WHL Playoffs: Eastern Conference Preview

The WHL playoffs are set to begin tomorrow, and in earnest, it began with a tie-breaker game yesterday that saw the Edmonton Oil Kings defeat the Medicine Hat Tigers 6-4. There's no rest for the Oil Kings, however, as they're in the opening game with the Brandon Wheat Kings tomorrow. With that out of the way, here is the Eastern Conference preview.

Brandon Wheat Kings vs. Edmonton Oil Kings

The Wheat Kings had their struggles during the season, at one point, were behind Lethbridge for top spot in the Conference. However, they've been playing their best hockey lately, and certainly, leading the league in offense will help. Ivan Provorov leads the way defensively while Nolan Patrick and Jayce Hawryluk are offensive stalwarts. Jordan Papirny is good, but not great, something that the Wheaties can live with. The Oil Kings almost blew it in the final weekend, as they couldn't get the critical point to outright claim the last playoff spot. However, they were able to get here thanks to beating Medicine Hat in the tie-breaker game. These are not the Oil Kings of old, as they still have trouble replacing their offense, with Brett Pollock leading the way at a rather paltry 78 points, and goaltending averages over 3.00 GAA total.

Prediction: Wheat Kings in 4

Lethbridge Hurricanes vs. Regina Pats

The Hurricanes are back in the playoffs, and for much of the season, they looked like the team to beat. However, they did tail off a little late in the season, but righted the ship in time to claim the Central Division. Stuart Skinner has been as advertised, as he's held down the fort in goal along with Jayden Sittler while the likes of Brayden Burke, Tyler Wong, and Giorgio Estephan lead the second best offense in the league. The Pats are led by league leading scorer Adam Brooks, whose 120 points were 50 points ahead of the next best scorers on the team. That's kind of disproportionate, but perhaps this is where Sam Steel gets to show what he can do when the lights shine the brightest, as he missed last season's playoffs to injury. Tyler Brown holds the fort in goal for the Pats.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 6

Prince Albert Raiders vs. Moose Jaw Warriors

This is the battle of goaltenders, as Zach Sawchenko and Rylan Parenteau were All-Star selections for the regular season honors, with Sawchenko claiming First All-Star while Parenteau was on the Second All-Star team. Beyond that, the Raiders were led by Reid Gardner while the Warriors were led by MVP nominee Dryden Hunt. This one is too close to call, but the Warriors may have a slight edge if Brayden Point goes off for the Warriors.

Prediction: Warriors in 7

Red Deer Rebels vs. Calgary Hitmen

Another strong defensive match-up, this time, it's Trevor Martin/Rylan Toth for Red Deer and Cody Porter/Nik Amundrud for Calgary. The Rebels will be in the Memorial Cup tournament this year, as they are hosting, but they would love to make a strong showing in the playoffs, and leading the way are Ivan Nikolishin, Adam Helewka, and Haydn Fleury. The Hitmen rely on their strong blue line led by Jake Bean and Travis Sanheim while Radel Fazleev is a good option up front.

Prediction: Rebels in 6

WHL Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference

With the WHL Playoffs just a month away, teams are fighting for position and the weak are getting weeded out with every game. Today, the Eastern Conference will be given a look.

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS: Currently lead the East Division and were the second team to clinch a playoff berth. They've played better lately, although they did lose to Saskatoon yesterday in overtime. Seven points is what separates them from Prince Albert, with Moose Jaw only nine points out.

PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS: Seven points behind Brandon for the East Division lead, they also have to fend off Moose Jaw, who is just two points behind, and Regina, who are nine points behind and are playing their best hockey right now.

MOOSE JAW WARRIORS: They're in good shape to end a playoff drought that has gone on for three seasons, but they would love to not travel to either Brandon or Lethbridge for their first round match, as they have to fend off Regina.

REGINA PATS: Comfortably in the first wild-card spot, they're playing their best hockey and have a chance to overtake either Moose Jaw or Prince Albert for a division spot.

SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS: They are eight points behind Edmonton for the final playoff spot and are unlikely to claim a division spot if they do get in. They must play better hockey, which begins with scoring more goals, as only Kootenay has a worse offense.

SASKATOON BLADES: Currently just seven points behind Edmonton for the final playoff spot, they are still in the middle of a rebuild. Making the playoffs would be a bonus, but until they fix a defense that ranks only ahead of Kootenay, they won't get far.

LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES: Currently hold the Central Division lead (six ahead of Red Deer) and the Eastern Conference lead (two ahead of Brandon), but have picked a bad time to play their worst hockey, as they currently ride a three game losing streak.

RED DEER REBELS: Six points behind Lethbridge for the Central Division lead, they just broke a losing streak of their own last game with a victory over Prince George. They will still have a Memorial Cup appearance in hand, but they will need to find their game sooner rather than later if they wish to make a deep WHL run.

CALGARY HITMEN: Nine points behind Lethbridge for the Central Division lead and just three points behind Red Deer for second, the Hitmen haven't been their usual selves, as the own a paltry +13 goal differential and have a pivotal matchup with Portland tonight.

