Can the Moose Jaw Warriors repeat as WHL champions? Can the Regina Pats make the playoffs? How good will the Medicine Hat Tigers be?
Last year, Saskatoon finished atop the Eastern Conference in the regular season before losing to Moose Jaw in the playoffs before the Warriors defeated the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL final. Could the Warriors and Blades find themselves back on top of the division this year or will other teams make a push to the top of the standings?
Here’s a full WHL Eastern Conference team-by-team preview:
EAST DIVISION
REGINA PATS
Last season: 22-40-4-2, fifth in division, eleventh in conference, missed playoffs
General manager: Alan Millar (second season, 13th in the WHL)
Head coach: Brad Herauf (second season as head coach, 10th with the club)
Key Losses: Defencemen Ty Gibson, Keagan Slaney and Carson Haynes all graduated while Samuel Barcik has elected to play overseas.
The 20-year-olds: Forwards Braxton Whitehead, Tye Spencer and defenceman John Babcock, who was acquired from the Saskatoon Blades this off-season. Regina recently waived 20-year-old Zane Rowan.
New faces: Babcock, who is the team’s only defenceman older than 18 heading into the season … After playing nine games as a call-up last year, forward Cameron Kuzma could get regular playing in his first full season while fellow 2023 third-round draft pick Cohen Klassen will also look to make the jump to the WHL … Defenceman Brayden Smith will also look to play full-time this year after suiting up for five games last season.
Noteworthy: With only Huet on the roster, the Pats have an open import spot and could look to add one to their roster this season. Last year, they acquired Barcik from Saskatoon at the trade deadline.
Did You Know: The Pats had eight wins in their first 14 games last season before picking up just 14 victories in their last 54 games.
Prognosis: After finishing last in the conference last season, it could be another tough year for Regina.
— Taylor Shire/Regina Leader-Post
MOOSE JAW WARRIORS
General manager: Jason Ripplinger (third season)
Head coach: Mark O’Leary (fifth season)
Assistant coaches: Scott King (associate coach), Curtis Pereverzoff (assistant coach)
The imports: Anaheim Ducks draft pick Voytech Port (Czechia). Dominik Pavlik, the Warriors pick in 2024 Import Draft, is currently trying out for a pro team in Finland and may arrive in Moose Jaw later in the season should that not pan out.
Key returnees: Forward Brayden Yager, 19, the Pittsburgh Penguins first round pick in 2022 and traded to the Winnipeg Jets in the off-season, will almost certainly be the team’s captain should he return and could put up 100-plus points … overage forward Brayden Schuurman was a playoff standout and will be looked to as a scoring leader this season … overager Kalem Parker will anchor the defence should he return from Minnesota camp … goaltender Jackson Unger, 19, is expected to be one of the best in the league … forward Lynden Lakovic is heading into his draft year and is looking to turn heads.
New faces: D Connor Schmidt had a solid training camp and will look to take a major step in his first full season in the WHL … hometown product F Carson Deichert put on mass in the off-season and has battled his way into a spot on the team … 2023 first-round pick D Aaron Sawatzky could see significant minutes as a 16-year-old.
Noteworthy: The Warriors head into the season with the overage situation largely settled with Schuurman, Parker and forward Rilen Kovacevic. Parker and Kovacevic are off to NHL training camps and if signed likely won’t return, which would mark the first time in recent team history the Warriors have had two open 20-year-old spots.
Did you know? The Western Hockey League championship won this past spring came on the 40th anniversary of the team moving to Moose Jaw from Winnipeg and completely captivated the city, with the Ed Chynoweth Cup having become a staple at community events throughout the summer.
Prognosis: If the hockey gods decide to go full chaos mode and Mateychuk, Firkus and Savoie return as overagers, another WHL championship run is in the books. That won’t happen, so the team will be aiming to use their winning experience to finish in the top half of the conference and earn a playoff spot. From there, it’s anyone’s guess.
