Western Hockey League Central Division preview

The Western Hockey League 2023-24 regular season will begin on Friday with nine games. The Swift Current Broncos open the season with a home-and-away set against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Calgary Hitmen

Last season: 31-29-5-3, third in Central Division, lost in first round of playoffs to Red Deer.

Key losses: Calgary loses overage forwards Riley Fiddler-schultz (31g, 44a) and Jacob Wright (10g, 20a), and overage goaltender Brayden Peters (19w, 2.84 GAA, .909 sav.)

The 20-year-olds: C Sean Tschigerl (27g, 39a), D Tyson Galloway (3g, 26a), D Keagan Slaney (5g, 8a).

Key returnees: C Oliver Tulk, 18, will look to build on last year’s breakout season (24g, 36a) … D Carter Yakemchuk, 17, heads into draft year with promise (19g, 28a) … D Grayden Siepmann, 19, joins Galloway and Slaney in core of veteran blue-line (9g, 34a) … LW Carter Macadams, 19, is coming in off strong playoff and training camp success (7g, 20a in 52 games) … RW Carson Wetsch, 17, is billed as team’s next star after last year’s rookie season (10g, 11a in 45 games) and winning gold with Team Canada at 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

New faces: RW Chase Valliant (second round, 2021 WHL Prospects Draft), 17, played in all four playoff games last spring after appearing in 10 regular-season tilts … C Keets Fawcett, 17, scored two goals in three pre-season games after counting 39 points with the CSSHL’S Edge School U-18 Mountaineers last year … C Brandon Gorzynski ( first round, WHL U.S. Priority Draft) tallied 59 points with the Pittsburgh Elite 15U AAA Penguins last season.

Watch for: Improved scoring across the board. Talk in camp is about the depth of the line-up, and they’ll need it without bona fide superstars to make the next step in becoming a WHL contender.

Noteworthy: It’s a new era of sorts in Calgary with a changing of the guard at the top after longtime GM Jeff Chynoweth and the club parted ways.

Did you know?: Four returning players — Tschigerl (Los Angeles Kings), Galloway (Calgary Flames), Tulk (Calgary Flames) and Grayden Siepmann (Boston Bruins) attended NHL rookie camps hoping to crack NHL rosters.

Prognosis: The Hitmen are expecting a jump up from the .500 mark into contention this year with plenty of experience among the 19-, 18- and 17-year-old talent.

Todd Saelhof/calgary Sun, Calgary Herald

Edmonton Oil Kings

Last season: 10-54-4-0, sixth in division, 12th in conference, missed playoffs.

Key losses: F Loick Daigle, F Noah Boyko, F Luca Hauf.

Key returnees: Something has either gone dreadfully wrong or incredibly right if a 16-yearold leads the team in scoring, and both were true with Gavin Hodnett. The young Winnipegger had 43 points as a rookie on a club that managed a league-low 131 goals as they rebounded from selling the farm to win the 2022 WHL championship.

New faces: Overage F Ty Nash, D Marc Lajoie, F Aiden Litke.

Noteworthy: Edmonton’s strength may be on the blue-line, where the Europeans Adam Jecho and Vojtech Port will be joined by draft prospects Rhys Pederson and Ethan Mackenzie.

Did you know?: It’s feast or famine in Edmonton. In the 16 seasons since they joined the league for the 2007-08 campaign, they’ve won three WHL championships and a Memorial Cup, lost in a final and a conference final, and missed the playoffs five times. In fact, they’ve won the Central Division seven times, and finished fourth, fifth or sixth every other year.

Prognosis: Edmonton still has some hills to climb on the road back to contention, but they should inch closer to the playoffs after finishing last in the league in 202223.

Perry Bergson/the Brandon Sun

Lethbridge Hurricanes

Last season: 36-26-3-3, second in division, fifth place in the conference, lost in first round to Moose Jaw

Key Losses: Overagers Jett Jones (21g, 29a, 50p), goalie Bryan Thomson (13-8-1, 2.64 GAA, .919 sav, three shutouts) and leading scorer Cole Shepard (20g, 35a, 55p) have graduated … Tyson Laventure (22g, 26a, 48p) was dealt to Swift Current.

Key returnees: Expect sophomore Miguel Marques (8g, 12a, 20p) to build on his strong rookie season… Starting goalie Harrison Meneghin will look to have a bounce back year after playing just 36 games last season…logan Wormald will undoubtedly look to have a break out year after being passed over in the NHL draft.

Noteworthy: Blake Swetlikoff had a nice eight game point streak last season, capped off with a four assist night against Prince George on Jan. 13, 2023. Swetlikoff finished the season with 43 points, including 24 in 30 games after being acquired in a trade with Spokane.

Did you know?: Luke Cozens is the younger brother of Buffalo Sabres forward and former Canes captain and allstar Dylan Cozens.

Prognosis: The Hurricanes were swept in each of the last two seasons in the first round of the playoffs and are hoping to get over that hump this season under the guidance of new head coach Bill Peters. Expect them to be in a playoff spot in the

Eastern Conference.

