New Duds for Moose Jaw

Lost in the Stanley Cup excitement (Go Preds!) are some notable changes within the major junior ranks. Today, it's about what one team will trot out starting next season.

Pictured above is what the Moose Jaw Warriors will be wearing, and the keen-eyed will notice that they take their cues from the New York Islanders' soon-to-be former third jerseys. That look didn't look too good on the Islanders, and it certainly doesn't look good on the Warriors, and to make matters worse, they decided to double the pain. The numbering is probably the best thing about it, but that's where the good news ends. The contrasting nameplate on both sets does little to actually make it work, as seemingly far too many teams use it.

Catching Up

It's been some time since I last put something on this blog, and predictably, there's items that should be addressed, so let's get to it.

• First, the picture you see is Wayne Gretzky in Simpsons form, as he will be lending his voice and likeness to a December 11 episode of the Simpsons. Where I really give the animators props is the fact that they even got the right side of the sweater being tucked in, a long-time Gretzky trademark in his playing days.
• Connor McDavid scored his first NHL hat-trick in Saturday's 5-2 win over Dallas that also saw the Oilers get off the losing streak. While it took McDavid a little longer to get his hat-trick compared to Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, there is the matter of him missing half the season last year.
• Evander Kane is still a Buffalo Sabre. The long-rumored Kane to Vancouver deal fell through, according to sources, when the Canucks balked at the Sabres' asking price. It was thought that the Sabres were going to try and recoup some of what they lost, value-wise, in the deal they made with Winnipeg to get Kane.
• Dylan Strome got returned to Erie from Arizona. The move came a day after the Otters named Kyle Pettit the captain for this season, a role Strome held last season. It will be interesting to see what happens with Strome and the Otters and whether the Otters decide to move Strome, as the Otters are actually doing well and they may be looking to try and sustain their current run of success for a little while longer. Hamilton may be an option, since Dylan's younger brother Matthew currently plays there.
• It's the Trans-Canada Highway bottleneck in the East Division of the WHL, as Regina leads the way with Swift Current, Moose Jaw, and Brandon all just behind them, and Saskatoon and Prince Albert are bringing up the rear. Prince Albert likely conceded the season, as they traded Brendan Guhle to Prince George for three players and draft picks.
• SKA recently had a 15-game winning streak snapped against Avtomobilist.

The hockey season is still young, and there is still more to happen. For now, I get to rest a little.

WHL Playoffs: Conference Semi-finals Preview

The field for the WHL Playoffs has been cut in half, and now, eight teams remain as they look to be representing the WHL in the Memorial Cup. Puck drop for the first game is tomorrow, so without wasting any more time, let's go!

KELOWNA ROCKETS vs. VICTORIA ROYALS

The Rockets needed a seventh game and overtime to finally put away Kamloops in a closely contested series. They still haven't found a go-to guy on offense for the playoffs, but Michael Herringer held his own in goal. That may be good for at least a competitive series, particularly given that the Royals had a slightly hard time putting away Spokane before finally doing so in six games. Count on this one being close.

Prediction: Royals in 7

SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS vs. EVERETT SILVERTIPS

Everett had little trouble putting away Portland despite Carter Hart only playing the last game of the series. Mario Petit was very good in Hart's absence, and given that the Silvertips are still prone to struggling on offense, they may need to ride their goaltending once again. The Thunderbirds were slightly tested, as two of their four games went into overtime. However, there is much to like about the Thunderbirds this year, and certainly, Landon Bow gives them their best shot of winning at least this series, especially if the team in front does their job.

Prediction: Thunderbirds in 6

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS vs. MOOSE JAW WARRIORS

The Wheat Kings sleepwalked through the first two games of their series with Edmonton, but woke up in a big way for the next four. They'll need all hands on deck for the entire series, as the Warriors possess two of the top offensive players in the league in Brayden Point and Dryden Hunt. Depth is a strength for the Wheat Kings, and provided that Jordan Papirny is competent, the Wheat Kings should advance. However, Zach Sawchenko can hold his own in net, and the Warriors could pull an upset if they're at their best.

Prediction: Wheat Kings in 6

REGINA PATS vs. RED DEER REBELS

The Pats handily pulled off the biggest upset of the opening round, beating Lethbridge with relative ease over five games. Adam Brooks continues to lead the way, but they face a Red Deer that had few problems going past Calgary. The Rebels would love to have a deep run to go along with a Memorial Cup appearance, so motivation is not a problem here, particularly since Trevor Martin is playing well in net and Adam Helewka has been the team's best forward.

Prediction: Rebels in 5

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.

WHL East Division Preview

Hockey season begins next month, but training camps for the junior leagues begin soon, if not now.  So, with that in mind, the 2015-16 WHL season preview begins this week with the East Division.

