Kootenay, Red Deer class of WHL Central
The Central Division produced the Western Hockey League champion last year and the Kootenay Ice should be among the contenders again this year.
That's the same team the Chiefs humbled in the Outdoor Game. So, if the Ice is a contender are the Chiefs?
Spokane used it's Eastern Conference trip last year to jell into a team. It came at a good time, when the team was 2-5 and struggling under first year coach Don Nachbaur. The team doesn't take off for the Central Division until the end of November, but Kootenay doesn't fall into that trip because of the close proximity of Cranbrook.
I don't know if I'm reading my schedule right, but the Chiefs travel there for the first time on Dec. 30 and play three times up there, just twice here, the first Jan. 28.
The Central capsules follow and a small Prince Albert cap will be added to yesterday's Eastern Division post shortly.
BTW: Former Chief Jared Spurgeon scored the first and last goal in Minnesota's 4-3 win over Edmonton last night.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
CENTRAL DIVISION
CALGARY HITMEN
Last season: 20-47-3-2, last in WHL.
Head coach: Mike Williamson (third season).
Assistants: Darcy Wakaluk (sixth season), Joel Otto (fifth season), Brent Kisio (fourth season).
Key losses: Leading scorer Kris Foucault (Minnesota Wild organization), C Misha Fisenko (graduation).
The 20-year-olds: C Jimmy Bubnick, D Ben Wilson, C Kenton Miller, G Michael Snider.
The imports: C Victor Rask (first round, third overall in CHL import draft), and LW Alex Gogolev (CHL import, second round).
Key returnees: C Jimmy Bubnick was named to the Memorial Cup all-star team in 2010 and will need to return to that level this season. C Chase Clayton (first-round bantam pick in 2009) appears ready to make the next step.
New faces: Imports Rask and Gogolev will play huge roles in the offensive attack. G Chris Driedger is expected to assume the starter's role once healthy. C Brady Brassart (trade with Spokane) could see big ice time.
Watch for: The more experienced Hitmen to rebound after last season's 62-point drop in the standings. They won't be world-beaters as they have been the five years prior to last year's implosion, but they'll be competitive.
Just notes: The Hitmen won three straight Eastern Conference regular-season crowns prior to the 2010-11 meltdown ... Williamson joined the club after spending 15 years as a player, assistant coach and head coach with the Portland Winter Hawks.
Did you know?: The Hitmen had qualified for the post-season for 13 consecutive seasons — which was the longest active streak in the league — prior to last year's embarrassment.
Prognosis: Prized first-overall bantam pick Jake Virtanen won't be available until next year. But if their highly-touted imports produce, the Hitmen should be back in the playoff hunt.
— Scott Fisher, Calgary Sun
EDMONTON OIL KINGS
Last season: 31-34-2-5, seventh in Eastern Conference. Lost in first round of playoffs.
Head coach: Derek Laxdal (second season).
Assistants: Steve Hamilton (second season), Jesse Pearson (first season).
Key losses: C Jordan Hickmott (28-38-66 last season), D Adrian Van de Mosselaer.
The 20-year-olds: RW Josh Lazowski, G Jon Groenheyde, LW Rhett Rachinski.
The imports: LW Kristians Pelss returns for a second season; D Martin Gernat was selected in this year’s import draft.
Key returnees: The Oil Kings return most of their top players, including LW Dylan Wruck (38-40-78 last season), C Michael St. Croix (27-48-75), RW T.J. Foster (25-29-54), D Mark Pysyk (plus-29), Lazowski (9-19-28 in 32 games), D Griffin Reinhart (projeced first-rounder in 2012 NHL entry draft), D Keegan Lowe (plus-33), G Lauren Brossoit (3.32 GAA, .887 save percentage), C Travis Ewanyk (with Canadian U18 team in April). St. Croix (NY Rangers), Brossoit (Calgary), Ewanyk (Edmonton) and Lowe (Carolina) were selected in June’s NHL draft; Pysyk, 19, has signed with Buffalo.
New faces: Gernat, G Tristan Jarry, C Curtis Lazar, D Mason Geerten. Lazar, Geertsen and Jarry were the club’s top three picks in the 2010 bantam draft.
Watch for: St. Croix to challenge for the league scoring title; Reinhart to approach WHL all-star status; the Oil Kings to possibly trade Groenheyde and award the starting goalie job to Brossoit.
Did you know: D Keegan Lowe is the son of Edmonton Oilers president Kevin Lowe; the Oil Kings have yet to win a playoff game since joining the league as an expansion team in 2007.
