Another One Rides the Bus

The Vancouver Giants have been a veritable car wreck since the 2009-10 season, when they last won a playoff series. Their head coaching spot has been even more of a problem since the end of the 2013-14 season, when Don Hay, who had been coach for much of the team's existence up to that point, left to go to another team he had success with in the Kamloops Blazers. Since that time, they've seen three head coaches last a collective two years, with Troy G. Ward only lasting 25 games of the 2014-15 season, Claude Noel finishing out that season, and Lorne Molleken barely missing out on lasting the entire 2015-16 season, as he was canned with two games to go.

With a new General Manager in Glen Hanlon, the Giants are turning the page again on a new era, as they plan on naming Jason McKee as head coach tomorrow, according to the Vancouver Sun. McKee was last seen leading the Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL since the 2010-11 season as head coach and General Manager, where he led the team to three championships and Finals appearances the other two seasons. As for what he could provide, a few of the current Giants players, including Tyler Benson, as well as three players on the Giants' protected list, have played under McKee. McKee also coached with current Edmonton Oil Kings' head coach Steve Hamilton.

Whether the Giants will finally break through under McKee's watch remains to be seen. What is certain is that the Giants cannot continue to settle for mediocrity, particularly since they've wasted Benson's prime years in major junior so far and haven't done much to reverse that trend.

Moving East

The building you see in the picture above is going to be the future home of a WHL team starting next season. In a move that actually makes sense from an attendance perspective, the Vancouver Giants are moving east to Langley, BC and will begin playing in the Langley Events Centre next season.

In recent years, the Giants have been defined by a dysfunctional front office and rather dismal attendance numbers in the Pacific Coliseum, 3,000 fans attending, according to some sources. Langley Events Centre holds around 5,000 people, which will at least cover the Giants' issues with attracting people. The obvious problem is that the Giants are moving about 27 miles east, which takes them past Surrey and before they hit Abbotsford. Given that Langley is one of the more pristine areas of the Vancouver area, it is possible that pricing could be an issue...more so. However, playing in a smaller, yet newer arena should provide a breath of fresh air compared to the much more cavernous and older Pacific Coliseum located around the notorious neighborhood of East Hastings. Time will tell if the move to Langley will either be a franchise saving move or if it's a precursor to the team becoming extinct.

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.

The First Month of the WHL Season

The first full month of the WHL season is in the books, and to say there are a few surprises would be an understatement.  The most recent trades have involved a Calgary Hitmen team that has struggled to score and are currently sitting in the middle of the Eastern Conference pack.  Leaving the Hitmen are Chase Lang and Ben Thomas, and incoming from Vancouver are Jackson Houck, Cody Porter, and Jakob Stukel.  Houck's arrival also spells the end for Elliot Peterson, who was placed on waivers, since Houck is a 20-year old and the Hitmen had to get within the three overage players limit.  Also leaving is Terrell Darude, who is heading to Saskatoon.  As for who the Hitmen hope to overtake, there's the Prince Albert Raiders, who lead the conference this early in the season thanks to goaltending from Rylan Parenteau and Ian Scott.  The Raiders were widely expected to struggle this season, so this early season surge comes a bit of a surprise.  The Red Deer Rebels are next in line, and they figure to be in contention all season long, particularly since they are hosting the Memorial Cup tournament.  The Brandon Wheat Kings are fourth and were surprised by Portland on Sunday in a 5-0 loss.  Other surprises include Saskatoon doing fairly well and Medicine Hat stumbling out of the block.

On the Western Conference side, there are few surprises, though Vancouver getting Thomas and Lang indicates that they're going to give Tyler Benson some better players to work with, particularly since Houck wasn't likely to come back.  Portland's early struggles appear to be behind them after a strong weekend in which they won all three games, including the 5-0 game against Brandon on Sunday.  The Western Conference, as expected, is pretty much a bottleneck in the middle, with only Seattle, Victoria, and Kelowna pulling ahead of the pack.  With tournaments such as the Canada/Russia Subway Series and the World Junior Championship coming up, how the teams adapt will help clear the pictures.

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.

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.

