Winterhawks have surprised before (see: last season) when their backs have been against the wall.

Prediction: Winterhawks in 7

WHL Playoff Picture: Western Conference

In the WHL Western Conference, things are less certain as to who will make the playoffs, as every team is still in it, and only 12 points is all that separates the sixth spot from dead last.

VICTORIA ROYALS: Thought to have been nothing more than a middle of the road team prior to the season, they find themselves a point ahead of Kelowna for the Scotty Munro Trophy, thanks to the second best offense and second best defense in terms of goals for and against. However, Kelowna does have two games in hand over Victoria, so the Royals' historically great season will have to be just that for the remainder of the season.

KELOWNA ROCKETS: Just a point behind Victoria and with two games in hand, the Rockets were dealt a blow recently when their best player Nick Merkley was lost for the season to injury. However, the Rockets are still a balanced attack that can do some damage come playoff time.

PRINCE GEORGE: Third in the B.C. Division, they still have to look over their shoulder for Kamloops, who sit five points back for that final division spot.

EVERETT SILVERTIPS: The best team in the goals against category, the Silvertips are also the U.S. Division leaders and a win over their nearest competitor Seattle last weekend helped add to their slim cushion. However, they are tied for second fewest goals for, so they are banking on Carter Hart to carry the team, which could be a recipe for disaster come playoff time.

SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS: Thought to have been the favorite to claim the U.S. Division crown prior to the season, the T-Birds are instead trying to catch up to Everett while also trying to fend off the Portland Winterhawks and Spokane Chiefs, as five points is all that separates the three teams. Whether Logan Flodell can elevate his game in goal when the stakes get higher remains to be seen.

PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS: A loss to Calgary last night did not help in their quest to stay within the division spots. Four points is all that separates them from missing the playoffs, as Tri-City sits that far back and with a game in hand.

SPOKANE CHIEFS: Holders of the first wild card spot, it's rather tenuous, at best, as Tri-City is just three points back. While the Chiefs are most likely going to be contenders next season, they have to deal with this season, which will be painful.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS: Like Portland and Spokane, they also have to look over their shoulder for Tri-City, who are just two points back of Kamloops and with a game in hand. Of the teams in that block, Portland and Tri-City have been playing their best hockey in the last 10 games, and Kamloops cannot afford too many slip-ups if they want to avoid missing the playoffs for the third straight season.

TRI-CITY AMERICANS: They are just two points out of a playoff spot, but have also played their best hockey lately, going 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games. They have a good chance to make the playoffs if they can do well against their division rivals.

VANCOUVER GIANTS: They sit 10 points out of a playoff spot, but are still alive, with games against division rivals still to go. If they can win games like last weekend, they could sneak in, but it won't be easy if only Tyler Benson is regularly contributing.

Moving Closer to Home

It's been a rough start to the WHL season for Nick McBride, as he was squeezed out of the Prince Albert Raiders roster thanks to strong play by both Rylan Parenteau and Ian Scott (both of whom, are still playing well).  That forced McBride to ask for a trade prior to the season, and now, at the start of November, McBride is finally going to get a chance to resume his junior league career, as the Raiders traded him to Prince George for a second round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.

McBride was in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game last season, but went undrafted in the 2015 NHL Draft.  McBride had a promising start to his time in Prince Albert in 2014, taking over the starting job late in the season from Cole Cheveldae en route to pushing the Raiders to a playoff berth in a tie-breaker game with Red Deer.  However, like many of the Raiders last season, McBride had his fair share of struggles, and in some cases, was outplayed by Parenteau.  The Cougars currently have a goal differential of +2, and now have three goalies who have starting experience in Ty Edmonds, Mack Shields, and McBride, though it remains to be seen if the Cougars carry three goalies for an extended period of time.

2015-16 WHL Season BC Division Preview

With training camp coming soon, today is a look at the BC Division.

The Kamloops Blazers missed out on the playoffs for the second straight season, and worse, they say their first round in this year's Bantam Draft go to Moose Jaw in a trade two seasons ago.  They have decisions to make as far as who to keep as their three overagers, which include Cole Ully, Matt Needham, and Ryan Rehill.  The good news is that besides a year of being drama-free, thanks to Don Hay's return behind the bench, they will also have both Deven Sideroff and Connor Ingram returning.  If the Blazers wish to make the playoffs once again, Jake Kryski will have to take the next step forward.