The prognosis: The Oil Kings have enough talent and depth at all positions to challenge for the Central Division title and then embark on a lengthy post-season run.
Greg Meachem/Red Deer Advocate
KOOTENAY ICE
Last season: 46-21-1-4; 97pts 3rdin the Central Division; 4thin the Eastern Conference. Defeated Portland in five games to win its 3rdWHL Championship; Lost in the Memorial Cup Semi-final to Mississauga.
Head coach: Kris Knoblauch (second second)
Assistants: Jerry Bancks (second season), Todd Johnson (second season).
Key Losses: LW Matt Fraser, C Steele Boomer, LW Kevin King – all to graduation; D Brayden McNabb and C Cody Eakin to the pro ranks; D Hayden Rintoul via trade to Victoria .
The 20-year-olds: D James Martin, LW Joe Antilla, LW Jesse Ismond, G Nathan Lieuwen.
The Imports: For the second straight season there will be no imports on the Ice roster, though Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth didn’t rule out trying to acquire one via trade.
Key returnees: C Max Reinhart and LW Drew Czerwonka will lead a club suddenly thin in the scoring department; If he’s returned, G Nathan Lieuwen between the pipes; D James Martin and Joey Leach on the blueline.
New faces: G Mackenzie Skapski, 17, D Spencer Wand, 16, D Mike Simpson, 17, D Jeff Hubic, 17, C Sam Reinhart, 16, C Luke Philp, 16, C Jaedon Deschaneau, 16, LW Jonathon Martin, 16, C Jesse Wood-Shatz, 16, RW Dylan McKinley, 19.
Watch for: A youth movement to form in Iceland . It’s likely the club will have four 16-year-olds on the roster this season. The team returns 15 players from the championship squad that should push for a playoff spot.
Just notes: With still 27 players in camp as the season starts September 23 there are still critical decisions to be made and many scenarios to play out. No less than six, 16-year-olds are in the running to make the club with four a realistic possibility. With four, 20-year-olds on the roster all bets are off if G Nathan Lieuwen is returned from the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres organization, which is anything but a given.
Did you know: That the club’s season ticket total reached the 2100 mark with some 328 new subscribers, the largest total since the opening seasons of the Rec Plex a decade ago.
The prognosis: The 2011-12 edition of the Ice will have a tough time replicating the success of their predecessors. Much rides on the return of Lieuwen and the hunt for secondary scoring. A playoff spot isn’t a given but should be in the cards.
Jeff Bromley, Cranbrook Daily Townsman/BC HockeyNow
LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES
Last season: 23-36-5-8, ninth in the Eastern Conference, fifth in Central Division.
Head coach: Rich Preston (third season).
Assistants: Matt Kabayama (fifth season), Chris Chisamore (fourth season).
Key losses: Penalty-killer extraordinaire Max Ross graduated to the University of Calgary and Mitch Maxwell is off on a church mission. Both were overage contributors last season.
The 20-year-olds: Forwards Austin Fyten, Cam Braes and Brody Sutter made up the team’s top line in the latter half of last season and Damien Ketlo was acquired during training camp to shore up goaltending. One will have to go.
The imports: Slovakian forward Juraj Bezuch showed some skill during a preseason shootout and Swedish defenceman Albin Blomqvist is tough.
Key returnees: Braes, Sutter and Fyten played apporximately 62 minutes a game last season and with Fyten out due to a knee injury, it’s time for new players to step up.
New faces: F Jay Merkley will have all eyes on him as a No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 bantam draft.
Watch for: F Tayler Balog. A key component in the Carter Ashton deal before the 2010 season, Balog failed to earn a roster spot as a 16-year-old. More will be expected this year.
Just notes: Renovations to the team’s home building might bring fans back from the dead but it’s more likely that a return to playoff hockey will revitalize the moribund franchise.
Did you know: Third overall pick in 2011 Ryan Pilon’s uncle is former NHLer Rich?
The prognosis: An unhealthy Fyten spells disaster unless a whole bunch of new players turn out to be better than expected. Unless the goaltending turns things around, the ’Canes are looking at another early golf season.
- Dylan Purcell, Lethbridge Herald
MEDICINE HAT TIGERS
Last season: 46-18-4-4, third in Eastern Conference. Lost in conference final.
Head coach: Shaun Clouston (second season, 11th overall).
Assistants: Darren Kruger (sixth season), Joey Frazer (second season).