The Brandon Wheat Kings are the reigning Eastern Conference champions, yet are wanting to take that next step after getting trounced in the WHL Finals by Kelowna.  The Wheat Kings lose Peter Quennville and Eric Roy to graduation and are most likely going to be without Morgan Klimchuk and Rihards Bukarts.  Ivan Provorov could be gone if he sticks with the Philadelphia Flyers this season, but the Wheat Kings do return a fair amount of players, as well, as Nolan Patrick and Kale Clague will have larger roles with the team while the likes of Ryan Pilon, Jayce Hawryluk, and Jordan Papirny will be the leaders on the team.  Also, Stelio Mattheos will be in his first full season with the team.

The Moose Jaw Warriors missed the playoffs by four points, and though the team does return some good talent, they do have to replace their leading scorer in Jack Rodewald, as he graduated.  The wild card here is whether Brayden Point will be remaining with the team for the full season or if he gets traded at some point in the season.  Brett Howden figures to have a bigger role, but Zach Sawchenko needs to be better when it counts the most.


The Prince Albert Raiders are looking to this season, particularly after a rather disastrous time where the Raiders had to trade both Josh Morrisey and Leon Draisaitl and ended the Cory Clouston experiment after a season and a half.  Having Marc Habscheid for a full season should benefit the team, as will a season of relative peace within the team.  However, there isn't a heck of a lot to work from, as the Raiders will have a hard time scoring, but having someone like Brendan Guhle on the blue line will at least give the team some peace of mind on the blue line.  Nick McBride returns in goal, which is a good thing.

Despite finishing second in the East Division, the Regina Pats' rebuilding phase began in earnest last year.  Getting rid of Morgan Klimchuk, Connor Gay, and Kyle Burroughs mid-season, set the team up to build around Sam Steel, who will look to rebound after having his season cut short due to injury.  The Pats' fortunes could rest on whether Daniel Wapple returns for his overage year, as he proved to be very good in goal when given the chance to start.

To expect anything other than more growing pains for the Saskatoon Blades would be something of a folly.  Coach/GM Bob Woods is still trying to reestablish the team's sources after a rather handling by the previous regime, and certainly, that began last season, as Niktita Scherbak and Nelson Nogier were both sent out during the season.  However, all not bare, as Mitchell Wheaton and Connor Gay will join Brycen Martin as possible leaders on the team that will eventually be welcoming their first round picks in this year's Bantam Draft, something the Blades couldn't have done the previous five seasons.

If there's a team that is destined for a fall, it is the Swift Current Broncos.  Despite the best efforts of Landon Bow in goal, the Broncos too often didn't have enough scoring to help him out.  Now, the question of whether or not Bow will be one of the overage players to be on the team lurks, as he is one of nine 1995 birthdays on the roster from last season.  The team is also likely to lose both Dillon Heatherington and Brett Lernout, both of whom could turn pro.  The only sure things to be on the roster this season that are proven players will be Jake DeBrusk and Glenn Gawdin.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

The player you see is Collin Valcourt, and he currently plays for Mountfield HK in the Czech Republic.  Why would I be writing about a player that is currently playing on a team in the Czech Republic?  Well, Valcourt was one of the players acquired by the Saskatoon Blades in 2013 in their ultimately ill-fated run to the Memorial Cup that year. Valcourt was acquired by the team from Spokane that year in exchange for a first round pick in 2015, and as luck would have it (for Spokane), the Blades would finish dead last this year, thus giving the Chiefs a great chance at winning the first overall pick in this year's bantam draft.  The lottery was held yesterday, and true to form, the Chiefs will be picking first, meaning they will have benefited from yet another brain fart from the previous management of the Blades (Brandon and Vancouver were the beneficiaries in last year's draft).

Speaking of benefiting from other people's mistakes, the Moose Jaw Warriors hold the fourth and sixth overall picks in this year's bantam draft.  The Warriors have their own sixth overall pick plus the fourth overall pick that comes from Kamloops in a 2013 trade for Joel Edmundson in the Blazers' ultimately unsuccessful attempt to topple the Portland Winterhawks' reign at the top of the Western Conference, which is now at four years.

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: 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.

Winterhawks Weekly: Search for Consistency

The Portland Winterhawks began a six game stretch where they enter the East Division road trip portion of their schedule.  Things got off on the right foot on Friday, as they rode a 3-goal second period en route to a 6-2 win over Moose Jaw in Nic Petan's first game as captain.  However, the following night was not so nice, as Brandon played the role of rude hosts, pelting Brendan Burke and recently acquired Bolton Pouliot for 10 goals in a 10-3 rout.

The Winterhawks continue the East Division road trip Tuesday in Regina, followed by a game Wednesday against Swift Current before concluding the trip Friday at Prince Albert and Saturday against Saskatoon.