The Kelowna Rockets came within a goal of being the Memorial Cup Champions, and now, they have to break in another new head coach, as Dan Lambert was lured away to Buffalo as an assistant coach.  Brad Ralph steps in, and unlike the previous season, it is not known what he will bring to the team.  The Rockets will also have holes to fill on the blue line, as both Madison Bowey and Josh Morrisey are turning pro, as will Leon Draisaitl.  Jackson Whistle could return as an overager, which would solidify things in goal.  Besides the losses, the Rockets do maintain a good roster, at least up front, as Nick Merkley, Rourke Chartier, and Justin Kirkland all return, with Tyson Baille potentially being one of three overagers.

Prince George experienced a revival of sorts thanks to ownership that is committed to the team and the city.  The results showed, as the Cougars made the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.  Defensively, the Cougars are still outright bad, which places a huge onus on the offense to produce.  Jansen Harkins and possibly Chase Witala will spearhead the offense from the front.  The Cougars will need all the offense they can get until things get better from the blue line, as Ty Edmonds is good, but he's nowhere near elite.

The Vancouver Giants had a wild season, as they canned Troy G. Ward just months into his first season as Giants coach and didn't retain Claude Noel after he finished the season as interim coach.  Lorne Molleken will step behind the bench, and while he inherits a top talent in Tyler Benson, there's little else that inspires confidence in the Giants.  Their biggest question mark is in goal, as Payton Lee took a big step back and he isn't even assured of a roster spot this season.

The Victoria Royals are as steady as it gets, and it is a near certainty that Coleman Vollrath will be one of the team's overagers this season.  The Royals aren't spectacular in any fashion, but they get the job done, a reflection of the coaching job that Dave Lowry has done since taking over as head coach in 2012.  Joe Hicketts leads the way on the blue line, and scoring is almost by committee every season, something that doesn't figure to change.

A New Age in Prince George

Yesterday, the Prince George Cougars unveiled a new look that will debut next season.  Before getting to what the new look will be, it should be noted that it is a culmination of new ownership, which includes ex-Cougars Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer, showing a commitment to keeping the team in Prince George, as well as getting people to come to CN Centre for games with promotions not done by previous ownership.

As for the new look, the real change is in the logo, as the jerseys will largely remain the same.  As you can see in the picture above, the Cougars will don the logo on the front, and it is clever that they were able to incorporate the cougar into the negative space of the letter C.  The negative space in the C will change according to what color jersey the Cougars are wearing for a game, which means there is more of a split on how effective the design is on the uniforms.  The logo works great on the home black jerseys, but it doesn't quite pan out as well on the white uniforms, as the outlines, which are in white and gold, are harder to see against the background.

I feel like while the Cougars did a great job of moving away from their former logo, which was outright cartoonish, they missed an opportunity to make some changes to the jersey design, though the logo change actually improves the overall look, if only marginally.

WHL Western Conference Playoffs Preview

Most of the WHL playoffs action begins Friday, and that includes most of the Western Conference.  Today, here is a look at the Western Conference.

(1) Kelowna Rockets vs. (4) Tri-City Americans

The Rockets are heavily favored to be the Western Conference representative in the WHL Finals this year, but the same thing was said last year.  However, last year's team didn't have either Josh Morrisey or Leon Draisaitl.  The Rockets still have enviable depth, and with both former Prince Albert players on the roster, the Rockets provide a scary proposition for any team to face.  The Americans needed all of the season to secure a playoff spot, and their reward is basically being the sacrificial lamb to the best team in the Western Conference.

Prediction: Rockets in four

(2) Victoria Royals vs. (3) Prince George Cougars

The Royals are a very good team that is well-coached, as evidenced by Dave Lowry being named head coach for next year's WJC and Team Canada.  The Royals won't wow you with spectacular offense, but they play a physical style that wears opponents out.  The Cougars are back in the playoffs after a four year absence, and if an upset has to happen, it could be here, as the Cougars have shown an ability to play a full game (see: last game against the same Royals).  However, the Cougars must cut down the goals given up, as only Lethbridge and Saskatoon gave up more.