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: Almost Break Time

The Portland Winterhawks are still playing well, and with a recent trade involving the Kelowna Rockets, they will have to step up their game.  Tuesday, the Winterhawks headed to Vancouver Island to take on the Victoria Royals, and in a wild one, the Winterhawks managed to win 6-4 for their sixth straight victory.  However, that winning streak would come to an end on Friday, as Vancouver would score three goals to open the game, and despite a comeback by the Winterhawks, they could not complete it as they fell 3-2.  The Winterhawks came home on Saturday hoping to start a new winning streak, and on Teddy Bear Toss night, the Winterhawks not only made it rain teddy bears, but they also held off the Everett Silvertips in another wild one 5-3.  Sunday, the Winterhawks proved to be rude hosts to the Medicine Hat Tigers, as the Winterhawks handled them 4-1, leaving the Winterhawks with eight wins in their last nine games and just three points back of Everett in the U.S. Division standings.

Yesterday, the Kelowna Rockets made a big trade that could impact what Portland does in their quest for five straight Conference titles, as the Rockets picked up Josh Morrissey and Gage Quinney from Prince Albert in exchange for Austin Glover and Jesse Lees, plus some draft picks.

As for the Winterhawks, they play at home Friday against Spokane before finishing the week on the road against Seattle on Saturday and Sunday against Tri-City before the holiday break.

Winterhawks Weekly: Yes, I Have to...

Making these Winterhawks reports, I'm used to the slow starts that they've had in the two years plus that I've been doing this, but this year is ridiculous even by their standards.  There was going to be a transition period with a new head coach and seven players in NHL training camps to start the season.  All except Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nic Petan were back in time for the games last weekend.  The results, a 5-3 loss at Vancouver, and 5-1 and 6-4 losses to Everett at home, reflect the fact that the defense still needs to find chemistry, particularly since there is no real replacement for Derrick Pouliot.  Perhaps the return of both Bjorkstrand and Petan will help, as will the acquisition of Miles Koules from Medicine Hat.  However, Koules puts the Winterhawks at four 20-year olds, and they will need to get down to three by October 15, meaning Koules, Josh Hanson (who hasn't played due to a concussion), Travis McEvoy, or Joshua Smith will have to be let go.

The Winterhawks are home to Seattle on Friday and will travel to Everett on Saturday before heading to Victoria for a Monday tilt.

Help Wanted: A Coach for a Vancouver Team

The city of Vancouver, BC has two hockey teams, and coincidentally, they are looking for a head coach for their respective teams.  In the NHL, the widely speculated fate of John Tortorella was decided when the President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden decided that he wanted his own guy.  Unfortunately for Tortorella, that meant he was not it.  He lasted a year in the Canucks organization and will be most remembered for his tirade against Calgary after a line brawl in the first few seconds of the game and subsequent charge into the Flames' locker room after the first period.

Not too far away, the WHL's Vancouver Giants are also looking for a new head coach after Don Hay decided to return to the Kamloops Blazers, the team he led to consecutive championships in 1994 and 1995.  Hay was the Giants' head coach for ten seasons, one that saw them claim five BC Division titles, one WHL title, and a Memorial Cup.  Last season, he broke the 600 career win mark in a game against the Blazers.  Hay's departure was somewhat unexpected, but he will get to return home to a franchise that he has achieved considerable success with and to be closer to his family.

Winterhawks Weekly: Four Down, 12 to Go

In their quest to be the first team to repeat as WHL Champions since the Kamloops Blazers did it in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons, the Portland Winterhawks started their title defense right.  Their opening round playoff series against the Vancouver Giants proved to be a warm-up for the next round, as the Winterhawks took the series in a sweep by scores of 6-3, 3-0, 6-3, and 6-1.  Along the way, Derrick Pouliot tied the record for most points by a Winterhawk defenseman in the playoffs, as he moves into a tie with Glen Wesley, and Brendan Leipsic getting a penalty for taking a drink from Payton Lee's water bottle.




The Winterhawks will be awaiting their next opponent in the next round, and currently, the Kelowna Rockets hold a 3-1 series lead on Tri-City, with Victoria and Seattle holding 3-0 leads in their respective series.

Sorry About Your Damn Luck!

Never in my time with this blog would I ever have had a good reason to title a piece after an expression I use.  However, the Saskatoon Blades have allowed for such a phrase to be used.  While it can also be applied to the Lehtbridge Hurricanes, as they will pick second instead of first thanks to the Bantam Draft lottery, at least they will still have their pick.  The Blades, who won the lottery and thus moved up two spots to the first overall pick, will instead watch the Brandon Wheat Kings make their selection with that pick.  Why?  In May 2012, the Blades had acquired then-overager Brenden Walker for draft picks.  Somewhere along the way, the option was had by the Wheat Kings to swap first round picks in 2014, and they decided to use that.  Well, when the ping pong ball came up Blades, that meant the real winner was the Wheat Kings, who will now be building for the future while trying to win a championship in the present, as they still have those aspirations that begin with a series against the Regina Pats.  To rub salt in the wound for Saskatoon, the pick they get from Brandon has to go to the Vancouver Giants (the Nathan Burns trade from November 2012) to complete another trade.  Sorry about your damn luck, indeed.

