A look at the WHL East
The Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference is where the Spokane Chiefs became a team last year, turing a slow start into one of their best Western Hockey League seasons, 48 wins, 102 points.
This year East teams visit the Arena and some are coming early, Brondon on Oct. 12, the third home game and Prince Albert two days later. Saskatoon is here by the end of October with Regina and Swift Current coming in November and Moose Jaw the first home game after the Christmas break.
The preview of all but PA are here, from the writers that cover the teams. If we can come up with a Raiders capusule later, we'll add it.
LATE ADDITION:
BRANDON WHEAT KINGS
Last season: 32-31-1-8, sixth in Eastern Conference. Lost in first round of playoffs.
Head coach: Cory Clouston (first season).
Assistants: Dwayne Gylywoychuk (ninth season), Darren Ritchie (fifth season), Matt Cockell (goaltending coach, fifth season).
Key losses: Five of last season’s top eight scorers, including graduated LW Shayne Wiebe, C Matt MacKay and RW David Toews. LW Hampus Gustafsson returned to Europe and RW Scott Glennie is expected to play in the Dallas Stars’ system as a 20-year-old.
The 20-year-olds: There are only two, C Paul Ciarelli and D Brodie Melnychuk, but another forward could be added by the deadline.
The imports: With Gustafsson gone, LW Alessio Bertaggia and RW Bruno Mraz, both 18, were chosen in the CHL Import Draft.
Key returnees: RW Mark Stone tied for third in WHL scoring last season (37 goals, 106 points), while Mike Ferland (56 points,110 penalty minutes in 56 games) is talented and tough. D Ryan Pulock (42 points) set a club record for points by a 16-year-old defenceman last season. Melnychuk (broken wrist) and 52-point scorer Brenden Walker (concussion) are proven veterans, but both missed the pre-season with injuries.
New faces: Bertaggia displayed a deft scoring touch in the pre-season. D Ayrton Nikkel, acquired in the trade that sent star Brayden Schenn to Saskatoon last season, is poised and could earn regular ice time at 16.
Watch for: A trade to add a forward who can play in the top six … Sophomores Corbin Boes and Liam Liston to compete for the No.1 job in net, a battle that could last well into the season … A more defensive style under Clouston, who could potentially have all seven of last season’s defencemen and both goaltenders back.
Just notes: Rookie D Dylan Kuczek won the Canadian AAA Midget championship last season with the Winnipeg Thrashers.
Did you know?: The Wheat Kings have made the playoffs 11 straight seasons.
The prognosis: The Wheat Kings have the potential to take a significant step forward from last season’s 73-point effort, but that will require either Liston or Boes to emerge as a go-to goaltender.
- Rob Henderson, Brandon Sun
MOOSE JAW WARRIORS
Last season: 40-26-2-4, fifth in Eastern Conference. Lost in first round of playoffs.
Head coach: Mike Stothers (first season).
Assistants: Mike Vandenberghe (second season), Travis Weisgerber (second season), Jamie Hodson, goaltending coach (first season).
Key losses: Thomas Heemskerk was in goal for 88 per cent of the Warriors games last season. The Warriors also lost two of their three leading scorers (Dylan Hood, 83 pts. and Spencer Edwards 66 pts.) plus Czech LW Antonin Honejsek (42 pts. in 46 GP).
The 20-year-olds: D Collin Bowman will be back along with Danish C Sebastian Svendsen. Grinder Brett Lyon and goalie Deven Dubyk — who was claimed off waivers from Medicine Hat — are also contending for the final 20-year-old spot.
The imports: Svendsen and Swiss rookie LW Eric Arnold who was the team’s pre-season scoring leader.
Key returnees: Dylan McIlrath adds a physical presence and Morgan Rielly adds skill to a deep defensive corps. If he returns from Florida’s NHL camp LW Quinton Howden could be dominant. RW Cody Beach and Svendsen will have to shoulder some of the scoring load.
New faces: Stothers who returns to the junior ranks after serving as an assistant with the Atlanta Thrashers last season. A talented group of young forwards — Carter Hansen, Brandon Potomak and Torrin White — will look to make an impact.
Watch for: The Warriors to move a veteran defenceman to make room for 17-year-old Travis Brown — who looks more WHL-ready than Joel Edmundson did at this time a year ago — and 16-year-old Braiden Doucette.
Just notes: This is the Warriors first season in Mosaic Place, their new $61.2M home.
Did you know: Five of the Warriors six returning defencemen went to NHL camps. The sixth, Rielly, is expected to be a lottery pick in the upcoming NHL draft.
The prognosis: The Warriors have an overabundance of talent on defence and a pair of NHL-signed forwards. If they can find some steady goaltending and secondary scoring they should contend in the Eastern Conference.
- Matthew Gourlie, Moose Jaw Times-Herald
REGINA PATS
Last season: 23-39-7-3, 10th in Eastern Conference, missed playoffs.
General manager: Chad Lang (second season).
Head coach: Pat Conacher (first season).
Assistants: Malcolm Cameron, Josh Dixon and goalie coach Rob Muntain (all first season).
Key losses: D Myles Bell and captain Garrett Mitchell.
The 20-year-olds: D Brandon Davidson (assuming he returns from the Edmonton Oilers) and D Artem Bidlevskii. Mitchell could fill the third slot but is expected to play in the Washington Capitals’ system.
The imports: Second-year D Ricard Blidstrand, 19, and rookie F Dominik Volek, 17, the No. 9 pick in the 2011 CHL import draft.