WHL Award Winners

Photo by Brad Watson

Today, the WHL announced the winners of the annual trophies handed out at the end of the season and will be holding the Bantam Draft tomorrow.  Saturday will be game one of the WHL finals between familiar foes in the Portland Winterhawks and the Edmonton Oil Kings.

The award winners, and the runner-up:

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (WHL Player of the Year): Sam Reinhart, Kootenay Ice

Mitch Holmberg was an important part of the Spokane Chiefs' push for the playoffs, leading the league in scoring and breaking the team record in goals.  However, Reinhart was equally important in the Ice's push for a playoff spot, and never more was that evident than when he helped rally the Ice together when teammate Tim Bozon was sidelined due to meningitis.

Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Nick Merkley, Kelowna Rockets

One of the reasons the Kelowna Rockets were at the top of the regular season standings was because of the contributions of Merkley.  The Rockets had many contributors, and Merkley did his part.  He figures to be a bigger part of the team next season when the likes of Jordon Cooke and Damon Severson move on.  The Saskatoon Blades had a rough season, but Nikita Scherbak was a revelation, as he provided the team hope for next season with his offensive prowess.

Del Wilson Trophy (Goaltender of the Year): Jordon Cooke, Kelowna Rockets

Cooke had his best season with the Rockets, and not coincidentally, so did the Rockets as a team.  His efforts were enough to edge out Tristan Jarry of the Edmonton Oil Kings.  Jarry offered the Oil Kings similar results from what his predecessor Laurent Brossoit did, and he will be competing for the Ed Chynoweth Trophy starting this weekend along with the rest of the Oil Kings.

Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy (Defenseman of the Year): Derrick Pouliot, Portland Winterhawks

The Winterhawks' blue line may have taken a hit prior to this season with the losses of Troy Rutkowski, Tyler Wotherspoon, and Seth Jones, but Derrick Pouliot remained.  He missed a few games due to being up with Pittsburgh at the start of the season and the WJC, but when he was in a Winterhawks' uniform, no one was more important to the team's success this season than Pouliot.  Josh Morrissey of the Prince Albert Raiders was equally important to his team, but overall, the team didn't have nearly the same amount of success that was expected of them.

Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike): Sam Reinhart, Kootenay Ice

Unsurprisingly, the two finalists for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy were also the best at keeping out of the penalty box.  Reinhart only amassed 11 PIM en route to posting 105 points and leading the Ice to the Conference semi-finals.  Holmberg's record breaking season was made possible in part by him avoiding the penalty box for much of the season.

Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy (Scholastic): Nelson Nogier, Saskatoon Blades

In his senior year, Nogier averaged 96% in his classes and is expected to graduate with Great Distinction in his class.  His season may have been cut short due to injury, but it did not keep him from succeeding in the classroom.  Dominic Turgeon also excelled in the classroom while playing a pivotal third line role for the Winterhawks.

Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian): Sam Fioretti, Moose Jaw Warriors

Mitch Topping of the Tri-City Americans made an impact off the ice, but it was Fioretti that came away with this trophy.  Fioretti was one of the main players that reached out to the community of Moose Jaw in many ways, including education and anti-bullying.

Dunc McCallum Trophy (Coach): Dave Lowry, Victoria Royals

Lowry led the Royals to their best season as he oversaw the goaltending tandem of Patrik Polivka and Coleman Vollrath post stellar numbers.  Shaun Clouston helped keep the Medicine Hat Tigers afloat and guided them to the Conference Finals.

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.

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.

More Growing Pains

MOOSE JAW WARRIORS

2012-13 record: 25-36-4-7 (missed the playoffs)

The Moose Jaw Warriors simply were not a good team last year.  They scored the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference (182) to go with 249 goals given up.  The good news is that the goaltending duo of Justin Paulic and Daniel Wapple are expected to return a year wiser.  The bad news is that both will have to do better than post a GAA above 3.00, as there isn't much offense to speak of, and help isn't on its way.  Brayden Point put up good numbers in his first year of junior, and is expected to be better, and Sam Fioretti, the team's leading scorer, may be back as an overager this season.  However, Morgan Rielly could be sticking with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season, which leaves a big hole on the blue line.  Justin Kirsch, Jordan Messier, and Kendall McFaull are gone due to graduation.

Prediction: 10th in the East

The goaltending is expected to improve with a year of experience, as well as the offense.  However, the potential loss of Rielly, combined with no real viable options on offense outside of Point and Fioretti means the Warriors are likely on the outside looking in once again.