EDMONTON OIL KINGS: Seven points above the red line, they still haven't been able to find the offense that has eluded them since the 2014 Memorial Cup run. They are a woeful -26 in goal differential, and though the duo of Payton Lee and Patrick Dea won't remind anyone of either Tristan Jarry or Laurent Brossoit, they are keeping the Oil Kings in it.

MEDICINE HAT TIGERS: Nine points behind Edmonton for the final wild card spot, they have been snakebit when it comes to their goaltending, as Nick Schneider hasn't played great and Austin Lotz got hurt six games after being claimed in the overage waivers draft. The Tigers would be best to miss the playoffs, as there just isn't anything they can do if they sneak in.

KOOTENAY ICE: The worst team in the WHL, the Ice are pretty much headed to the first overall pick in the Bantam Draft this year. Not even Sam Reinhart could have saved this year's version of the Kootenay Ice.

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.

WHL Central Division Preview

Today, the 2015-16 WHL season preview takes us to Alberta, and eastern British Columbia, and before I get started, the WHL unveiled their 50th anniversary logo earlier this Summer.

The Calgary Hitmen held off both Medicine Hat and Red Deer en route to winning the Central Division.  They made it to the Conference finals, but were overmatched against Brandon.  Now, there are questions abound, such as who will their starting goaltender be?  Mack Shields struggled last year in his first year as starter, which was why they traded for Brendan Burke at the deadline.  One figures that one of the two will likely return as one of three overage players.  On the blue line, they're in pretty good shape despite likely losing Keegan Kanzig to the pros, as Travis Sanheim will lead the way for the Hitmen.  Offensively, the Hitmen could be in real trouble if Jake Virtanen does stick with Vancouver this season, as there are no proven options that can score.

Year one of the Edmonton Oil Kings post-Derek Laxdal era did not quite get off to the start they wanted, as they had to hold on to the last wild card spot until the end of the regular season.  From there, they were thoroughly outclassed by Brandon in the opening round despite stealing a win in the opening game.  They never did find suitable replacements on offense to replace the likes of Curtis Lazar, Mitch Moroz, and Henrik Samuelsson.  Now, they have to find a replacement for Tristan Jarry, who is going pro, and Patrick Dea figures to be in line to start.

The Kootenay Ice also needed to hold on to a wild card spot to qualify, and though they gave Calgary a run for their money in the opening round, they could not quite duplicate the previous year's feat of knocking Calgary out of the opening round, and were thus eliminated in six games.  Both leading scorers Sam Reinhart and Jaedon Descheneau are likely turning pro, and many more questions remain as to who the three overage players will be.  Wyatt Hoflin proved capable in net, but will he be back, as he is one of many players vying for the overage spots.

The nightmare that was the Brad Robson/Drake Berehowsky era was mercifully put to an end in the middle of last season, and now, it is Peter Anholt who will be handling both the General Manager and head coaching duties, something that he started immediately after the previous regime was let go.  Though the Hurricanes will have both Tyler Wong and Giorgio Estephan returning, many other question marks remain.  Who starts in goal?  Currently, there are five players that ended the year on the roster, yet no one established themselves.  Also, where will the veteran leadeship come from?  Early indications appear that newcomers Cory Millette and Arwin Atwal will provide that, but of the players that ended the season on the Hurricanes, that question looms.

The Medicine Hat TIgers put together a respectable run, but were beaten by Calgary in the conference semi-finals.  Questions from the blue line on back loom large, as Marek Langhammer moves on due to graduation, as does Tyler Lewington.  Tommy Vannelli and Kyle Burroughs are also both likely gone, as they could seek the test in the pros.  If any success on the blue line is to be had, it now has to start with David Quennville.  Up front, the questions are just as large, though it is possible that the Tigers could keep either or both Cole Sanford and Trevor Cox, who were the team's leading scorers.

The Red Deer Rebels will be hosting the Memorial Cup this season, and though they just traded away Taz Burman, it likely opens the door to Rylan Toth to become the starter in goal.  Defensively, they will likely be led by Haydn Fleury and Nelson Nogier while Connor Bleackley and Adam Musil are likely leading the team up front.

WHL Conference Finals Preview

It is now down to four teams in the WHL Playoffs, and all the Division winners except for one made it here.  The two matchups feature teams that are familiar with one another due to recent encounters in the playoffs.

(1) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. (1) Calgary Hitmen

The Wheat Kings needed overtime in their last two games to finish off the Regina Pats in five games.  The Wheaties are still a young team, but they're already showing that they can finish off games when it matters.  The Hitmen put their near debacle against Kootenay behind them and beat Medicine Hat in five hard fought games.  Defense is their calling card, and it will have to be up to that unit to shut down a well-balanced Wheat Kings squad.

