10 WHL Things, Volume XXII
By Glen Erickson
1 – Central Schmozzle – This is going to be fun, folks! The Calgary Hitmen, Medicine Hat Tigers and Lethbridge Hurricanes have undergone roster transformations at various lengths so far this season. A look at the standings after the weekend festivities confirms the Central Division race will not be for the faint of heart. The Tigers (25-15-2) have played 42 games, while the Hitmen (24-11-3-1) and Hurricanes (23-14-1-1) have three games in hand on the division leaders. And don’t forget the young Edmonton Oil Kings (22-15-1-2), which was conspicuously silent on the trade front. It is conceivable all four of these teams could finish with more regular season points than the East Division winner. If that comes to pass, due to the playoff seeding format, one of the teams will not have home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Hitmen and Tigers play a home-and-home set this weekend before Medicine Hat takes off on its road trip through the U.S. Division. The ‘Canes play in Wenatchee, Spokane and Tri City this week. Calgary went 4-1-1 through the U.S. Division back in November.
2 – Best Non-Trade Deal – How would you like if your team could add some scoring punch to the lineup at the trade deadline? Maybe a WHL veteran with 204 points in 219 career games? And the cost is relatively low. Perhaps the best deal done around trade deadline day was made by the Everett Silvertips when the team announced the return of forward Austin Roest. The Coldstream, B.C. native signed an entry level contract with the Nashville Predators last season on March 1, about seven weeks before the ‘Tips season came to an end. As a 20-year-old, Roest was not in Everett’s plans for this season, the assumption being he would play pro hockey. It did not work out that way, as Roest was injured in September and hasn’t played a game all season. With his injury rehab complete, Nashville assigned Roest to Everett for the remainder of this season. The ‘Tips, who were naturally pretty quiet near the trade deadline, moved 20-year-old forward Beau Courtney to Kamloops to make room for Roest, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on January 22.
3 – W.N.I.T.D. – It’s the Spokane Chiefs in Kelowna to play the Rockets this week, but I want to fast forward to January 22 for a marquee matchup in the WHL. The Everett Silvertips host the Medicine Hat Tigers at Angel of the Winds Arena. It is the game chosen by the WHL poohbahs as a freebie for major junior hockey fans. “Wednesday Night In The Dub” is a promotion that enables us to watch for free at WHL Live on CHL TV, or on YouTube. I like how the schedule is determined in short segments rather than posting an entire season’s worth of games. It enables the league to choose and highlight timely matchups. I recall over the years watching WHL Live productions where viewers can actually choose either the home or away audio feed, too. I have always enjoyed that feature and tend to listen to a little of both. Perhaps that’s an option for us on WNITD. Hope you’re all tuning in!
4 – NCAA Commitments – According to the WHL website, a total of 27 players have made commitments to attend NCAA schools. Among the group, 25 players occupy overage spots on WHL rosters, which means their junior eligibility expires at the end of the current season. The other two are Ben Riche (PG) and Brady Birnie (SC). Both are 2005-born, which would allow for them to return to the WHL next season as 20-year-olds. Riche’s commitment to Quinnipiac is for the 2026-2027 season, which suggests he’ll be back in the WHL next season. Birnie’s commitment to Bemidji State is less clear. Another nuance among the commits … all three overage players on both the Saskatoon Blades roster and the Tri-City Americans roster have committed to the NCAA.
5 – Overage Spots – With the trade deadline in our rearview mirrors, there still could be some roster juggling across the league. A total of five teams – Moose Jaw, Kelowna, Regina, Wenatchee and Victoria – are carrying only two 20-year-olds, so adding a player is entirely feasible. This might make sense for Victoria, as the Royals look to push Prince George for top spot in the B.C. Division. Would the addition of an overage player boost the playoff aspirations in Kelowna or Wenatchee?
6 – Lighting the Lamp – At some point during the past few years, the WHL began highlighting hat tricks on its website. So far this season, the trick has been turned 52 times. Of those, a total of four have actually been four-goal games, authored by Roger McQueen (BRN), Connor Levis (VAN), Luke Mistelbacher (SC) and Evan Friesen (WEN). A total of 13 players have tallied hat tricks twice. The Swift Current Broncos, Medicine Hat Tigers and Kelowna Rockets have registered five hat tricks apiece. Four teams have registered four hatties. The Moose Jaw Warriors have been victimized the most, surrendering seven hat tricks so far. The Portland Winterhawks are next with five against. There were 111 hat tricks last season, including six four-goal games.