Key returnees: Weal is a leading contender for the league’s scoring title . . . Davidson has blossomed into one of the WHL’s better all-around D-men . . . Bidlevskii is a leader and stabilizing force on the back end . . . LW Lane Scheidl, C Tanner Olstad, LW Lyndon Martell and C Chandler Stephenson are looking for breakout years offensively . . . G Matt Hewitt enters his first season as a WHL starter after veteran Damien Ketlo was traded to Lethbridge.
New faces: D Brandon Underwood, acquired from Kamloops, and LW Campbell Elynuik, picked up from Everett. Both add size, experience and toughness . . . Volek, LW Morgan Klimchuk, 16, and D Kyle Burroughs, 16, are top prospects who could make an impact in their first WHL season . . . Five more rookies: RW Jack Rodewald, F Dryden Hunt, D Colby Williams, D Landon Peel and G Adam Beukeboom.
Watch for: The Pats to play a more up-tempo game under Conacher, who was hired in the off-season to replace defensive-minded bench boss Curtis Hunt . . . Weal and Davidson to be trade bait.
Just notes: Despite an emphasis on youth, the Pats’ roster includes 17 WHL veterans and nine 19-year-olds.
Did you know?: Weal has more points in the past two seasons (198) than any other player in the WHL.
The prognosis: Expectations are low but optimism is high as the rebuilding Pats embrace a fresh start under Conacher. However, it’ll take more than optimism for Regina to end a three-year playoff drought.
— Greg Harder, Leader-Post.
SASKATOON BLADES
Last season: 56-13-1-2, first in East Division, first in Eastern Conference; lost in second round to Kootenay.
Head coach: GM: Lorne Molleken (eighth season).
Assistant coach: David Struch (sixth season).
Key losses: After being acquired in a massive trade deadline deal, C Brayden Schenn is a Calder Trophy favourite for the Philadelphia Flyers and will not be back. D Teigan Zahn, D Stefan Elliott, C Marek Viedensky and G Steven Stanford have exhausted their junior eligibility. And if LW Curtis Hamilton returns to the WHL as an overager, odds are he’ll be moved to Kelowna where his dad, Bruce, is the owner of the Rockets.
The 20-year-olds: LW Darian Dziurzynski, C Jake Trask and G Adam Morrison are slated to be the team’s oldest players to start the season.
The imports: Andrey Makarov, 18, from Russia, and Czech RW Matej Stransky, 18. After a 26-point rookie campaign last season, the Dallas Stars selected Stransky 165thoverall at the NHL draft in June.
Key returnees: 2011 NHL draftees Duncan Siemens and Darren Dietz are back to anchor the Blades’ defence. Siemens was the 11thoverall pick by the Colorado Avalanche and has a strong chance to play for Canada at the World Junior Championships. C Lukas Sutter, C Ryan Olsen and LW Chris Collins will all see more minutes upfront.
New faces: RW Christian Stockl, LW Nick Zajac and D Devan Fafard all played midget hockey a year ago, plus D Kyle Schmidt – acquired Sept. 15 from the Calgary Hitmen.
Watch for: The Blades to play a grinding, defensive brand of hockey with many of their top offensive threats from last season lighting the lamp in new locales.
Just notes: Sutter is the 11thmember of his extended family to play in the WHL.
Did you know?: Siemens became the highest Blade selected in the NHL draft since Devon Setoguchi (San Jose, eighth, 2005).
The prognosis: After a near-record-breaking win total in 2010-11, the Blades will be hard-pressed to come close to that mark. Look for them to see a middling team in the Eastern Conference and to retool if they’re awarded the 2013 Memorial Cup in October.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman, Saskatoon StarPhoenix
SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS
Last season: 26-44-0-2, eleventh in Eastern Conference. Missed playoffs.
Head coach/GM: Mark Lamb (second season).
Assistants: Darren Evjen (second season), Andy Schneider (first season).
Key losses: RW Stepan Novotny and C Justin Dowling both graduated.
The 20-year-olds: RW Dillon Wagner, C Jordan Peddle, C Taylor Vause and RW Brad Hoban. Vause and Hoban look to be safe because of their offensive abilities so it will come down to Wagner and Peddle – both are coming off injury-plagued seasons.
The imports: G Steffen Søberg, (if he comes back to Canada after leaving the team for undisclosed reasons) and D Richard Nedomlel.
Key returnees: LW Adam Lowry is impressing Winnipeg Jets staff, but should be back; D Reece Scarlett and Nedomlel will anchor a young blueline. Besides Lowry, Vause and Hoban have to lead the team offensively or else it will be an extremely long season.
New faces: Thanks to Kootenay: G Steven Myland, an outstanding goaltending prospect, Christian Magnus (drafted by Swift Current ninth overall in 2007 and then traded), and C Colby Cave.
Watch for: A trade for a goaltender should be coming especially if their prized addition Søberg doesn't come back from Norway and if Myland and Austin Smith can't handle the load.
Just notes: Søberg also no-showed the Washington Capitals training camp. He was picked fourth overall in this year's NHL entry draft. Take it for what it’s worth, according to a blog which covers the Washington Capitals, Søberg told a Norwegian newspaper that he didn’t want to move
away from home.
Did you know?: New assistant coach Andy Schneider is fifth on the Broncos’ all time scoring list with 316 points (1989-93), but is second in assists with 221.
The prognosis: The Broncos are in rebuilding mode. They have some talent but a lack of depth at forward. There's major uncertainty in goal and their bad luck with injuries the last few seasons means the team will struggle to stay out of the Eastern Conference basement.
Ryan Dahlman, Prairie Post