Prediction: Wheat Kings in 6

(1) Kelowna Rockets vs. (2) Portland Winterhawks

A rematch of last year's Western Conference Finals and the fourth meeting between the teams in the last five years, the Rockets are once again heavily favored to represent the Western Conference.  The difference now is that they've added Josh Morrisey and Leon Draisaitl and are better equipped to handle a powerful Portland offense.  The Winterhawks are looking to make it five WHL Finals in a row, and are counting on Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nic Petan to carry the offense because the defense is a work in progress.  The good news here is that Adin Hill has stepped up to be a formidable option in goal.

Prediction: Rockets in 7

WHL Conference Semi-finals Preview

The WHL Playoffs are advancing to the Conference Semi-finals, and things are going according to plan (as far as rankings go).  The games resume tomorrow, so, let's dive into it.

(1) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. (2) Regina Pats

The Wheat Kings had some game one jitters, but they rebounded to finish off Edmonton in five games.  Though the top seed, their inexperience in the big games showed in the series.  Regina swept Swift Current on the way to this rematch from last season.  They're practically a score by committee team without Sam Steel, and it will be up to Daniel Wapple to be their rock in goal once again.

Prediction: Wheat Kings in five

(1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (2) Medicine Hat Tigers

The Hitmen were almost headed to an early tee time again at the hands of Kootenay, but they found a way to advance.  Of the top seeds left, they're looking the worst.  Medicine Hat had a great series against Red Deer, with the bounces going their way in some closely contested matches.

Prediction: Medicine Hat in six

(1) Kelowna Rockets vs. (2) Victoria Royals

The Rockets had little trouble with Tri-City for most of the series, but the clinching game showed that they have some holes to patch up.  Victoria put away a game Prince George team in five, and they may be Kelowna's biggest challenge yet.

Prediction: Kelowna in six

(1) Everett Silvertips vs. (2) Portland Winterhawks

The season series was fairly even, and both teams will be coming in with tired legs after each needed at least one overtime (Everett needed three OTs) to put away their respective opponents.  Everett had some trouble with Spokane, and they have less firepower than Portland.  Portland had a tough match-up with Seattle, and they will need to shore up their defensive holes if they want to advance.

Prediction: Portland in seven

WHL Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview

The WHL Playoffs field is set and the games begin on Thursday.  There's not much time to breathe, so without further ado, here is the Eastern Conference preview, which begins Thursday with Brandon and Edmonton.

(1) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. (4) Edmonton Oil Kings

The Wheat Kings are the Scotty Munro Trophy winners this season for best regular season record, and despite having been eliminated by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the last two times they've made the playoffs, they've never been favored in either match-up.  The shoe is on the other foot this time around, as the Wheat Kings are heavily favored with an all-around solid team that will look to prove predictions of being the Eastern Conference representative correct.  The Oil Kings are minus some key players from the last few years, and it showed this year, as they needed almost the entire season to secure a playoff berth.  The Oil Kings' hopes for a repeat don't appear likely.

Prediction: Wheat Kings in five

(2) Regina Pats vs. (3) Swift Current Broncos

The Pats ended up a solid second place in the East Division despite trading away players such as Morgan Klimchuk and Kyle Burroughs at the trade deadline.  The Pats will be facing another obstacle this year, as they are going to be without rising star Sam Steel for the duration of the playoffs due to injury.  The Broncos needed all of the season to claim the last spot in the playoffs, and they appear to be in good form with back-to-back victories to close out the season.  An upset could be in the cards, but do the Broncos have enough to do it?

Prediction: Pats in seven

(1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (4) Kootenay Ice

The Hitmen needed the entire season to fend off the Medicine Hat Tigers to win the Central Division.  However, they're also facing the same Kootenay Ice team that eliminated them last season, and there is no reason to think the Ice won't be able to do it again.  If there was a team that is under the most pressure to win, it's the Hitmen.  The Ice are basically the same team as they were last season, only Wyatt Hoflin is in goal instead of Mackenzie Skapski, and the Ice do stand a chance with Sam Reinhart and Jaedon Descheneau on the team.  However, the motivation is there for the Hitmen to avenge last year's defeat.

Prediction: Hitmen in six

(2) Medicine Hat Tigers vs. (3) Red Deer Rebels

This match-up promises to be the best of the Eastern Conference.  Not much separates these two, with the Tigers being a better offensive team while the Rebels are a better defensive team.  You could flip a coin to determine a winner, and you would probably be correct here.  However, the Rebels do want to have some momentum heading into next year, when they will be hosting the Memorial Cup tournament.

Prediction: Rebels in seven

WHL Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference

This year, the WHL is following the NHL's lead in the playoff format, going with three automatic qualifiers from each division plus the next two teams in each conference, and yes, the pairings are the same as it is in the NHL.  With the playoffs a month away, it's time to see where each team is in the race.  The Eastern Conference is first, so here goes (the teams will be listed in accordance to where they are in the playoff standings, as listed on the WHL site):

EASTERN CONFERENCE

East Division

1. Brandon Wheat Kings: Lead the conference in points and is the first team in the playoffs for the conference.  They currently hold a 19 point lead on the nearest division rival in Regina and are almost certainly going to be the top seed in the conference.

