10 WHL Things, Volume VI

By Glen Erickson

1. Returnees – By my count, a total of six key WHL players who made their National Hockey League debut last week are eligible to return to major junior. There is always potential for WHL players to stick around with their NHL team early in the season, but if they appear in a tenth game, the first year of their entry level contract is burned. Keep an eye on whether or not Emmett Finnie (DET) and Harrison Brunicke (PIT) return to the Kamloops Blazers. Others to watch for are Berkly Catton (Seattle/Spokane Chiefs), Ben Kindel (Pittsburgh/Calgary Hitmen), Braden Cootes (Vancouver/Seattle Thunderbirds) and Terrell Goldsmith (Utah/Tri City Americans). Goldsmith and Finnie, both 20, are old enough to play in the AHL. Radim Mrtka, 18, (Buffalo/Seattle Thunderbirds), the first WHL player chosen at the 2025 NHL Draft, could return to the DUB, but he’s also eligible as an import to play for the Sabres affiliate in the AHL, the Rochester Americans. Brunicke and Kindel scored their first NHL goals last week, both as members of the Penguins. Any of these players would instantly become star attractions in the DUB should they return. Who did I miss?
2. Meaningful Victories – Did you happen to see the conclusion of the Kelowna Rockets win over the Cougars in Prince George last week? The hosts entered the contest as one of only three undefeated teams in the WHL. Kelowna escaped the tilt up north with a 5-4 decision, scoring three times in the third period to overcome a 4-2 deficit. I think it’s poignant to mention, only because this is the kind of game the Rockets have typically lost these past couple of years. In fact, it hasn’t been close on many nights. Instead, the Rockets tallied twice in the final minute to eke out a big win in hostile territory. It’s the kind of win that can galvanize a team or at least boost the collective confidence in a big way. The Rockets, now 3-3 on the season, have been mediocre to average the last couple of seasons, but a victory like this early in the current campaign can surely signal some positive change. There is a newly formed veteran presence among the core group in Kelowna this season and it’s timely, as all eyes are on the franchise with the 2026 Memorial Cup in mind. I also found it was unique the Rockets would roll into the CN Centre for a single mid-week game, as this has typically been scheduled as a doubleheader proposition for these B.C. Division rivals. But, with the expansion Penticton Vees in the fold this season, there are some new scheduling nuances associated with the B.C. Division.
3. Overage Deadline – For many years, with 22 teams in the league, there were 66 roster spots available for 20-year-old players. With the expansion Penticton Vees in the mix this season, allowed to populate its roster with four overage players, the number is now 70. Decision day for all teams is just around the corner, Thursday this week, as all teams have to reduce to the league maximum for 20-year-olds on their rosters. There will be a transaction or a few I suspect, as some teams will look to solidify things right now. Other teams won’t rush this process, choosing to keep an eye on who might become available after the deadline. I’ve always had a soft spot for the 20-year-olds, guys who are typically not signed to NHL contracts and fully expect their destiny probably lies in USPORTS men’s hockey. Of course, the NCAA has also become a potential option now. Regardless, the make up of this overage age group is really important for teams with championship aspirations. Their “20’s” are valuable leaders, guys who usually have well over 200 WHL games under their belts. They ply their trade while fully aware the early season deadline can impact how their final campaign in major junior hockey will play out. They are also fully aware how the trade deadline in January can bring significant change as well. Stay tuned!
4. Rookies Rant – The WHL presents the Jim Piggot Memorial trophy each season to the league’s top rookie. I’m especially excited about the 2025-2026 rookie class, given the myriad programs players have arrived from. Each team is able to add a third import player this season, so that’s a total 69 roster spots available. This opens the door for even more first-year imports to arrive in the DUB as players already drafted by NHL teams. There has been debate over the years as to the criteria for this award. I’ve always been fan of the “young” guys getting priority on this, that is, a 16- or 17-year-old rookie who makes an impact for his team with and against older players, who also creates interest league-wide. But, given the award is earmarked for a “first-year” player, it’s conceivable the “rookie” of the year could be a 19-year-old import with oodles of global experience that might include seasoning in a professional league overseas. Admittedly, for the better part of the new millennium, I think the DUB has gotten it right.