Random Thoughts from Yesterday's WHL Action

Between the rumors of a possible deal to end the NHL Lockout (and this Lockout beard I have growing, however terrible it looks) and the political season that I could give no brain cells about, I decided to take in a little WHL action on the internet radio.  Period one was the Kamloops Blazers and Red Deer Rebels, and no scoring happened until I changed from that game after the period.  Kamloops would go on to win 4-0 and are the only team to not lose in regulation this year.  JC Lipon has won the CHL Player of the Week two weeks in a row, and with two assists in last night's game, he appears to be making a case for three in a row.  Kamloops was a team last season that as a Winterhawks fan, scared me in the playoffs because they always play well, and though they lost in the Conference semi-finals, the Blazers didn't go quietly.  This year, they appear to have redemption on their minds, and it's showing in a 9-0-0-1 record as of this morning.  Red Deer has the defense to succeed, though it didn't show against Kamloops.  Their biggest issue is staying out of the penalty box, as they currently lead the league in PIM with 246.

As for what I heard in the second period, it was the Everett Silvertips vs. Moose Jaw Warriors.  Like Kamloops vs. Red Deer, that game was scoreless after one.  Everett scored twice to open the second period, with Ryan Murray scoring one of the goals.  However, Moose Jaw scored five unanswered goals to win 5-2.  Everett has been struggling to score goals, and if and when the NHL lockout ends, it is likely that Murray will jump to Columbus.  Since Murray is a spark plug for the offense, which truthfully does not say a lot about Everett's offense, the Silvertips will continue to struggle for goals until they can identify a goal scoring threat, something that hasn't happened even with Murray's presence.  Moose Jaw is a middle of the pack team in the Eastern Conference, but they are capable of winning games when they count.

Because of the time difference, I did not catch a game for the third period.

The Saskatchewan (and Manitoba) Roadie

So, for the next couple of weeks, the Portland Winterhawks will be on the road to face off against the entire East Division of the Eastern Conference.  They begin tomorrow against the Brandon Wheat Kings, who lead the league in scoring with 25.  Unfortunately, they are also tied for the lead in most goals given up with 22 (with Regina).  If Portland is to win this game, they need to slow down the offense and get some of their own offense going.  Moose Jaw is the following day, and while they are middle of the road, it is also a trap game, one they cannot afford to sleep on.  The Regina Pats await on the 9th, and they are a team that desperately needs a spark early in the season.  If Portland is wise, they will jump on this team early and often.  Saskatoon is the next stop on the 10th, and they too, will be looking for a spark.  Prince Albert is on the 12th, and they have shown some surprising defensive prowess, only giving up 10 goals to this point.  They finish the road trip in Swift Current on the 13th, and though they can score (18 goals is pretty good at this point in the season), they may want to tighten up the defensive alignment.  As for how Portland can have a successful road trip, it begins with offense, as in they will need to keep it going.  It would be great if Ty Rattie, the team's leading scorer last season, starts finding his game.  Defensively, Seth Jones has yet to find his groove, but he's too good to be kept down forever, and given that he will likely be playing alongside either Derrick Pouliot or Troy Rutkowski, his full potential could come out.  Cam Lanigan has outplayed Brendan Burke in the early going, and it will be interesting to see how Burke responds to the road trip challenge.  His only road game was against Tri-City, where he gave up two goals as opposed to ten in his two home games.

Training Camp in the WHL

Training camp for the Western Hockey League teams began this Wednesday, and there are many questions, the least of which involve who will stick in the NHL and who will be back for another season in the WHL.  For now, September 20 is a date to be circled, as the defending Ed Chynoweth champion Edmonton Oil Kings square off against the 2011 Ed Chynoweth winner Kootenay Ice.  The Portland Winterhawks open their season on September 21 against the I-5 rivals in the Seattle Thunderbirds.  They will be without Ty Rattie, Mac Carruth, Sven Baertschi, and Joe Morrow, as their WHL eligibility will have been exhausted.  2012 first round pick Derrick Pouliot will likely return to the team, since the Pittsburgh Penguins are stacked on the blue line, one that includes Morrow, and don't have to rush Pouliot.  Other opening night matchups on the 21st include Kamloops against Kelowna, the Regina Pats versus the Brandon Wheat Kings, Medicine Hat against Lethbridge, Swift Current versus Moose Jaw, Saskatoon against Prince Albert, Calgary and Red Deer squaring off, and the Victoria Royals versus the Vancouver Giants.  Prince George faces Everett and Spokane faces Tri-City on September 22 in their opening games.

Moose Jaw Warriors

The WHL two-a-days brings us to Moose Jaw, SK and the Moose Jaw Warriors.  For as much history they have, they have never won a championship in their existence.  With 258 goals scored and giving up 213 goals, the Warriors fell short in five games to eventual champion Edmonton Oil Kings in the Conference Finals.  Midseason acquisitions Cam Braes and James Henry propelled the team to the spot and added to the numbers posted by Florida Panthers draft pick Quinton Howden (team scoring leader of all that played their entire season in Moose Jaw).  Among the alumni include Theoren Fleury, Ryan Smyth, and Kelly Buchberger.