Prediction: Royals in six

(1) Everett Silvertips vs. (4) Spokane Chiefs

The Silvertips needed the last weekend to hold off the Portland Winterhawks to win their first U.S. Division title since 2007.  There may be a bit of a goaltending controversy, as Austin Lotz is the usual starter, but Carter Hart has played well lately.  If a team is going to beat Everett, it will have to be five-on-five, as the Silvertips were the second-least penalized team in the league.  The Chiefs are still a young team that isn't likely to challenge for an upset here, but the play of the Yamamoto brothers (Kailer and Keanu) plus a few others put the Chiefs comfortably into a wild card spot.

Prediction: Silvertips in six

(2) Portland Winterhawks vs. (3) Seattle Thunderbirds

These two rivals square off for the first time in the playoffs since 2006, and it's a little more even this year than in recent years.  The Winterhawks have two of the most prolific scorers in Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nic Petan, but don't forget about either Paul Bittner or Chase DeLeo.  Adin Hill has seized the starting goaltending job, but this will be his first time playing in a pressure-packed situation.  The Thunderbirds actually won the season series this year, and with Matt Barzal not having hit his full-stride, it's possible the Thunderbirds will have a second gear coming soon.  For Seattle to win, they do need to expose the lack of defensive depth on Portland's side, and that begins with Shea Theodore needing to be the offensive catalyst he's always been.

Prediction: Winterhawks in seven

The Fight to the Finish

It's the last weekend in the 2014-15 WHL season, and there are spots left to be filled before the playoffs begin.  The Central and U.S. Division winners will be determined this weekend, as Calgary and Medicine Hat are looking to claim the top spot in the Central while Everett and Portland will be fighting for the U.S. Division crown.  Meanwhile, three spots remain, as the last spot in the East Division and a spot in the B.C. Division and the last wild card in the Western Conference have to be filled.  In the East Division, Swift Current holds a two point lead on Moose Jaw, with Swift Current having a home and home with Lethbridge while Moose Jaw has a home and home with Brandon.  Conventional wisdom favors Swift Current here, but Brandon has everything sewn up as far as home ice advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.  In the Western Conference, the last B.C. Division spot is up for grabs, as Prince George and Kamloops duke it out with each other this weekend, and Prince George is close to claiming that spot, as they only need a point to secure that spot.  Meanwhile, Kamloops could still claim the last wild card spot, but they also have a game less to play than Tri-City, who have games against Portland and Spokane this weekend, with the Portland games being a home and home tonight and Sunday.  Vancouver is all but eliminated, as they would need to win out and have both Tri-City and Kamloops lose in regulation to force a tiebreaker.  Their path to a miracle goes through a home and home with Kelowna, who themselves are assured of home ice advantage in the Western Conference.

The New Ice Age

The theme of this season's Prince George Cougars has been dubbed the "The New Ice Age."  The reason for this is due to new ownership that took over starting this season, as Greg Pocock, along with former Cougars/current NHL players Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer, headed up an investing group that would assume ownership and promise a commitment to the team, something that hasn't always been the case the last few years.

That off-ice change is starting to show itself on the ice and in the stands, as more people are attending games at the CN Centre and the Cougars are on the verge of making the playoffs for the first time since 2010-11.  They play Kamloops tomorrow, and a win will help them out big time, as not only can they give themselves breathing room in the BC Division, as they would put some distance between themselves and Kamloops and Vancouver, but also give them momentum against Victoria, a potential matchup in the first round.  The Cougars may have lost the last game, but they managed to salvage a point, and getting to that point was an example of there possibly being a new day for Cougars fans, as they erased a 3-0 deficit against Victoria Saturday to force a shootout, where they would fall short in 11 rounds.  Prior to that defeat, the Cougars won six in a row.  Thanks to that streak, the Cougars are four points clear of Kamloops for the last spot in the automatic entry by being top three in the division and should it come down to it, two points ahead of Tri-City for the last wild card if they end up getting eclipsed by either Kamloops or Vancouver.