5. Not All Quiet – Give the “Western Front” podcast a peek when you can. In fact, it might be worth a bookmark. Frank Seravalli and Steven Ellis talking WHL players and prospects is a good listen. If you haven’t already watched the October 6 edition, look it up on Victory+ and enjoy some nifty insights on the Prince George Cougars goaltending tandem. San Jose Sharks draft pick Joshua Ravensbergen and import Alexander Levshyn from Ukraine are off to a good start, backstopping a solid group playing in B.C.’s Northern Capital…Seravalli and Ellis will be welcomed additions in my opinion, but don’t forget “The Pipeline Show” with Guy Flaming. It has long been a staple at my end, a couple decades of terrific prospects information from an eminently reliable source who actually resides in western Canada. You can count on plenty of chatter with WHL players and personalities with Flaming at the helm, along with his reach to a broad range of prospects from many other leagues.
6. “That’s Not A Knife” – I had a chuckle last week at a social media post that highlighted the first line brawl in the WHL this season. I understand times have changed and we don’t see too much of this nonsense on the ice anymore. But, I thought I’d have peak and watch the players square off. Thanks to Victory+, I was able to summon up these particular Friday night festivities between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Red Deer Rebels. For me, much ado about nothing, really, but it looked like a linesman took a pretty good punch. Indeed, three players did feel the long arm of the DUB discipline department for their actions, two one-game suspensions and one two-game suspension. I hope nobody suffered more than a fat lip. It all reminded me of an old movie, Crocodile Dundee (1986). The hero, Mick Dundee, played by Paul Hogan, encounters a thug while in unfamiliar surroundings. The crook pulls out a switch blade and demands Dundee’s wallet. Unfazed, Dundee smirked, “that’s not a knife”. He then proceeds to pull out his own knife and “encourages” the thug and his friends to bugger off. I’m sure the players involved on Friday might figure they were in a line brawl in Red Deer. I imagine some of their parents might see it as a line brawl, too. But their grandparents, folks my age? I dunno. We’ve seen some things over the years. My conclusion? “That’s not a line brawl.”
7. Road Warriors – Speaking of social media, a nifty post surfaced on everett hockey FANatics. The text and photos surrounded a trip to Penticton, where the WHL supporters watched the Vees entertain the Kelowna Rockets. I like that there are junior hockey fans who can enjoy the WHL, even when their favourite team isn’t playing. Often times it’s friends and family making these treks to various WHL locales, putting many miles and hours on their vehicles. Stopping along the way to “smell the roses” is a terrific way to broaden the travel experience. And, for those DUB supporters from the USA, your travel north of the 49^th parallel can be pretty affordable with the currency exchange saving you about 40-percent on the dollar. Kudos for putting your pedal to the medal!
