. . . AND THE REST OF THE B.C. DIVISION

• PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS Last season: 45-21-3-3, first in B.C. Division.

Key losses: C Jansen Harkins signed with the Winnipeg Jets; D Brendan Guhle signed with Buffalo Sabres; RW Jesse Gabrielle signed with Boston Bruins; D Sam Ruopp trying out as a free agent with the Flames; RW Brad Morison, traded to Vancouver, G Ty Edmonds graduated, now at U of Lethbridge.

The 20-year-olds: RW Radovan Bondra (32-31-63), LW Jared Bethune (2-27-49), C Brogan O’Brien (9-24-33), LW Aaron Boyd 9-15-24), D Tate Olson (7-19-26), D Shane Collins (2-11-13).

Key returnees: C Kody McDonald (17-32-49) attended Jets’ camp, his third pro camp in three seasons; D Josh Anderson (3-8-11, 75 PIM) has a mean streak, now fully recovered from back injury; D Joel Lakusta (1-11-12), D Ryan Schoettler (1-9-10).

New faces: D Dennis Cholowski, 19, Detroit’s first-rounder in 2016, cut from the same gamebreaker cloth as Guhle. Signed with Detroit, ended his college career at St. Cloud State; G Tavin Grant, 19, played 18 games for the Cats as 16-year-old. Appears ready to step up as WHL regular after standout season in BCHL with P.G. Spruce Kings; RW Ethan O’Rourke, 18, has gotten used to his six-foot-five, 210-pound body — led the Cats in preseason (4GP 4G 1A).

Prognosis: Cougars have lost at least 13 players from last year. They’re young, but fast. Their firepower up front is significantly reduced but they have some experience on the blue line. If Cholowski lives up to expectations and they get good enough goaltending from Grant they should challenge for the seventh or eighth playoff spot in the conference. — Prince George Citizen • VANCOUVER GIANTS

Last season: 20-46-3-3, last in B.C. Division, last in Western Conference.

Key losses: Six players who played at least 30 games last season and were eligible to return have been traded or released. That follows four veterans with a combined 828 games with Vancouver being dealt at the trade deadline last January as part of the rebuilding process.

The 20-year-olds: RW Ty Ronning, C Brad Morrison, C Jack Flaman, D Darian Skeoch.

Key returnees: Ronning, who has led Vancouver in scoring the past two seasons; LW Tyler Benson, the 2016 Edmonton Oilers second rounder; C James Malm, who’s coming off a breakout 20-goal season and is one of six players on the roster picked in the first two rounds of the 2014 WHL bantam draft.

New faces: Morrison, who came to Vancouver from the Prince George Cougars for a conditional 2018 second rounder; D Bowen Byram, the third overall pick in the 2016 bantam draft.

Prognosis: Vancouver will take at least a step forward this season, particularly if Benson is healthy for the majority of the campaign. Will that get them in the playoffs? Probably. — The Province • KELOWNA ROCKETS

Last season: 45-22-5-0, 2nd in B.C. Division, 4th in Western Conference.

Key losses: Graduated three impactful over-agers in RW Reid Gardiner (playoff MVP), G Michael Herringer (starter) and F Rod Southam (captain). RW Nick Merkley (Arizona Coyotes), C Calvin Thurkauf (Columbus Blue Jackets) and D Lucas Johansen (Washington Capitals) are projected to turn pro.

The 20-year-olds: Three of RW/C Tomas Soustal, LW Carsen Twarynski, D Devante Stephens, LD James Hilsendager and D Gordie Ballhorn.

Key returnees: C Dillon Dube, 19, and RW Kole Lind, 18, should carry the offence. Dube will likely play for Canada at the world juniors for the second year in a row, while Lind led Kelowna in scoring last season with 87 points, including 30 goals. D Cal Foote, turning 19 in December, anchors the defence as a firstround NHL draft pick. Younger brother Nolan Foote, who only turns 17 in November, should be the top LW.

New faces: Two rookie D are generating excitement in Zabransky and Kaedan Korczak, the team’s first-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft (11th overall). Rookie RW Liam Kindree led the B.C. Major Midget League in scoring last season.

The Prognosis: This roster isn’t lacking in top-end talent and the defence should be a strength, but scoring depth and goaltending will determine Kelowna’s fate. — Kelowna Daily Courier • KAMLOOPS BLAZERS Last season: 42-24-6, third in B.C. Division.

Key losses: F Deven Sideroff, F Rudolfs Balcers, F Lane Bauer and F Collin Shirley combined for 248 points.

The 20-year-olds: F Nick Chyzowski, D Joe Gatenby and F Nic Holowko return.

Key returnees: G Dylan Ferguson is the starter, after being Connor Ingram’s caddy for two seasons . . . . F Garrett Pilon had 65 points, 20 of them goals last season, and is the top returning scorer . . . . F Quinn Benjafield and Chyzowski were 23 points behind Pilon.

New faces: F Connor Zary, a secondround selection in the 2016 bantam draft, had 27 goals and 18 assists in 36 games with the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts last season. He turns 16 on Sept. 25 . . . . D Tylor Ludwar, 18, had two assists in 19 games with the Blazers.

Watch for: Ferguson to provide solid goaltending. He was dynamite last season while Ingram was with Team Canada at the world junior championship. — Greg Drinnan