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.

A New (Wheat) King in Town

Just because Kelly McCrimmon left the Brandon Wheat Kings' coaching and front office staff doesn't mean that he doesn't have a hand in picking the team's new personnel, as he still has ownership stake in the team. Today, he introduced the coaching staff that will try to see the Wheat Kings to the league's first back-to-back WHL title since 1994-95, when the Kamloops Blazers turned the trick.

The new head coach is David Anning, who has been with the Wheat Kings in some capacity since the 2012-13 season. Before that, he plied his trade in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, spending time with the Steinbach Pistons, Dauphin Kings, and Winnipeg Saints in various capacities, including head coach and General Manager with Winnipeg. Don MacGillivray and Aaron Rome will be joining him as Assistant coaches, and while MacGillivray will be providing bench experience, having coached in the MJHL like Anning, Rome is fresh off of an NHL career that saw stops in Anaheim, Columbus, Vancouver, and Dallas. Darren Ritchie moves from behind the bench as an Assistant coach to become the new Director of Scouting while Tyler Plante returns to his junior team, this time as the Goaltending coach.

I have to say that it's a rather interesting dichotomy of who makes up the staff, as Anning is a 30-year old who has limited coaching experience, but a good idea of what is expected of the Wheat Kings, having served under McCrimmon for much of his time in Brandon. MacGillivray and Rome will provide differing viewpoints, as Rome recently played in the NHL while MacGillivray will provide Anning a contemporary, as both coached in the MJHL. Ritchie's promotion comes as no surprise, as he has been around Brandon as a coach for nine years, so learning what McCrimmon wants in players that come through should be second nature, while Plante brings experience from his time domestically and abroad to give the next generations of goalies knowledge.

From the Prairies to the Neon Lights

There were some major changes in the past few days in Brandon, MB, as the Wheat Kings will be opening their championship defense with a new radio voice and a new head coach and a new General Manager. First, the radio voice, and longtime voice of Wheat Kings games on CKLQ Bruce Luebke will not be back to announce games with the radio station. No further word on this matter has been given at this time.

Now, the matter of the head coach and the General Manager, as they were the same person at varying times this decade. The as-yet-to-be-named Las Vegas NHL team did what the Toronto Maple Leafs were unable to do last off-season: lure Kelly McCrimmon away from the Wheat Kings. His role with Las Vegas will be as Assistant General Manager, meaning he will be serving under General Manager George McPhee. McCrimmon will still be with the team as one of the owners, along with the rest of his family, so finding a new General Manager and head coach will happen with his stamp on it.

What does Las Vegas get? With McPhee, they get a guy who oversaw the Washington Capitals' climb from the doldrums in 2005 to annual playoff contenders, though his inability to get the missing pieces, plus a few ill-advised trades did him in after the 2013-14 season. Hiring McCrimmon will be beneficial, as he oversaw the Wheat Kings' rise to the top of the WHL this season with timely trades and using picks in the Bantam and Import Drafts to pick up key players such as Ivan Provorov, Nolan Patrick, and Stelio Matheos.

The Memorial Cup Field

Over the weekend, the Memorial Cup field was set, as the OHL, QMJHL, and the WHL determined their champions to join this year's host the Red Deer Rebels for the chance to hoist the Memorial Cup and declare themselves the Canadian Hockey League champions. Let's look at each team and what they need to do to be this year's Memorial Cup champions.

ROUYN-NORANDA HUSKIES

How they got here: They began their run by sweeping Drummondville in the opening round, were met with slight resistance from Blainville-Boisbriand in five games, needed six games to put away Moncton in the Conference Finals before putting down Shawinigan in five games to win the Presidents' Cup.

Why they can win the Memorial Cup: They are led offensively by Francis Perron, but don't forget about Timo Meier and A.J. Greer, two key players picked up either prior to the season or in mid-season trades. In goal, Chase Marchand has held down the fort quite nicely, as he posted impressive GAA numbers en route to pushing the Huskies to their first championship since landing in Rouyn-Noranda 20 years ago.

LONDON KNIGHTS

How they got here: Their stiffest challenge came in the opening round, as they needed six games to put away Owen Sound in the opening round. However, since winning game six of that series, the Knights reeled off 13 consecutive wins, including that game 6 win, sweeping past Kitchener, Erie, and Niagara to claim their third J. Ross Robertson Trophy in five years and securing a spot in the Memorial Cup tournament for the fourth time in that same span (they hosted in 2014).