8. Randoms – Skill Testing Question: There are 23 teams in the WHL, but only 22 are listed in the league Attendance Report. What’s up with that?…Tough weekend in Lethbridge where the Hurricanes dropped games to Portland and Red Deer; outscored 14-4 in the process, before dropping a 6-2 decision in Edmonton Monday…Brandon got off the schneid Friday, knocking off Vancouver 4-3 on Friday for its first win of the season. Then, the Wheaties dropped a 5-4 decision Sunday at home to Swift Current to stand at 1-5-1 on the campaign…Meanwhile, the Giants completed its road trip through the East Division with a 2-4 record. The wins came in Moose Jaw and Regina, After the contest in the Queen City, the Giants headed home, a 15-hour trek to Ladner, BC…Everett keeps on winning, sweeping a doubleheader in Victoria this past weekend…Saskatoon, now 7-2 on the campaign, seems to have found something many pundits thought might be in short supply this season. That is, scoring. Through eight games, the Blades have tallied 34 times, trailing only Everett, Medicine Hat, Penticton and Moose Jaw…Big win in Penticton Saturday as the expansion Vees defeated its closest Okanagan rival Kelowna Rockets 5-3 in front of 3,612 fans. Penticton, the oldest team in the DUB, is now 5-2-1-1 and is tops in the B.C. Division…Prince Albert (6-0-1) and Everett (7-0-1) are the only teams yet to suffer defeat in regulation time…Wenatchee (1-4-1-1) notched its first win of the season, a 7-3 victory at the Town Toyota Centre over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds…I’m really excited for the success in Prince George in recent years. Through five games at the CN Centre, the Cougars are averaging 4,431 through the turnstiles. I remember the days when you could write that number backwards to accurately reflect attendance figures…In Medicine Hat through five games, the average is 4,007. Does that figure happen to look eerily close to a number long associated with the good old Medicine Hat Arena?…Skill Testing Answer: Yes, for those paying attention, Portland has yet to play a home game this season due to renovations at the Glass Palace. Hence, zero home game attendance numbers to report…They’ve only played four games so far, but attendance at the Brandt Centre is up by about 246 per game over the Regina Pats average of 2,974 last season. Any thoughts?
9. Randoms, Part Deux – Kamloops will spend this week on the prairies, completing its six-game roady through the East Division.The Blazers dropped the first two games in Prince Albert and Saskatoon, then clipped Regina in overtime Monday afternoon…Portland will spend the week in Alberta, completing its Central Division road trip. The Winterhawks will play its first home game of the season Oct. 25…The 2025 WHL Championship Final featured Spokane and Medicine Hat. The teams faceoff Tuesday at Co-Op Place in the Gas City, the only time they will meet during the regular season. It’s the Chiefs first of five games on its tour through the Central Division, while the Tigers will hit the road afterward for its six-game run through the B.C. Division…Of the four matinees on Thanksgiving Monday, Calgary and Edmonton hosted games in their respective NHL buildings. Last season, there were only three games played on Thanksgiving Monday, two of which were played in, you guessed it, Calgary and Edmonton.
10. Randoms, Part III – A total of 10 shutouts so far this season. Carter Esler of the Spokane Chiefs leading the way with a pair. Esler leads the DUB with a .964 save percentage…There were 54 shutouts during the 2024-2025 regular season…Raiden LeGall (EVT) leads all goaltenders with six wins, followed by Evan Gardner (SAS) and Joey Rocha (SC) with five…LeGall has a new running mate in Everett, courtesy of a deal the Silvertips made to acquire netminder Anders Millers from the Calgary Hitmen on the weekend. Miller carried the bulk of the playoff workload for the Hitmen last season with 10 appearances, but youngster Eric Tu has pretty much taken over this season in Calgary…Blades forward Rowan Calvert (6G, 3A; 9 points) leads the DUB with an eight-game point scoring streak…J.P. Hurlburt (KAM), Ronan Woodward (VIC) and Shea Busch (EVT) have all enjoyed five-game goal scoring streaks this season. Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll (MH) can extend his goal scoring streak to five games when the Spokane Chiefs visit the Tigers Tuesday night…Riley Boychuk (PA) and Matias Vanhanen (EVT) are on seven-game assist producing streaks…Hurlburt, 16, is the top scorer among rookies with nine goals and 11 assists. Actually, with 20 points through eight games, he just happens to lead the entire league in scoring…Seven of the top ten scorers in the DUB reside in the western conference. Same for the rookie scoring  race…Ryan Lin (VCR) leads all defenceman with 12 points, three ahead of Bryce Pickford (MH), who leads all rearguards with six goals…A total of eight hat tricks recorded so far this season, none by a player residing in the eastern conference…Everett forward Julius Miettinen leads the way with a plus-14 rating. Of the top 20 players in the plus/minus ratings to date, 14 are defenceman. Last season, Spokane’s Will McIsaac led all rearguards with a plus-46 rating.

(Glen Erickson is a hockey writer based in Medicine Hat, AB)