Early faves fade, others rebound
The WHL season is nearing the start of its final month. Here are five things that have become evident and what it means in the weeks ahead.
Winterhawks are back
It looked like the Portland Winterhawks’ reign was over when the four-time-defending Western Conference champions lost their first 10 games of the season.
Questions about the team’s ability to move the puck out of its zone were rampant. How times have changed. First-year head coach and general manager Jamie Kompon has Portland back in its usual place among the league’s elite.
The Winterhawks are now right on the heels of the Everett Silvertips — just two points back — for top spot in the U.S. Division.
Adin Hill has emerged as the No. 1 goaltender after Brendan Burke was dealt to Calgary in January. Hill’s .923 save percentage is the best in the league.
Oliver Bjorkstrand (87 points, plus-46) and captain Nic Petan (67 points, plus32) have also proved their mettle.
If the Winterhawks continue on this tear, another Western Conference series against Kelowna could be in the works.
U.S. Division rules
Portland’s path to the Western Conference final isn’t a sure thing, though. Far from it, actually.
Despite the Winterhawks boasting a 7-1-2 record over the last 10 games, they still trail the Silvertips.
Everett is led by former Blade Nikita Scherbak (72 points in 55 games) and a trio play-by-play man Travis Huntington has dubbed “the Saskatoon Platoon.”
Former Saskatoon Contacts Kohl Bauml, Carson Stadnyk and Dawson Leedahl have combined for 155 points this season.
Seattle, backed by the goaltending of Nipawin’s Taran Kozun and the return of prospective 2015 NHL firstrounder Mathew Barzal, is a formidable club.
Spokane and Tri-City are also on track to make the playoffs.
The series in this division, especially the two-three matchup, are going to be excellent.
East Division drools
For all the respect that the Brandon Wheat Kings get — and it’s well deserved — they consistently play the worst opponents in the league.
The Saskatoon Blades will not make the playoffs and Prince Albert Raiders’ and Moose Jaw Warriors’ chances are looking increasingly slim.
The Regina Pats dealt their top vets before the trade deadline, while the Swift Current Broncos have shown their inconsistencies.
The Wheat Kings are 21-42-2 against the Least, er, East and should have no trouble cruising to the conference final.
Watch out for Calgary
Mea culpa. I figured the Central Division belonged to the Medicine Hat Tigers, but the Calgary Hitmen are proving me wrong.
Backed by a 9-1 record over their last 10 games, the Hitmen have catapulted over the Tigers to take a four-point lead in the division.
The Tigers have won just two of their last 12 contests.
The Hitmen get tremendous contributions from their over-agers Kenton Helgesen, Adam Tambellini and Connor Rankin.
They also have scoring depth as eight players have reached the 40-point plateau. A ninth, in undrafted 16-yearold defenceman Jake Bean, is on the way.
Brendan Burke has a .920 save percentage since arriving in Calgary, while fellow 1995-born netminder Mack Shields has 25 wins.
The Hitmen appear to be finding their stride at the right time. The Tigers, who made a big splash by acquiring Dryden Hunt and Kyle Burroughs from Regina in January, are going to need to find theirs before it’s too late.
Rocket-Royal rumble
If the recent matchups between the Kelowna Rockets and Victoria Royals are any indication, a potential B.C. Division final between the two teams would be a great series.
Kelowna stormed back to beat Victoria 3-2 on the road in a nationally televised game last Friday.
The Royals then thumped the CHL’s No. 2-ranked team 5-2, on the strength of four third-period goals, a night later.
The rubber match, this time in the Okanagan Valley on Wednesday, went to the Rockets 4-2. Victoria led 2-0 after the first.
The Rockets have been the class of the league all season and not much has changed since Josh Morrissey and Leon Draisaitl arrived in January. The Royals have proven they can put up a good fight.