7 – Shutting the Door – While it could be said the skaters are lighting it up at times, there has been no shortage of great play by goaltenders across the WHL. A total of 29 shutouts have been registered so far. Dawson Cowan of the Spokane Chiefs leads the way with three. The Everett Silvertips have shutout opponents on three occasions, with a different goaltender each time. Reid Dyck (SC), Max Hildebrand (PA) and Burke Hood (VAN) have registered two clean sheets apiece. Medicine Hat, Kelowna, Edmonton and Calgary have two apiece, all registered by different goalies. The Red Deer Rebels have been blanked five times, with Wenatchee next at four. There were 54 shutouts last season.
8 – Milestone Victory – Medicine Hat hammered the hapless Red Deer Rebels Friday, 8-1, which was the 500thcareer victory for head coach Willie Desjardins. Win number 501 came the next night in Edmonton as the Tigers drubbed the Oil Kings, 6-1. An examination of past coaching records creates some challenges, but if the numbers align, Desjardins was the head coach of record in 39 games for the Saskatoon Blades during the 1997-1998 season, collecting his first 10 WHL wins. That’s 27 years ago. In fact, assuming my research is accurate, Desjardins first game behind the bench after taking over in the Bridge City from Donn Clark may have been December 10, 1997, a 4-0 loss in Saskatoon to the Tigers. It’s certainly feasible that Desjardins can jump into 11th place on the all-time list of winningest WHL coaches this season. Next up is Pat “Paddy” Ginnell with 518 victories, 92 of those with the Tigers from 1979-1982. All the Tigers have to do is win 18 of their last 26 regular season games.
9 – 2025 NHL Draft – The NHL Central Scouting mid-season ranking includes 66 WHL players. It’s worth a look if you have some time, check out the draft eligibles on your favourite team. One player of note is Bryce Pickford of the Medicine Hat Tigers, who was passed over at the draft a year ago. He was invited by the Colorado Avalanche to attend the annual Rookie Faceoff tournament hosted by the Los Angeles Kings in September. Pickford will celebrate his 19th birthday on April 2. He’s leading the WHL in goal scoring among defenceman. A right-handed rearguard with a heavy shot, he’s become an ornery piece of business to play against. He’s ranked 73rd among North American skaters. What am I missing here? How does he not already have a signed ELC in his pocket?
10 – RANDOMS – An interesting take by Mike Stackhouse in his most recent 10 Weekend Things piece on The Rod Pedersen Show website. Stack nailed it when he relayed some thoughts on experiences associated with the cost of playing hockey and the ways some leagues and organizations dole out punishment for various transgressions. I’ve seen and heard plenty of nonsense from both my media perch and as a referee. There is a definite arrogance among many hockey parents and an attitude of entitlement among many youngsters who strut around rinks across the country. It’s been going on for decades, which pretty much confirms things haven’t changed much and are not likely ever going to change. Sadly, the environment will always be political – that’s what people do – and conversations about inclusivity should not be construed as always about race…Ben Kindel of the Calgary Hitmen, potentially a first round pick at the 2025 NHL Draft, is on a 23-game point scoring streak that began on November 8. He’s scored 15 goals and added 30 assists during his heater…Oliver Tulk of the Hitmen has matched Kindel with 45 points during his own 20-game consecutive point scoring streak, which began November 15…Still no attendance figure reported for the Regina Pats game October 25 at the Brandt Centre in Regina. The WHL website suggest the Pats have attracted 50,057 fans to 19 homes games, an average of 2,635 per contest. But, those totals are only accurate if nobody showed up on October 25 to watch Calgary knock off Regina, 3-1.
(Glen Erickson is a hockey writer based in Medicine Hat, AB)
Well, I sure whiffed on that one!! Victoria has three 20-year-old forwards…Boehm, Isogai and Lisowsky. C’mon man!!