WHL Western Conference Playoff Preview

The WHL begins their playoff season this weekend, and while the Portland Winterhawks are looking to defend their title, there are fifteen other teams looking to knock them off.  The Eastern Conference is still waiting for their eighth team, and that will be settled in a tie-breaker game tonight, as the Prince Albert Raiders take on the Red Deer Rebels for the right to face the Edmonton Oil Kings in the opening round.  Until then, this will be about the Western Conference.

(1) KELOWNA ROCKETS vs. (8) TRI-CITY AMERICANS

The Rockets took home the Scotty Munro Trophy as the best team in the regular season, and feature the second best offensive attack that is well balanced.  Myles Bell leads the way with 42 goals.  Defensively, only Edmonton and Victoria were better, and much of the credit goes to goaltender Jordon Cooke, though having the likes of Damon Severson and Madison Bowey also help.  Tri-City was the third worst offensive team in the league, with Brian Williams being the only real scoring threat.  Eric Comrie was undoubtedly the team's MVP, as he kept the team in many games, and for Tri-City to pull off an upset, he will have to be the difference maker once again.

Prediction: Kelowna in 4

(2) PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS vs. (7) VANCOUVER GIANTS

Surprise! The Winterhawks led the league in goals scored once again, and Nic Petan and Brendan Leipsic were two of the top three scorers on the team once again.  This time though, they were joined by Oliver Bjorkstrand, who led the team in goals with 50.  Defensively, they began to pick up steam once Matthew Dumba and Corbin Boes joined the team, and Boes joins Brendan Burke and Adin Hill as a formidable goaltending trio.  The Giants struggled early in the season, but they picked it up just enough to make the playoffs.  Carter Popoff enabled both Cain Franson and Jackson Houck to have productive years, as the latter two scored at least 30 goals each.  Defensively, they could use some work, as Payton Lee is still maturing in goal, and that was evident in the team giving up the second most goals of all the playoff teams in the West.

Prediction: Portland in 5

(3) VICTORIA ROYALS vs. (6) SPOKANE CHIEFS

The Royals made a living on stopping the opposing team from scoring, and it showed, as they led the Conference in giving up the fewest goals.  Patrik Polivka and Coleman Vollrath are a solid duo in goal, but their efforts would be going to waste if not for the team's balanced scoring attack.  Brandon Magee and Austin Carroll lead the way, but the mid-season acquisition of Axel Blomqvist from Lethbridge has really helped.  To say that the Chiefs are a one man show would be a mistake.  Mitch Holmberg was the leading scorer in the league, but he had some help along the way, thanks to the likes of Mike Aviani and Reid Gow.  Beyond those three, things get a little dicey, and that lack of depth combined with an ordinary defense could spell their quick departure.

Prediction: Victoria in 6

(4) SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS vs. (5) EVERETT SILVERTIPS

Seattle is not nearly the offensive juggernaut that they appear to be on paper.  However, one would not be wise to discount their abilities, especially with Shea Theodore jump starting things for them.  The ex-Lethbridge trio of Russell Maxwell, Jaimen Yakubowski, and Sam McKechnie have proven to be a formidable shutdown line for the Thunderbirds, and certainly, the addition of Taran Kozun as given them peace of mind in goal.  The Silvertips are playing Kevin Constantine hockey in that their defense is carrying the day.  That's great news for Austin Lotz, who has elevated his game this season after showing glimpses in the opening round last year.  Offensively, they're balanced, but Josh Winquist is the clear leader of the group there, as he led the next best player (Ivan Nikolishin) by 34 points.