2. Regina Pats: Despite trading away some of their top stars this season, the Pats are comfortably in second place in the division, and appear to be headed for a home ice advantage against the third ranked team in the division, which appears to be...

3. Swift Current Broncos: Nine points clear of Moose Jaw for the last spot in the division playoff race, the Broncos are not out of the woods yet, as they still have some division games to play, and that could be big if they don't fare well there.

Central Division

1. Medicine Hat Tigers: They lead the division by six points ahead of Calgary, but their hold on the division lead is fairly tenuous.  The Tigers also didn't make many moves at the trade deadline, which could come back to haunt them.

2. Calgary Hitmen: Just six points back of Medicine Hat, they are also in a fight to maintain home ice advantage for the first round, as they are just three points ahead of Red Deer.  Picking up Brendan Burke helps their goaltending, but by how much remains to be seen.

3. Red Deer Rebels: Eight points clear of Edmonton for the last automatic division spot, the Rebels are also gearing up for next year, when they will be hosting the Memorial Cup tournament.

The Rest

1. Edmonton Oil Kings: The defending league and Memorial Cup champions find themselves fighting for their playoff lives.  Fortunately, they have a 10 point lead on Moose Jaw, but don't appear to be in position to move into the division qualifiers at this point.

2. Kootenay Ice: Dead in the water before Sam Reinhart came back from his NHL audition, the Ice suddenly find themselves occupying the last wild card spot.  Like Swift Current, they are nine points above the cut-off line.

3. Moose Jaw Warriors: The Warriors need to pick up their game if they want to qualify for the first time since 2012.  This will be easier said than done because they don't score enough to offset the sometimes porous defense.

4. Prince Albert Raiders: Back by 11 points, the Raiders are pretty much thinking of next year, as the trades of both Josh Morrisey and Leon Draisaitl have left the Raiders bereft of any difference makers.

5. Lethbridge Hurricanes: The Brad Robson/Drake Berehowsky experiment was an abject failure, and both were shown the door mid-season.  However, they don't occupy the cellar at the moment, thanks to a strong week. Oh, and they're not making the playoffs, a feat that will mean the Hurricanes will see playoff-free hockey for the sixth straight season.

6. Saskatoon Blades: Already eliminated from playoff contention, the Blades were already in rebuilding mode, thanks to the trade of Nikita Scherbak early in the season.  Currently, the Blades find themselves in the cellar.

WHL Preview

The WHL season kicks off Friday, and nearly half the teams will be entering the season with a new bench boss. The Edmonton Oil Kings raise the banners for both the Ed Chynoweth and the Memorial Cup championships on Saturday against the Kootenay Ice. The East Division is looking to get a team to the Finals for the first time since 2006, and the Brandon Wheat Kings are prohibitive favorites to claim the division. In the Central Division, the Oil Kings will feel the pressure from the Calgary Hitmen, who have depth in most places, though they will be without Jake Virtanen for a month or two while he recovers from off season surgery.

Kelowna is expected to contend in the BC Division while looking to end Portland's reign atop the Western Conference. Speaking of the Winterhawks, they will have a new bench boss in Jamie Kompon as they look to reach the Finals for the fifth straight season. The Seattle Thunderbirds look to dethrone the Winterhawks in the US Division.

Hitmen Anniversary

With the Calgary Hitmen taking a rather unceremonious exit from the first round at the hands of the Kootenay Ice, it wrapped up a season that saw them fall short of rather lofty expectation.  However, that doesn't mean the Hitmen can't look forward to next season, and that means their 20th year in the WHL.  Named after legendary pro wrestler Bret "the Hitman" Hart, who was one of several people who had ownership stake in the Hitmen when they originally formed (the team is now owned by the Calgary Flames).  For their anniversary, the Hitmen have decided to bring back the original jerseys from the inaugural 1994-95 season...sort of.  As you can see in the picture, Hart is wearing the original jerseys that the Hitmen wore, complete with the pink and black colors that he made famous in his day.  The 20th anniversary jersey, as worn by Connor Rankin on the right, will replicate that on some level, with a couple of notable exceptions.

The right shoulder patch will feature the team's 20th anniversary logo, with the words "The Best There Ever Will Be" below the mask, another nod to Hart's trademark catch phrase, "The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be."

The left shoulder patch features the actual logo used on the original Hitmen jerseys that first year, as there was some controversy surrounding the logo that the Hitmen now use in some variation.

The hanger effect that is becoming a trend with hockey jerseys today carries over to the WHL, as the Hitmen get in on the action with a rather simple "1995-2015," indicating the years of their existence to date (as of next season).

Overall, however, the Hitmen have done quite well with the 20th Anniversary jersey that pays tribute to their roots.  The only question is whether or not the Hitmen players will have to put on the Hitmen shades.

WHL Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

With the Prince Albert Raiders' 5-3 win against Red Deer in the tie-breaker game last night, the Eastern Conference is now set.