Why they can win the Memorial Cup: It begins up front, as Mitch Marner and Christian Dvorak lead the charge up front. Having players such as Matthew Tkachuk and Max Jones helps, too. Tyler Parsons is one of the more underrated goalies in the field, as the guys up front get all the press, but he's been proven to be mentally tough even in the face of rough starts, as the game 4 against Kitchener showed.

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS

How they got here: A slow series start against Edmonton saw them begin in a 2-0 series hole. However, they climbed out emphatically, winning the next four games. Their next three series saw them win by identical 4-1 series scores, as Moose Jaw, Red Deer, and Seattle fell to the Wheat Kings on their way to the Ed Chynoweth Trophy.

Why they can win the Memorial Cup: Like the London Knights, the Wheat Kings are loaded up front, as Jayce Hawryluk and John Quennville are the veteran presences there. However, it's the young guy in Nolan Patrick that truly makes things go there, as he took home the Playoff MVP Trophy there. Defensively, they are well-balanced, as both Kale Clague and Ivan Provorov lead the way there. Jordan Papirny doesn't get the press he deserves, but he's shown mental toughness, bouncing back from bad games to give the Wheat Kings the boost they needed. Also, the Wheat Kings have shown a killer instinct, winning the series clinching games by the scores of 10-3, 7-3, 5-2, and 8-4.

RED DEER REBELS

How they got here: The Rebels are hosting this year's Memorial Cup tournament. In the WHL playoffs, they handled Calgary in five games, but needed all seven games to finally put away the Regina Pats. They met their end in the Conference Finals when they lost to Brandon in five games.

Why they can win the Memorial Cup: Mid-season acquisitions Adam Helewka and Jake DeBrusk are the best offensive options on the squad, with Helewka nearly willing the Rebels to wins at times while DeBrusk has rediscovered his game after struggling for much of the regular season. Any Brent Sutter-led team has to be strong defensively, and that is where having the likes of Haydn Fleury and Nelson Nogier help. When their goaltending is on, there are few teams that can match the veteran talent of Trevor Martin and Rylan Toth.

WHL Finals Preview

The WHL Finals are set to kick off Friday with a spot in the Memorial Cup tournament on the line. It's a classic battle of the most physical team versus a strong offense. Yes, it is the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Brandon Wheat Kings, two teams that couldn't be any more different, from style of play to team locations. And the bus ride between the cities will be a long one that crosses the border.

Seattle Thunderbirds vs. Brandon Wheat Kings

The Thunderbirds had little trouble blazing their way through the Western Conference, needing just one game above the minimum to get here. They're physical, have an offense led by the likes of Matt Barzal and Ryan Gropp, and a goalie in Landon Bow that has proven to be a game changer. The Wheat Kings are a dynamic offensive unit led by Nolan Patrick and John Quennville, and have bounced back from their fair share of adversity throughout the playoffs. Jordan Paiprny has been up and down, but his ups are a lot higher than you think. It looks rather even, but how the Wheat Kings deal with the Thunderbirds' physical play will determine a winner in what should be an evenly contested series.

Prediction: Wheat Kings in 7

WHL Conference Finals Preview

It took seven games for two of the four remaining survivors, in thrilling fashion, no less, but now the field is whittled down. There were few surprises, with the one surprise being a big one, as you will find out in this preview. Enough talk, let's meet the remaining teams:

(1) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. (2) Red Deer Rebels

The Wheat Kings had little trouble getting past Moose Jaw in five games. Outside of a game 3 hiccup, the Wheaties were firing on all cylinders offensively while the goaltending held up its end in the four victories. Getting a healthy Tim McGauley performing to last year's numbers was a bonus for a team that has all the firepower a team can handle.

The Rebels needed seven games and a little home cooking to finally put away the Regina Pats. It did not come easy, as they needed a late third period goal. However, Trevor Martin struggled in the series, giving way to Rylan Toth to finish the series. Can Adam Helewka and company compensate enough for the defensive issues that surfaced in the Regina series?

Prediction: Wheat Kings in 6

(1) Seattle Thunderbirds vs. (2) Kelowna Rockets

The Thunderbirds shut down the Everett Silvertips in five games with physical play that wore down the Silvertips long enough to solve Carter Hart. They're a team on a mission, and if they are to win their first championship, there's no better opportunity for Matt Barzal and company to do so.