WHL Playoff Picture: Western Conference

With a couple of big trades in the NHL in the last week, I had not been able to get to the Western Conference playoff picture in the WHL.  With a flurry of deals expected between now and the March 2 deadline, right now is the time to do it, so before it gets out of hand, here is what the Western Conference looks like right now:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

U.S. Division

1. Everett Silvertips: They hold a six point lead over Portland, but Portland has played well since the turn of the new year and there is the matter of division games to be played for both teams.

2. Portland Winterhawks: A slow start at the start of the season is the only reason why Portland is not leading the U.S. Division right now.  However, they are a hot streak away from taking the lead, as they are just six points back and have not yet peaked this season.

3. Seattle Thunderbirds: Eleven points back of Everett in the division, the Thunderbirds have done fairly well considering the injuries at various points in the season to their two best players in Shea Theodore and Matthew Barzal.  A lack of offense likely means they will have to start on the road for the first round of the series.

B.C. Division

1. Kelowna Rockets: 24 points clear of the next best team in the division, the Rockets are the only team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff spot, and given that they're also 16 points ahead of the next best team in the conference, home ice advantage may not be far behind.

2. Victoria Royals: Comfortably in second place in the division, the Royals are looking to gain momentum heading into the playoffs, and not having much at stake could present issues once the Royals get to the playoffs.

3. Vancouver Giants: Their hold on the last guaranteed spot in the division is a tenuous one, as one point is all that separates them from Prince George and Kamloops, who are both on the outside looking in at the moment.

Wild Card

1. Spokane Chiefs: Seven points behind Seattle for the last guaranteed spot, the Chiefs are woefully short on depth, and as such, their hold on a playoff spot is also tenuous.

2. Tri-City Americans: The worst offensive team in the league, the Ams hold a five point lead over the two teams outside the playoff picture right now.  However, not beating Portland this season is doing them no favors right now.

3. Kamloops Blazers: Just a point behind Vancouver and five behind Tri-City, the Blazers can still make the playoffs.  The good news is that they will have games against Vancouver and Prince George, the two teams they're fighting with over the last guaranteed playoff spot.

4. Prince George Cougars: Like Kamloops, the Cougars are fighting for their playoff lives.  However, they give up the most goals in the league, and that has been their undoing the last few years.  At this rate, it may be that way again this year.

Winterhawks Weekly: Still Working on it

The Portland Winterhawks kicked off their 2014-15 season with seven players unavailable due to NHL training camp.  Friday, they opened at home against Seattle, and for the first two periods, the Winterhawks and Thunderbirds were even, with Tyson Predinchuk getting the Winterhawks on the board first in the second period.  However, Keegan Kolesar would even things up later in the period.  The third period was when things got away from the Winterhawks, as Alexander True and a couple of Ryan Gropp goals would put the Thunderbirds ahead 4-1, which was how the game ended.

Saturday, the Prince George Cougars came into town, and things weren't great from the word go.  Chase Witala and Jansen Harkins would put the Cougars up 2-0 after the first period.  Goals from Paul Bittner and Jari Erricson would make it 3-1 in favor of Prince George heading into the final period.  Layne Viveiros and Bittner would pull the Winterhawks within one, but the comeback was not to be, as Chance Braid would add two goals and give Prince George a 6-3 win.

The Winterhawks are back in action this weekend, as they will hit the road against Vancouver on Friday before coming home for back-to-back games against Everett on Saturday and Sunday.

Reviving the Cougars

It hasn't been a fun time for the Prince George Cougars lately, as they've missed the playoffs the last three years and attendance has been less than what they have hoped.  And then, there was the looming threat of relocation.  The last part has been averted...for now, as new owners are stepping in to help the Prince George Cougars get back on their feet, and some of that ownership group is familiar to Cougars fans.