(1) EDMONTON OIL KINGS vs. (8) PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS

The Oil Kings were once again the best defensive team in the league, and thanks to four players that scored 30 goals or more this season, were the best offensive team in the conference.  Led by Henrik Samuelsson and Curtis Lazar, the Oil Kings claimed the Central Division crown once again, and Tristan Jarry proved that he was ready for the starting job this season after previously backing up Laurent Brossoit in the last two seasons.  The Raiders needed the tie-breaker game just to get to this point, and while they certainly haven't lived up to pre-season expectations, it is a new season.  Leon Draisaitl and Josh Morrissey lead the way for the Raiders, who were buoyed by the mid-season acquisition of Collin Valcourt.  Goaltending is still a concern, as Cole Cheveldae posted a GAA of near-4.00, and he was not in goal when the Raiders won the tie-breaker game.

Prediction: Oil Kings in 5

(2) REGINA PATS vs. (7) BRANDON WHEAT KINGS

Don't let the seedings fool you, these teams were separated by a mere eight points, so this is a more even match-up than you think.  The Pats were led by Chandler Stephenson and Dyson Stevenson, but received significant contributions from both Morgan Klimchuk and Boston Leier.  Dmitry Sinitsyn and Kyle Burroughs provided more than capable defense from the blue line while the tandem of Daniel Wapple and Dawson MacAuley were solid in net for the Pats.  The Wheat Kings score a lot, but that is often because they gave up nearly the same number of goals as they scored.  Seven players scored at least 20 goals, with Richard Nejezchleb being the only one to score more than 30.  Jordan Papirny was a very good goaltender given how much under siege he was for the Wheat Kings.

Prediction: Wheat Kings in 7

(3) CALGARY HITMEN vs. (6) KOOTENAY ICE

The Hitmen are on a mission to make the finals after narrowly missing out last year.  Though Brady Brassart and Greg Chase led the team in scoring, it is Jake Virtanen that is the team's best player, as he is becoming one of the best two-way players in the WHL.  It also helps that he scored 45 goals, good for sixth in the league.  Chris Driedger was solid in goal once again, as he led the third best defensive team in the conference.  Kootenay will be motivated to win it for Tim Bozon, who is still in a Saskatoon hospital due to a severe case of meningitis.  However, the loss of Bozon takes away a scoring threat that will take the pressure off of Sam Reinhart and Jaedon Deschenau.  That duty now falls on Luke Philip.  Defensively, the Ice can match the Hitmen, as Mackenzie Skapski is no slouch in goal.

Prediction: Hitmen in 5

(4) MEDICINE HAT TIGERS vs. (5) SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS

The Tigers were the second best defensive team in the conference, and a fair portion of their success can be attributed to Marek Langhammer stepping up his game this year.  The addition of Tommy Vannelli helped, as well as the the contributions from both Tyler Lewington (+40) and Dylan Bredo (+33).  However, their offense was as good as ever despite not having Hunter Shinkaruk for most of the season.  Curtis Valk stepped up his game once Shinkaruk went down due to injury in both his offense and in a leadership role.  The Broncos showed that they could build upon last year's playoff appearance with another solid season.  Eetu Laurikainen provided peace of mind in goal while newcomer Julius Honka provided a spark from the blue line.  Three players topped the 30 goal mark, proving that once again, the Broncos play a complete team game.

Prediction: Tigers in 6

WHL Eastern Conference Playoff Picture

The Eastern Conference has a slightly clearer idea of who's getting in, but where everyone will be remains to be solved.  So, here goes (standings accurate as of this morning and verified on the WHL website):

1. Edmonton Oil Kings: Riding an 11-game winning streak, and looking a lot like their former selves, the Oil Kings are riding Tristan Jarry's goaltending into a playoff run.  They are currently five points clear of Calgary in the Central Division and are the best defensive team in the league.  They are also the third best offensive team in the league, trailing only Portland and Kelowna.

2. Swift Current Broncos: At 64 points, they aren't too impressive, but someone has to be the East Division leader, and they are it after beating Brandon last night.  They aren't too impressive on either end, but they do have players to watch in Julius Honka and Brycen Martin.

3. Calgary Hitmen: Five points behind the Oil Kings, there is no question the Hitmen would love to surpass their provincial rival of the north.  Their momentary slip led to Edmonton taking the division lead from Calgary, but the Hitmen do have players that can give them another deep run, and it begins with goaltender Chris Driedger.  Jake Virtanen will need to step up if the Hitmen hope to make it to the finals.

4. Medicine Hat Tigers: Surprisingly the second best defensive team in the Conference, they've made a lot of their hay without Hunter Shinkaruk, who is currently out with an injury.  Marek Langhammer will need to continue his great play and players such as Curtis Valk and Trevor Cox will need to continue their great play if the Tigers hope for more than just a cup of coffee in the playoffs.

5. Kootenay Ice: The Ice is mostly Sam Reinhart, Jaedon Deschenau, and a bunch of question marks.  Tim Bozon and Zach Franko are nice secondary options, but after that, it's anyone's guess.  This is almost certainly going to have to be Reinhart's team to carry, and if he can't, the Ice won't be long for the playoffs.