The Rockets were 0.2 seconds away from failing to defend their championship until Justin Kirkland came along. An overtime goal later, and the Rockets survive another seven game series while sending the Scotty Munro champion Victoria Royals home. Despite all the injuries and an arguably tougher road to the Finals, the Rockets have persevered. However, the Thunderbirds will present their own problems and the Rockets' luck could finally run out.

Prediction: Thunderbirds in 5

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

A Time to Clinch

It's approaching playoff hockey season for the junior leagues, and in the WHL, the regular season champion, among other things, has been decided. Thanks to a victory over the Kelowna Rockets this week, the Victoria Royals will be taking home their first team hardware in their history as both the Royals and the Chilliwack Bruins as they are the Scotty Munro Trophy winners. Obviously, they also claim the B.C. Division title, as well as the top overall seed in the playoffs. Also claiming the top spot in their respective divisions are the Brandon Wheat Kings in the East Division (also the top spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs) and the Seattle Thunderbirds in the U.S. Division. Lethbridge holds a three point lead over Red Deer as of this writing, but the Rebels also play tonight. After today, the Hurricanes will have a game in hand.

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 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.

WHL Finals Preview

The WHL Finals begin Friday, and for the first time since 2010, it won't involve the Portland Winterhawks. Instead, we get a rematch of the 2005 Finals, as the Kelowna Rockets take on the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Rockets are in the finals for the first time since 2009, when they last won the championship while the Wheat Kings are in for the first time since 2005. Both teams were pre-season favorites to represent their respective conferences, and both boast potent offenses and strong defenses. The Rockets are led by Leon Draisaitl, and players such as Nick Merkley, Josh Morrissey, and Madison Bowey help lead the team in front of Jackson Whistle. The Wheat Kings are a young team led by the likes of Tim McGauley, Jayce Hawryluk, Ivan Provorov, and the brothers Quenneville, John and Peter. That team is backed by Jordan Papirny.

As for who will win, the Wheat Kings played well so far with few bumps along the way, and given their relative youth, this team could be the next team to go on a dominant run in the following seasons. The Rockets played well in the first two rounds, but needed comebacks against Portland to secure a spot here. Kelowna will need to avoid falling behind, as the Wheat Kings are a far better defense than Portland.

Prediction: Wheat Kings in 6

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.

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 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.

WHL Eastern Conference Semi-finals Preview

The remaining eight teams in the WHL playoffs will start play in the next round on Thursday.  There were a few surprises in the East while the West went almost according to seed.

EASTER CONFERENCE

(1) Edmonton Oil Kings vs. (7) Brandon Wheat Kings

The Oil Kings dispatched the Prince Albert Raiders in a sweep, which was hardly surprising, but the Raiders did play the Oil Kings closer than expected.  Curtis Lazar, Mitch Moroz, and Cody Corbett are players to watch, as they ignited the team's offense.  Tristan Jarry has proven to be the team's last line of defense, as he continued his stellar play into the series.  The Wheat Kings pulled off a mild upset (mild because the Wheat Kings were only eight points back of the Pats) of the East Division champion Regina Pats, and did so convincingly in a sweep.  Jordan Papirny has been solid in net in his rookie year, and certainly, having a strong blue line in front of him has helped.  However, it has been an offensive attack led by Jayce Hawryluk and Richard Nezejchleb that put the Wheat Kings over the Pats.  Edmonton has the decided playoff experience edge, but the Wheat Kings are playing with greater momentum at the moment.

Prediction: Oil Kings in 5

(4) Medicine Hat Tigers vs. (6) Kootenay Ice

The Tigers won a hard fought series against the Swift Current Broncos in six games.  As much credit goes to the offense, it was really the defense that stepped up their game.  Tyler Lewington, Dylan Bredo, and Tommy Vannelli are very good in their own end, and it helps that Marek Langhammer has been the goaltender the Tigers wanted.  Kootenay was the real surprise, as they dispatched heavily favorited Calgary in six games to advance.  Tim Bozon's release from the hospital the day before their series-clinching victory and his appearance in the ceremonial opening face-off make Kootenay this year's feel good story.  However, it would be a mistake to think Kootenay got here on luck alone, as Jaedon Deschenau and Sam Reinhart are tied in the playoff scoring lead.  Defense could be tightened up a little, as Mackenzie Skapski has been pulled in a couple of contests, and Wyatt Hoflin finished the series.

Prediction: Medicine Hat in 7