Long before either Dan Hamhuis or Eric Brewer made the jump to the NHL, they were toiling away in Prince George, BC in the hopes of getting to the next level.  Both former first round picks (Hamhuis in 2001 and Brewer in 1997) are still playing in the NHL (Brewer in Tampa Bay and Hamhuis in Vancouver), and both are an important part of the group that hopes to turn around the Cougars' fortunes.  One of the first things that they hope to do in the immediate future is to hire a General Manager.  However, it is a long list of things that they need to, most notably, find a way to get fans back into the CN Centre.  At worst, the stability in ownership should give the Cougars a little more time in Prince George.

Winterhawks Weekly: No Longer a Teen

The Portland Winterhawks are now closing in on the single-season record for most wins (22 by the Estevan Bruins in 1967) and the league record for most wins in a row (24 by the Victoria Cougars in the 1980-81 season, a streak that included the playoffs), as well as the Canadian Hockey League record for most wins in a row (Kitchener won 25 in a row in 1984).

Tuesday, they took care of the Prince George Cougars at home by a 5-1 score.  From there, they beat Kamloops 4-2 behind a strong second period and Prince Albert 6-3 on Saturday thanks to another strong effort in the second period.  However, win number 20 was the most difficult, as Everett wasn't about to give in on Sunday.  A scoreless game for most of the time, Everett got on the board early in the third period on an Ivan Nikolishin goal.  However, Portland would tie things up later in the period on an Oliver Bjorkstrand goal.  Regulation and overtime were not enough, and a shootout was needed, where Bjorkstrand would score the only goal in the shootout while Corbin Boes played well again in giving the Winterhawks a 2-1 win over the Silvertips.  Austin Lotz continues to show flashes of brilliance against the Winterhawks, as he was equal to the task despite a losing effort.

The Winterhawks will look to tie the single season record this weekend, as they hit the road to take on Spokane on Friday and Seattle on Saturday.

Winterhawks Weekly: A New Record

The Portland Winterhawks have done it: they have set a new record for most consecutive wins in a season and will look to add to that record this week.  Monday, the Winterhawks beat the Prince George Cougars in the first of two games at the CN Centre 8-4 and on Wednesday, they won 6-4 for their 14th straight wins and in the process, became the second team to clinch a playoff spot.  Friday, they tied the then-record for most consecutive wins with a 7-4 win at Kamloops and on Saturday, a new record was set as they beat Vancouver 7-4.  16 wins in a row and 18 consecutive games with a point (17 of those came in wins), the Winterhawks are making their case to repeat as WHL champions, but they will need to go through Kelowna in all likelihood, as the Rockets still have the top spot in the Western Conference.

The Winterhawks will attempt to make it 17 wins in a row with a Tuesday game at home against Prince George.  Friday and Saturday will also be home games against Kamloops and Prince Albert, respectively, before they hit the road for a game at Everett on Sunday.

WHL Western Conference Playoff Picture

It is a little more than a month before the WHL playoffs begin, and there are still some things that need to be decided before that begins, especially in the Western Conference.  With that in mind, here is how it stands as of this morning:

1. Kelowna Rockets:  They're the only team to clinch a playoff spot so far, and they hold a nine point lead over Portland for home ice advantage and a 12 point lead over Victoria in the B.C. Division.  Health will be a major concern moving forward, as it was what felled their playoff run last season.

2. Portland Winterhawks: They lead the Seattle Thunderbirds by six points in the U.S. Division, and they are riding a 12-game winning streak.  They are getting hot at the right time, and provided that Brendan Leipsic doesn't get suspended again, the Winterhawks could make it four Conference titles in a row.

3. Victoria Royals: Most likely headed for a third or fourth seed, they are far from flashy, as they don't score as much as the other teams in the Conference, but make up for it by being the best defensive team in the Conference.  Goaltending will be a critical element to how far they go, as Patrik Polivka (2.56 GAA) and Coleman Vollrath (2.17 GAA) have played well despite splitting time.

4. Seattle Thunderbirds: They went all in with trades for Sam McKechnie, Jaimen Yakubowski, Adam Henry, Russell Maxwell, and Taran Kozun.  The result is that they are currently six points behind Portland in the U.S. Division, and are playing some of their best hockey at the right time.  A dark horse to take it all, Kozun's play will determine if the Thunderbirds are for real come March.