Prediction: Seattle in 7

Winterhawks Weekly: One Week to Go

The Portland Winterhawks are heading into the playoffs with some momentum, and it appears that they will hold down the second place spot, since Kelowna needs just one more point to clinch the Scotty Munro Trophy and the home ice advantage.  Wednesday, the Winterhawks became the second team in league history to notch four consecutive 100 point seasons (the Kamloops Jr. Oilers/Blazers in 1983-86 was the other team), as they handled the Tri-City Americans 5-1.  Friday, the Winterhawks exacted some revenge on Seattle for breaking their 21-game winning streak with a 7-3 win, but it did not come without a price, as Corbin Boes left the game and Adin Hill had to fill in.  Saturday, the Winterhawks made it 50 wins in a season in a 4-1 win over Vancouver in what is likely a preview of the first round match up for the Winterhawks.  Hill got the start and was impressive in his second career start.

The Winterhawks conclude the season with a home game on Tuesday against Tri-City, a home and home Friday and Saturday against Seattle, with the Winterhawks home for the Saturday game, and they will conclude the season at home against Everett.

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.

Winterhawks Weekly: Now with 100% More Dumba

The Portland Winterhawks are on a roll and heading into last week, the news just got better, as Matthew Dumba was going to be joining them beginning with the Friday game against Moose Jaw.  In Dumba's debut, the Winterhawks made it easy for him, as they never let the Warriors out of the gate.  Four first period goals from the Winterhawks, courtesy of Keegan Iverson, Paul Bittner, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Brendan Leipsic, put the Winterhawks up 4-0 after one period.  That was enough to chase Zach Sawchenko from the game, but Justin Paulic would not have much better luck against the Winterhawks this night.  Taylor Leier would score the only goal in the second period, and things were basically sewn up for the Winterhawks at that point.  Sam Fioretti would put the Warriors on the board early in the third period, but that was quickly answered by Winterhawks goals from Derrick Pouliot and Dominic Turgeon, with Dumba registering assists on both goals.  Brayden Point would score for the Warriors to make it 7-2, but Leier would add another goal to make it a 8-2 final and a win for Brendan Burke.

Sunday, the Winterhawks looked to continue their season-long dominance of the Spokane Chiefs as they welcomed them with a Daylight Game, as the curtains of Veterans Memorial Coliseum were opened for the game.  Leipsic would put the Winterhawks up 1-0 after one period on a goal early in the period.  Chase De Leo, Iverson, and Leipsic would add goals in the second period to make it 4-0 after two periods.  Bjorkstrand would add the exclamation mark on the game with a goal in the third period as Burke earned the team's first shutout of the season in a 5-0 win.  Dumba added two more assists in the game, making it four points in his first two games, but he was not finished for the week.

Monday, the Winterhawks welcomed the Vancouver Giants for a game at the Moda Center.  Cain Franson and Pouliot (who was named player of the week in the WHL) exchanged goals in the first period.  However, it would be Dumba that sent the Winterhawks into the first intermission with the 2-1 lead, as he scored his first goal as a Winterhawk late in the period.  A scoreless second period gave way to a Bittner goal to kick off the third period.  Dalton Sward would keep Vancouver in it with a goal to cut the deficit to one.  However, that would be as close as the Giants would get, as Nic Petan would score, with Leipsic adding an empty netter to give the Winterhawks a 5-2 win.  Corbin Boes earned his first home win in the game, making 36 saves.

The Winterhawks will square off with the Everett Silvertips three straight times, with two of those coming this weekend, a home game on Friday and a road game on Sunday.

Winterhawks Weekly: We are Whole Again

After a week in which the Portland Winterhawks didn't perform so well, the following week was the exact opposite.  This week saw the Winterhawks gain back Nic Petan, Derrick Pouliot, and Taylor Leier from the World Juniors, Brendan Leipsic return from suspension, and they even got Matthew Dumba, as the Minnesota Wild sent him down to Portland.  Yes, sir, this week was going to be way better than the last.

It began on Wendesday, as the Portland Winterhawks hit the road for the week.  The Everett Silvertips were the first stop on the trip, and Pouliot showed no rust as he scored to make it 1-0 after one period.  Carson Stadnyk tied it for the Tips as both teams would need that third period to decide things.  Leipsic also showed no rust, as he would put the Winterhawks up for good midway through the third period.  Adam de Champlain would add an insurance goal, and Keegan Iverson would add an empty net goal to give Adin Hill his first win in his first WHL appearance as the Winterhawks got back on the winning track with a 4-1 decision.