Justin Seward/lethbridge Herald

Medicine Hat Tigers

Last season: 30-29-8-1, fourth place in division, eighth place in the conference, lost in 4 games in first round against the Winnipeg Ice

Key Losses: The Tigers lose their top goal scorer in forward Brendan Lee (32g, 59p) and two impact parts of their lineup in forward Dallon Melin (16g, 4w1p) and defenceman Kurtis Smythe (2g, 13p) as they’ve all aged out of the WHL. Captain Owen Macneil was released during preseason.

Key returnees: Rookie of the year nominee Cayden Lindstrom (19g, 42p) and Andrew Basha (20g, 56p) both look to build off their first season in the WHL and further cement themselves as projected first round picks in the 2024 NHL draft. Tigers 2022 first overall pick Gavin Mckenna enters his first full season in the league after putting up four goals and 18 points in 16 AP games last season.

New Faces: The Tigers will see a rookie surge in their already young lineup, with 2007-born forwards Hayden Harsanyi, Kadon Mccann and defenceman Matt Paranych all expected to carry the load.

Noteworthy: Tomas Mrsic registered nine goals and 23 points in his rookie season last year, finding his stride once he moved from the wing to his natural position at centre. The 2006-born product is looking to improve his draft stock and find his full potential.

Prognosis: The Tigers are a young team who look to build off their limited playoff experience last season. Expect Medicine Hat to be competitive and compete for the Central division lead.

James Tubb/medicine Hat News

Red Deer Rebels

Last season: 43-19-33, first in the division, second in the conference, eliminated in second round of playoffs.

Key losses: Christoffer Sedoff, Finnish defenceman led all Rebels defencemen in scoring (59GP, 5G, 46A). Jace Isley, 21-year-old forward who reached the 30-goal mark last season. Ben King, 21, posted over 100 points in 2021-22 but was injured for most of last season. Captain Jayden Grubbe (64GP, 18G, 49A) signed with Edmonton Oilers but could potentially return.

The 20-year-olds: F Kai Uchacz (68GP, 50G, 35A), F Craig Armstrong (65GP, 11G, 23A), D Elias Carmichael (62GP, 6G, 23A), and Carson Latimer (53GP, 14G, 26A).

Key returnees: F Kai Uchacz, Jhett Larson, Ollie Josephson, Kalan Lind, Craig Armstrong, Dwayne Jean Jr., D Hunter Mayo, Matteo Fabrizi, Jace Weir, Mats Lindgren, G Kyle Kelsey, and Rhett Stoesser.

New faces: D Elias Carmichael acquired from the Kelowna Rockets, F Carson Latimer traded to the Rebels from the Wenatchee Wild, and F Samuel Drancak selected in the CHL Import draft.

Watch for: The Rebels to have plenty of depth scoring this season. Last year Red Deer had plenty of top end scoring from guys like Kai Uchacz but this time around players down the line-up should contribute.

Noteworthy: Red Deer’s strength will be on their back end with six returning players in the defensive core.

Did you know?: Rebels 2023 first-round pick Beckett Hamilton’s father Lee played five years in the WHL and his great uncle Bruce is the owner of the Kelowna Rockets.

The prognosis: Red Deer will have a balanced scoring attack with plenty of speed. Their deep lineup on defence will provide them stability in front of net and the Rebels will need both goaltenders Rhett Stoesser and Kyle Kelsey to be solid in net, especially in the postseason.

Ian Gustafson/red Deer Advocate

Swift Current Broncos

Last season: 31-33-1-3, fifth in Central Division, missed playoffs.

Key losses: D Sam Mcginley (9g, 37p, 61gm), F Josh Davies (20g, 34p, 62gm).

The 20-year-olds: F Caleb Wyrostok (24g, 40p, 52gm), F Braeden Lewis (6g, 21p, 68gm), F Tyson Laventure (22g, 48p, 62gm), D Ryan Mccleary (13g, 31p, 66gm), D Adam Mcnutt (3g, 19p, 68gm).

Key returnees: F Josh Filmon (47g, 75p, 64gm), D Owen Pickering (9g, 45p, 61gm), F Mathew Ward (26g, 74p, 68gm), F Connor Hvidston (21g, 65p, 59gm). Filmon and Pickering were both named to the Central Division First All-star Team in 2022-23.

New faces: D Peyton Kettles played two games with the Broncos last season after being selected sixth overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. Mccleary and Laventure were acquired in summer trades to add experience and offensive production.

Noteworthy: The Broncos led the WHL with 319 shorthanded opportunities last season and finished 16th with a 76.2 percent penalty kill. Their power play finished 14th in the WHL at 20.9 percent.

Did you know?: Ryan Mccleary’s father, Trent is a former Swift Current Broncos captain and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The prognosis: The Broncos are desperate to return to the playoffs for the first time since being crowned league champions in 2018. They have missed the playoffs by a single win in each of the past two seasons. The Broncos will need improved results on special teams as well as solid goaltending from veterans Reid Dyck and Joey Rocha to return to the post-season.

Steven Mah/southwest Booster