6. Brandon Wheat Kings: No such hard luck on the injury front, and while it hasn't translated to a dominating performance, they do have a shot at the East Division title.  Jordan Papirny is the man in goal, and Jayce Hawryluk is the team's leading scorer.

7. Regina Pats: The trade for Boston Leier has energized the Pats and as a result, they are in playoff contention.  They still have questions to answer, such as whether Dawson McAuley can be the team's rock in goal and whether Leier and Morgan Klimchuk will get help on offense.

8. Red Deer Rebels: Widely thought to have been a seller at the trade deadline, they are currently five points ahead of Prince Albert for the last playoff spot.  They still don't score enough, and it is once again Patrik Bartosak that has to step up for the Rebels.

9. Prince Albert Raiders: Thought to have been a favorite to run away with the East Division, the Raiders are on the outside looking in and the only team in that category with any chance of making the playoffs.  Leon Draisaitl alone is not going to solve this team's offensive woes, and Cole Cheveldae is good, but not great in goal.

10-12. Moose Jaw Warriors, Saskatoon Blades, Lethbridge Hurricanes: Moose Jaw can't score, Saskatoon can't stop anyone, and Lethbridge is just flat out terrible.

Top Prospects Game

Photo by Brad Watson

Tomorrow is a big day for 40 players from the Western, Ontario, and Quebec leagues, as they will get a chance to show scouts what they can do as they prepare for the 2014 NHL Draft.  The players are divided into two teams of 20, with one side representing Team Cherry and the other representing Team Orr.  For Team Cherry, the team will be led by Kootenay Ice captain Sam Reinhart, who is the youngest of three Reinhart (Max and Griffin) brothers and the son of ex-NHLer Paul Reinhart.  He won't be the only player on Team Cherry to have had a father play in the NHL, as Sherbrooke's Daniel Audette (son of Donald Audette) and Kitchener's Ryan MacInnis (son of ex-Flame and Blue Al MacInnis) will also be on the squad.  Portland will be represented by Chase De Leo this year.

As for Team Orr, they will be captained by Barrie's Aaron Ekblad, the top defensive prospect in this year's Draft.  Players to watch include Prince Albert's Leon Draisaitl, Calgary's Jake Virtanen, and Swift Current's Julius Honka.

The Top Prospects game will take place in Calgary, AB tomorrow and it promises to be a great game and an opportunity for the players to make their case for the first overall selection in June.

Winterhawks Weekly: The Light, the Dark, and the Endless Knot

The life of a WHL team is one of cycles: for every good run of years they have, there is bound to be at least a few off years where rebuilding is the name of the game.  Sometimes, there are even instances where a team knows its window is closing and they go all in.  That last instance is where the Portland Winterhawks are in a sense, as you will find out later.

First, the week that was, and the Winterhawks had their first chance to take back the U.S. Division lead from Everett on Tuesday, as they took on the Silvertips.  The teams exchanged goals in the first period, as Josh Winquist and Garrett Haar opened the scoring for their respective teams.  Taylor Leier would put the Winterhawks up 2-1 to end the second period, and that's when things opened up for the Winterhawks.  Alex Schoenborn, Chase De Leo, and Oliver Bjorkstrand made it 5-1 Winterhawks before the halfway point of the third period, which caused the Silvertips to switch goalies, as Austin Lotz was benched for Daniel Cotton.  Everett would get within two on goals from Ivan Nikolishin and Winquist, but a Derrick Pouliot goal would end the Silvertips' chances and ensure that Portland would be entering the Alberta road trip with the U.S. Division lead in a 6-3 win for Brendan Burke and company.

Friday was the rematch of the last two WHL championship series, as the Winterhawks and the Edmonton Oil Kings met in the latest chapter of a budding rivalry.  Nic Petan would open the scoring for the Winterhawks, but Dysin Mayo would tie things up at one after one period.  Cody Corbett would score the lone goal in the second period to put the Oil Kings up 2-1, and like the last game the Winterhawks played, things erupted in the third period.  Curtis Lazar would put the Oil Kings up 3-1 to open the third period, but Derrick Pouliot would put the Winterhawks within one soon thereafter.  An Edgars Kulda goal would put the Oil Kings up two again, but Leier would score the next two goals, including a goal with under a minute to go in the game to force overtime.  The game would need a shootout, where Reid Petryk would score the winner for the Oil Kings and send the Winterhawks to a 5-4 loss.  Because the Silvertips also lost that evening, that assured the Winterhawks of ending the week with at least a share of first in the division, as they earned a point in the shootout loss.

The Winterhawks went to Red Deer on Saturday to take on the Rebels, who would be a key figure in the Winterhawks' immediate future plans (more on that later).  The Winterhawks started out hot, as De Leo and Paul Bittner would put the Winterhawks up 2-0 to start the game.  Adam Musil would put Red Deer on the board to close the gap at one, but Brendan Leipsic would give the Winterhawks a two goal lead once again heading into the second period.  Schoenborn would put Portland up 4-1 to begin the second period, but a Vukie Mpofu goal would make it 4-2.  Connor Bleackley would put the Rebels within one, but a Leipsic goal would make it 5-3 heading into the third period.  Dominik Volek would score the only goal of the third period, but it wasn't enough, as Portland escaped Red Deer with a 5-4 win and Jarrod Schamerhorn got the victory.