Friday and Saturday, the Winterhawks were on Vancouver Island to take on the Victoria Royals.  The Friday tilt began with Petan and Ben Walker scoring for their respective teams to make it even at one after a period.  Leipsic would put the Hawks up 2-1 heading into the third period, but Steven Hodges would foce overtime with a third period goal.  Overtime settled nothing, and a shootout was needed, where Victoria would pull out a victory on a Jack Walker goal, spoiling the Winterhawks debut of Corbin Boes, who was acquired from Lethbridge on Thursday.

Saturday, the Winterhawks had a chance for revenge, as Leipsic would open the scoring for the Winterhawks to make it 1-0.  It would remain that way until the third period, when Jordan Fransoo would tie the game for the Royals.  However, an Oliver Bjorkstrand goal late in the period would be all the Winterhawks needed, as they made a 2-1 winner out of a returning Brendan Burke, who had been sidelined with injury.

Sunday, the Winterhawks traveled to Vancouver to take on a rising Giants team.  The Winterhawks would jump out to a 2-1 lead on goals by Alex Schoenborn and Chase de Leo sandwiching a Giants goal by recently acquired Dominik Volek.  However, Dalton Thrower and Brett Kulak would give the Giants a 3-2 lead heading into the second period.  Paul Bittner and Dalton Sward would exchange goals in the second period to make it 4-3 Giants heading into the final frame.  De Champlain would force overtime with a goal in the third period, and like the Friday game, this one required a shootout.  This time, the Winterhawks would be on the right side of the result, as Leier would score the winner, giving Boes his first win as a Winterhawk.

The Winterhawks return home for the week, as they take on Moose Jaw on Friday, Spokane on Sunday, and because there is a game after that on Monday, the Giants on that day, so the Winterhawks Weekly report will be delayed a day.

More Things Missed...

A few more updates from around the leagues that somehow slipped through the cracks yesterday:

• Jonathan Drouin will spend at least one more year in Halifax after he was sent down by the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to the close of training camp.  The move gives a struggling Halifax their leading scorer from last season and Zach Fucale, two players that will be expected to shoulder the load with Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Frk, and Konrad Abeltshauser all no longer on the team.  MacKinnon could be back if the Avalanche do decide to send him down, but don't bet on it.
• The Buffalo Sabres named their captains, and no, that is not a typo.  Home games will see Thomas Vanek wear the C while Steve Ott dons the C for away games.  This isn't the first time Buffalo has gone with this arrangement, as Chris Drury and Daniel Briere did it in 2007, the last time Buffalo won a playoff series.  This move is an indicator that the Sabres are willing to keep Vanek around for at least this year and should he be traded, it means the Sabres won't have to go far for a captain, as Ott has been a community fixture since he arrived last season.
• Tampa Bay named a new captain, and it is Martin St. Louis.  In 12 years with the Lightning, St. Louis has been the face of the franchise, and though his career is winding down, he can still contribute, as evidenced by his Art Ross Trophy last season.  He has been a leader in his time with the Lightning, and now, he has the C to prove it.
• In KHL news, Ilya Kovalchuk will miss a month after colliding with teammate Alexei Ponikarovsky during the win at Vityaz last Sunday.  More on that in the SKA report coming soon, as their last game of the week is tomorrow at Ak Bars.
• In a development that has surprised few, the Saskatoon Blades are the worst team in the WHL right now, as they are the only winless team as of this writing.  It was known that half of the lineup wasn't coming back, and with the likes of Lukas Sutter contributing for Red Deer, Dalton Thrower appointed captain of the Vancouver Giants, and new ownership, the Blades are headed for a long winter.

Nowhere to Go Except Up

VANCOUVER GIANTS

2012-13 record: 21-49-2-0 (missed the playoffs)

The 2012-13 season was a miserable one for the Vancouver Giants, as they finished last in the league.  An alarming 299 goals were given up, and that ended up costing Glen Hanlon his job as head coach.  Don Hay takes over as coach, and this season, the growing pains the Giants endured (they were the youngest team in the league last year) should begin to bear some fruit, as their top two scorers Cain Franson and Jackson Houck are expected to return.  Leaving the Giants will be Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, Jason Trott, and Brendan Rouse, as all three were overagers last season.  Ales Kilnar and Marek Tvrdon are also leaving, as Dmitry Osipov and Andreas Eder were taken in the CHL Import Draft.  Payton Lee will likely be the starter next season, and he got a rude introduction to WHL hockey, as he posted a 3.51 GAA in 36 games, and that led the team.

Prediction: 7th in the West

For all of the troubles the Giants had last season, this season should see them return to the playoffs, as the younger players had a chance to gain meaningful minutes in games.