Key losses: Overagers Wacey Hamilton, Jace Coyle and Thomas Carr plus Tyler Pitlick (Edmonton) and league scoring leader Linden Vey (Los Angeles), both not expected to be sent back from NHL camps. Eight other Tigers went to NHL camps with RW Emerson Etem (Anaheim) the most likely to stay in the NHL this season.
The 20-year-olds: RW Cole Grbavac and Kellan Tochkin, D Matthew Konan and Sebastian Owuya. Tochkin has signed with Vancouver, Owuya is a Winnipeg draft pick but both could be returned.
The imports: D Owuya (20, Sweden), D Patrik Parkkonen (18, Finland) and newcomer Adam Rehak (19, Czech Republic).
Key returnees: Etem (45 goals, 35 assists), if the Ducks don’t return him, played for the U.S. in last year’s world junior championships. LW Hunter Shinkaruk, 17, had 42 points as a rookie. G Tyler Bunz (2.47 goals against average, 35-13-4-4 record) will challenge for a spot on Canada’s world junior team.
New faces: Rehak has been one of the best players in training camp. A group of 17-year-olds includes forwards Riley Sheen, Gavin Broadhead and Jayden Hart. D Ryan Aasman, 19, was a first-round bantam pick by Prince Albert.
Watch for: Some tough decisions if Owuya, an overager and an import, is returned.
Just notes: The battle to back up Bunz is between Calgary midget AAA all-star Kenny Cameron, 18, and Prince Albert draft pick Dawson MacAuley, 17.
Did you know: Broadhead’s father Curt played for the Tigers between 1977 and 1981. Shinkaruk’s dad Roger is the team dentist for the Calgary Hitmen.
The prognosis: Though not as experienced as a year ago, the Tigers have an MVP-calibre goaltender, just as many offensive threats but slightly less expectations than the group which talked big from the start of the 2010 training camp. They should be in the mix again.
RED DEER REBEL
Last season: 48-16-4-4, second in Eastern Conference. Lost in second round of playoffs.
Head coach: Jesse Wallin (fourth season).
Assistants: Bryce Thoma (fourth season), Chris Neiszner (second season), Brent Belecki goaltender coach, second season).
Key losses: WHL goaltender of the year Darcy Kuemper; 20-year-old LW Andrej Kudrna, who has signed with a pro team in his native Slovakia after potting 29 goals last season; 43-goal scorer LW Byron Froese, 20, who will play in the Chicago Blackhawks system; LW Brett Ferguson, who will suit up with the U of A Golden Bears; D Colin Archer, the team captain who is headed to McGill University; and possibly superstar C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, selected No. 1 overall by Edmonton in June’s NHL entry draft.
The 20-year-olds: RW Josh Cowen; D Aaron Borejko; D Justin Weller, who has signed with the Phoenix Coyotes.
The imports: LW John Persson, whose physical play and 33-goal season led to his selection by the NY Islanders in this year’s NHL entry draft; G Patrik Bartosak, selected in June’s CHL import draft.
Key returnees: Nugent-Hopkins will be the league’s best player if he’s returned by the Oilers; Persson will provide scoring and a bull-like presence up front; D Alex Petrovic is a WHL all-star; D Mathew Dumba, 17, scored 15 goals last season and was named WHL rookie of the year; Weller provides size and toughness; the coaching staff is hoping for breakout years from left wingers Adam Kambeitz, Turner Elson and Colten Mayor; RW Daulton Siwak is a prime prospect for the 2012 NHL entry draft.
New faces: Bartosak; G Bolton Pouliot, who started the 2010-11 season with the Rebels before being reassigned to the midget AAA ranks; D Kayle Doetzel and LW Cory Millette, the club’s first two picks in the 2010 bantam draft; LW Joel Hamilton; RW Brooks Maxwell; D Stephen Hak; C Marc McCoy; D Cody Thiel.
Watch for: Dumba to approach and possibly achieve all-star status as one of the league’s most dynamic blueliners; Petrovic to retain his all-star billing; a trade involving one of their older defencemen in order to make room for one of the club’s younger defenders.
Did you know: Rookie Joel Hamilton is the younger brother of former Medicine Hat Tigers captain Wacey Hamilton; the Rebels’ four-game sweep of the Edmonton Oil Kings last spring was the club’s first playoff series win since 2004.
The prognosis: If Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returns and the second- and third-year forwards continue to develop and contribute, the Rebels will be a force in the Eastern Conference. Either way, the Rebels’ strength on the blueline should give them a fighting chance.
Greg Meachem/Red Deer Advocate