5. Spokane Chiefs: They would be a great team right now, but they haven't been able to solve either Portland or Seattle this season.  Consistency is an issue, and that won't cut it against the better teams.

6. Vancouver Giants: Struggled mightily in the early going, but they have righted the ship enough to at least get into the playoffs.  Potentially a deep sleeper team, they still need another year to be serious contenders for the Western Conference crown.

7. Everett Silvertips: In November, they were leading the U.S. Division.  Now, they are a mere seven points ahead of Prince George, who themselves are only two points out of a playoff spot.  Their last 10 games haven't been kind to them, and the games against Portland in that stretch have been particularly brutal, with one of those games making national television...for the wrong reasons.  They still have a good defense, but will they score enough?

8. Tri-City Americans: The only reason they occupy a playoff spot is because of Eric Comrie's heroics in net.  They can't score (fourth worst team on offense in the league), and they gave up 17 goals in their last two games.  Comrie can't stop everything, and the offense will likely be the cause for the team missing the playoffs if it comes to that.

9. Prince George Cougars: Absolutely terrible on defense despite Ty Edmonds' presence in net, yet they're only two points out of a playoff spot thanks to an offense that only Kelowna and Portland top in the Conference.  They are currently on a six game winning streak, and games against Portland today and Wednesday will go a long way in determining if the Cougars will make some noise in the playoffs...if they get there, that is.

10. Kamloops Blazers:  They'd like to forget that this season ever happened.  Fighting with Lethbridge over who gets the first overall pick in the Bantam Draft was not what the Blazers had in mind, and that was even with the idea that they were rebuilding after two straight Conference Finals appearances.

A Day in the Spotlight

For the annual Hockey Day in Canada festivities, which will be held on January 18, 2014, all seven NHL Canadian teams will be in action and there will be three cities that will have the spotlight shined on them.  The three?  Sydney, NS, Barry's Bay, ON, and Prince George, BC.  That last city, as you may know, is home to the WHL's Prince George Cougars, who are currently five points out of the last playoff spot as of this writing.

This is certainly a great honor for the city of Prince George, as the entire country will get to see what the city and the team are about.  The northernmost team in the WHL, the Cougars haven't exactly been successful, with their best season coming in 2006-07, where they made the Conference Finals, but they have turned out some good NHL players such as Zdeno Chara, Dan Hamhuis, Dustin Byfuglien, and Eric Brewer.  Currently, Chase Witala and Troy Bourke lead the team in scoring with 29 points, with mid-season acquisition Todd Fiddler not far behind with 27.  Ty Edmonds is the starting goaltender and has a 3.51 GAA.

Winterhawks Weekly: Raising Banners and Such

The Portland Winterhawks' 2013-14 season began with a home game against Prince George on Friday and there were many banners to be raised, including one for WHL Scholastic Team of the Year, the Scotty Munro Trophy, U.S. Division Champions, Western Conference Champions, and of course, the WHL Champions banner.  No official captain has been named yet, and the Winterhawks were without Brendan Leipsic and Derrick Pouliot, who were still with their respective NHL clubs at training camp at the time.  Presten Kopeck scored for the Winterhawks and Klarc Wilson evened things for Prince George in the first period.  The second period was all Winterhawks, as Nic Petan, Layne Viveiros, Kopeck, Chase De Leo, and Oliver Bjorkstrand all scored in the period.  The third period saw the Winterhawks score three times on a five minute power play, as De Leo, Garrett Harr, and Anton Cederholm scored.  Brad Morrison would add a goal to make it a 9-2 final in favor of the Winterhawks.  Brendan Burke picked up the win with 29 saves on 31 shots.

The Saturday game at Seattle wasn't nearly as kind, as the Winterhawks would fall 4-3 in a shootout, picking up a point in the standings.  Roberts Lipsbergs (2 goals) and Jerret Smith scored in regulation for Seattle and Ethan Price, De Leo, and Bjorkstrand scored for the Winterhawks.  Burke took the loss despite a good effort.

The Winterhawks return home for games on Tuesday against Tri-City and Saturday against Seattle.

From Bad to Worse...