Sunday was a day the Winterhawks would like to forget, as their third game in as many days wasn't kind to them.  They concluded the Alberta road trip with a game at Calgary, and for the first period, things didn't look so bad, as Bjorkstrand would put the Winterhawks up 1-0 after one period.  However, the fatigue of the road trip caught up to them, as the Hitmen would put up four unanswered goals, with Greg Chase and Kenton Helgesen scoring in the second period and Pavel Padakin scoring twice in the third period to give the Winterhawks a 4-1 loss.

The Winterhawks will have a home and home this weekend with Seattle, with a road game Friday and a home game Saturday.  And now, for the news of the week: the Winterhawks made a trade with the Rebels yesterday, acquiring the rights to Matthew Dumba and a conditional pick in exchange for Presten Kopeck and a couple of conditional picks.  Currently, Dumba is still with the Minnesota Wild and his entry level contract started this year, as he has played 13 games this season.  However, he has not played since November 23 and was released to try out with the Canadian national team in the World Junior Championships.  The Wild can still send Dumba down to juniors, but now instead of a Red Deer team that is trying to reload, it will be a Portland team that is looking to repeat as WHL champions.  Dumba's addition, if he does get sent back to juniors, would shore up a Winterhawks defense that hasn't played as well as in recent years.

Taking That Next Step

CALGARY HITMEN

2012-13 Record: 46-21-1-4 (Lost to Edmonton in Conference Finals)

The Hitmen were one game away from the WHL Finals last year, and though offense was at a premium (particularly in the playoffs), there is still much promise to this year's Hitmen squad.  Cody Sylvester, Brooks Macek, and Spencer Humphries will not return, as all three graduate.  Assuming Brady Brassart returns, he will be the leading scorer that returns from last year's squad.  Victor Rask is also not returning, as he is likely heading to the pros and the Carolina Hurricanes' system, and taking his place as one of two imports is Radel Fazleyev, who will be joining Pavlo Padakin as the imports on the team.  The biggest hope for offense this year is Jake Virtanen, who will be ready to assume a larger role on the team that had a fair share of veterans.  Chris Driedger will return, and that means the Hitmen's goaltending situation is in good hands, with Mack Shields ready to fill in when needed.  The Hitmen ranked third in the Conference in goals scored (266) and were tied for third in goals against (204, with Red Deer).

Prediction: 3rd in the Eastern Conference

The Hitmen have a chance to win the Central Division this year, but Edmonton isn't ready to give that up without a fight, and the Hitmen may not have enough to overtake them in the division.  Don't be surprised if the Hitmen do take the division, though, as they gave Edmonton a heck of a fight in the Conference Finals last year, and with a slightly weaker Oil Kings team from last year, it could be Calgary's for the taking.

WHL Award Winners

Yesterday was the day the award winners in the WHL were announced.

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Adam Lowry, Swift Current
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Seth Jones, Portland
Del Wilson Trophy (Goaltender of the Year): Patrik Bartosak, Red Deer
Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy (Defenseman of the Year): Brenden Kichton, Spokane
Brad Hornung Trophy (Sportsmanlike Player of the Year): Dylan Wruck, Edmonton
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year): Cody Sylvester, Calgary
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Ryan McGill, Kootenay
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Bob Green, Emdonton
WHL Marketing/Business Award: Kamloops Blazers
WHL Scholastic Team of the Year: Portland Winterhawks
Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Nathan Wieler
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Regular Season Champions): Portland Winterhawks
Bob Clarke Trophy (Leading Scorer): Brendan Leipsic and Nic Petan, Portland

Winterhawks Weekly: Ed Chynoweth Trophy, We're Coming for You!

I haven't posted a Winterhawks Weekly since the playoff series dictates a lot of the updates, but now, I can post something today.  Despite getting off to a bad start to the week, a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Kamloops on Tuesday, the Winterhawks shut out the Blazers the following day 3-0 to get their first chance to clinch a spot in the WHL Finals.  The Winterhawks made the most of that opportunity on Friday, sending Kamloops home 4-1 and in the process, will meet either the Edmonton Oil Kings or the Calgary Hitmen (Edmonton is currently up 3-2 in their series).  Ty Rattie took home the Western Conference playoff MVP honors.

WHL Conference Finals Predictions

The two matchups that will determine who squares off for the Ed Chynoweth Trophy promise to be good, as the teams just plain do not like one another.