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS

2012-13 record: 21-43-2-6 (missed the playoffs)

In a year where Prince George changed coaches mid-season and had a squabble with star player Alex Forsberg (the short of it being Forsberg wants to be traded), the Cougars somehow didn't finish last in the league, thanks to the six points from shootout losses (the exact number of points they bested Vancouver by).  This year does not figure to be better, as the Cougars did little to improve the second worst offense in the league, ahead of only Everett, who made the playoffs.  While leading scorer Colin Jacobs isn't expected back, along with Brock Hirsche, Daniel Gibb, and Dallas Ehrhardt, the next two leading scorers are expected back in Troy Bourke and Zach Pochiro.  Unfortunately, neither scored above 20 goals, and only Jacobs managed to crack the 20-goal barrier.  Goaltending wasn't much better, allowing the third worst total in goals allowed in the Western Conference, ahead of only Seattle and Vancouver.  David Soltes and Martin Bobos are the new players coming in via the Import Draft.

Prediction: 10th in the West

The lack of offense is still a glaring issue for the Cougars, as is the defense, and as long as the Alex Forsberg cloud still looms over the franchise, the Cougars will be going nowhere for the foreseeable future.

Everett or Seattle? Prince George?

Now that the Portland Winterhawks have wrapped up the number one seed in the Western Conference, all that remains is to figure out who they will face in the first round of the WHL playoffs.  It will either be the Everett Silvertips or the Seattle Thunderbirds, neither of whom are really that good if you look at the team stats.  The Prince George Cougars are also in the hunt, but expecting them to make it isn't the safest bet.

Everett goaltender Daniel Cotton

Currently, the Silvertips would be facing the Winterhawks if the season ended today, and with a league worst 161 goals for, it's not much of a stretch to figure out why the Silvertips made a mid-season coaching change. Of course, having less than sterling goaltending has done the Silvertips no favors, as they have given up 255 goals, which is a -94 goal differential.

Seth Swenson (21) and Connor Honey (14)

The Seattle Thunderbirds currently hold the number seven seed in the Western Conference, but are only ahead of Everett by a point and Prince George by five.  Their offense has been better, with 193 goals to show for it.  However, their goaltending has been atrocious, surrendering 269 goals.  Part of the problem is that the goaltenders face a lot of shots, as starting goaltender Brandon Glover has seen over 1800 shots.  By comparison, Kelowna's goaltending has seen just a little more than that...combined.  Yes, their goaltending is terrible, but so has the overall team defense.

Klarc Wilson

Currently, the Prince George Cougars sit four points out of the last playoff spot with 50 points.  They have the second worst offense, with 169 goals, and have given up 250 goals.  Like Everett, the Cougars struggle to score goals, and clearly since their numbers are similar to one another, I don't envision Prince George catching up.

As for games left, Seattle has a home game against Tri-City tonight and a home and home against Portland on Friday and Saturday.  Everett has a home and home against Victoria on Friday and Saturday before closing out the season at home against Tri-City on Sunday.  Prince George has a road game at Spokane tonight, a road game at Kelowna on Thursday, and a home and home against Kamloops on Friday and Saturday.

Winterhawks Weekly: 50 and Lovin' It!

This past week marked a milestone for the Portland Winterhawks, as not only did they win the U.S. Division, but also won 50 games on the way to a perfect week.  It began with an 8-3 spanking of Spokane in the Daylight Classic, and Taylor Leier led the way with a six point effort.  A sterling effort by Mac Carruth was the highlight in a 3-0 shutout in Kamloops on Wendesday, and the Winterhawks went into Prince George, BC and beat the Cougars 6-2 on Friday behind a couple of goals from Ty Rattie and 6-1 on Saturday, with Brendan Leipsic netting two goals and an assist.  This coming week, the Winterhawks will finish their road trip in Kennewick, WA for a Tuesday tilt with Tri-City before coming home to host the defending Ed Chynoweth champions in the Edmonton Oil Kings in what could very well be a rematch come May, and the Winterhawks will finish the week with a Saturday evening dance at Everett, who is looking to solidify their playoff positioning, as the Western Conference now has six spots spoken for and three teams looking to fill the remaining two spots (Seattle, Everett, and Prince George).