(1) Edmonton Oil Kings vs. (3) Calgary Hitmen

The Oil Kings dominated the league with a stingy defense and continue to do so in the playoffs.  The Hitmen are equally up to the task despite not putting up the eye-popping numbers.  Laurent Brossoit and Chris Driedger are the backbones of their respective squads and while the Oil Kings have the more well-known players, the Hitmen just get the job done.  Calgary had the tougher road to get here, as they had to beat two defensively stout teams, but the Oil Kings have something that Swift Current and Red Deer do not, and that is offense.  And of course, there's the provincial bragging rights on the line in addition to a spot in the finals.

Prediction: Oil Kings in 6

(1) Portland Winterhawks vs. (3) Kamloops Blazers

There's no question the Winterhawks were the best team on offense, and certainly, their defense was equally adept.  The Blazers can match the Winterhawks on offense, but of concern is their defense, particularly since they can be quite streaky on offense and given their injuries to Colin Smith and Tim Bozon, will need the likes of Brendan Ranford and Kale Kessy to step up once again.  This will be the Winterhawks' toughest test yet, as the Blazers will be looking for revenge for last year's ouster in the Conference semis.

Prediction: Winterhawks in 7

WHL Conference Finals Breakdown: Offense

Today's WHL playoff breakdown takes a look at offense.

EDMONTON OIL KINGS

The fourth ranked offense in the regular season, the Oil Kings have 44 goals so far in the playoffs and are generally underrated when it comes to this category.  Led by the likes of Henrik Samuelsson, Michael St. Croix, and Stephane Legault (the team's leading scorer in the playoffs), it's easy to see why the Oil Kings had little trouble against Kootenay and Medicine Hat.

PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS

The Winterhawks led the league in the regular season in goals scored, and their playoff run (50 goals so far) mirrors that success.  In the regular season, the three leading scorers in the league were Winterhawks (Brendan Leipsic, Nic Petan, and Ty Rattie), yet there is so much more than that trio, as the likes of Oliver Bjorkstrand, Chase De Leo, Taylor Peters, and Taylor Leier provide secondary scoring.  Their defensemen are just as proficient at scoring as they are at keeping the opposing team from scoring, as Troy Rutkowski and Seth Jones put up great numbers.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS

The Blazers boast some premier scoring with JC Lipon, Colin Smith, and Tim Bozon leading the way.  However, they are prone to streaky play, as 261 regular season goals can attest and 41 playoff goals at this stage is another indicator.  However, getting production from Brendan Ranford and Kale Kessy has helped offset some missed time from Smith and Bozon.  The Blazers will need to get continued production from players not named Lipon or Smith.

CALGARY HITMEN

The Hitmen were a few goals better than the Blazers in the regular season, but have only amassed 30 goals in the playoffs.  To be fair, they were Swift Current and Red Deer, two teams that were tough to score on.  While there is no go-to guy on the team, timely goals from the likes of Cody Sylvester, Brooks Macek, and Victor Rask put the Hitmen in position to knock off the reigning Ed Chynoweth Champions this series.

WHL Conference Finals Breakdown: Defense

Yesterday, I took a look at the goalies for the remaining teams in the WHL playoffs.  Today, it's all about the guys in front of them: the defensemen.

EDMONTON OIL KINGS

Led by captain Griffin Reinhart, the Oil Kings are the only team to have given up single digits in goals to this point, which would obviously put them as the best team in the playoffs defensively.  They were also the best team defensively in the regular season, so their defensive stand is not a flash in the pan.  Also on the Oil Kings blue line are second-generation players Keegan Lowe (son of Kevin Lowe, who played for the Oilers and Rangers in his career) and David Musil (son of Frank, a former Calgary Flame).  Reinhart himself is the son of ex-Flame Paul Reinhart and is the middle brother of Max (a current prospect in the Flames system) and Sam (Kootenay Ice star who was recently named captain for next season).

PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS

Lost in the offensive juggernaut that is the Portland Winterhawks is the team's equally stout defense.  Led by Seth Jones, Troy Rutkowski, and Derrick Pouliot, the Winterhawks ran away with the U.S. Division and the Scotty Munro Trophy in the regular season.  Despite being somewhat erratic on defense (which explains why they have given up the third most goals, 19, of the remaining teams), the Winterhawks have enough talent to win every shootout if they must, but are also capable of winning the 1-0 grinders if needed, as evidenced by giving up the second fewest goals in the regular season.

CALGARY HITMEN

Chris Driedger gets the majority of the press, but the guys in front of him are just as good, if not unheralded.  Led by Spencer Humphries, the Hitmen make up for the lack of scoring (that will be explained tomorrow) with timely play.  They've given up the second fewest goals in the playoffs of the remaining teams, but they also played against offensively challenged teams in Swift Current and Red Deer, so how they will be able to handle Edmonton is the challenge of the day.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS

The Blazers are led by the likes of Tyler Hansen and Joel Edmundson, but with 28 goals against in the playoffs, the Blazers are the worst of the remaining teams.  To be fair, they did play Victoria and a Kelowna team that never quit despite the injuries and having to come back from a 3-0 series deficit against Seattle in the opening round, so Kamloops has definitely been tested.  Their defense is underrated, as their forwards get all the press despite the team giving up the fourth fewest goals in the league.