— Randy Palmer, Sportscage.com
BRANDON WHEAT KINGS
Last season: 33-28-6-1, third in division, sixth in conference, lost in first round of playoffs to Moose Jaw
Head coach and GM: Marty Murray (third season)
Assistant coaches: Mark Derlago (sixth season), Del Pedrick (third season)
Key losses: Overagers Brett Hyland, Jayden Wiens and Jackson DeSouza … Rugged fan favourite Matt Henry entered his overage season and was released, as was Russian defenceman Andrei Maliavan … Brandon still has four overagers, D Luke Shipley, F Rylen Roersma, F Nolan Flamand and newcomer F Marcus Nguyen, so one must go.
The imports: At 19, Czech forward Dominik Petr returns for his second North American season. He is joined by Slovakian newcomer Adam Belusko, a stocky defenceman with national team experience.
Key returnees: This is Roger McQueen’s team. The lanky forward, who many forecast as a high pick in the 2025 NHL draft, made a huge jump in his 17-year-old season and the Saskatoon product with the late birthday is expected to lead offensively … Goaltender Carson Bjarnason is playing for a spot on the world junior team in his 19-year-old season … D Quinn Mantei, 19, might be one of the more underrated players in the league, and D Charlie Elick, 18, enters his third season after being grabbed by Columbus in the second round.
New faces: Fifteen-year-old Jaxon Jacobson, who turns 16 in December, and 17-year-olds Brady Turko and Easton Odut played on a line together with the under-18 Wheat Kings team that lost in the national final last season … Brandon had a stout battle on the blue line for spots, with 16-year-old first-rounder Giorgos Pantelas, 18-year-old list player Dylan Ronald and 16-year-olds Nigel Boehm and Cameron Allard in the running to make their full-time debuts … Gritty list player Ben Binder Nord of Calgary, 17, also earned a spot up front.
Noteworthy: When Brett Hyland topped the team with 59 points last season, it was the second lowest total for a Wheat Kings leading scorer in a full season since Brandon joined the league in the 1967-68 season. The only lower total came during the 2012-13 season when Tim McGauley and Ryan Pulock tied with 45 points on a young team that won the championship three years later.
Did you know? Slovakia has not been a traditional hot spot for the Wheat Kings in the Canadian Hockey League import draft. The last Slovakian player drafted by Brandon was forward Bruno Mraz in 2011, and he spent just one season with the club. The only other Slovakian pick came in 2002 when they grabbed forward Richard Jasovsky, who skated with them for two seasons … Jacobson had two goals in his WHL debut at age 14 last December, becoming the second youngest known player to score for the team. Ray Brownlee was seven months younger when he scored for the Wheat Kings in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League on Dec. 27, 1964.
Prognosis: The Wheat Kings are bullish about their chances to be impactful for the first time since the 2021 season in the Regina hub. An infusion of talented youngsters, depth up front, Bjarnason in net backed up by Ethan Eskit and an improving blue line suggest a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference is within their grasp.
— Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun
SASKATOON BLADES
Last season: 50-13-2-3, first in division, first in conference, lost in conference final to Moose Jaw in seven games
General manager: Colin Priestner
Head coach: Dan DaSilva (first season)
Assistant coaches: Wacey Rabbit, Andrew Sarauer, Jerome Engele
Key Losses: F Egor Sidorov has gone pro with the Anaheim Ducks … F Trevor Wong, F Easton Armstrong and D Charlie Wright were all impact 20-year-olds that have graduated … F Fraser Minten will go pro with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 20-year-olds: F Brandon Lisowsky, D Grayden Siepmann, D Ben Saunderson and G Austin Elliott. Saskatoon will have to reduce to the cap of three by Oct. 10.
The imports: Czech import F Vlastimil Blazek recorded 76 points at the U17 level last season.
Key returnees: G Evan Gardner (.927 save percentage, 1.91 GAA) will be relied upon heavily after being taken by Columbus in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft … D Tanner Molendyk will be Saskatoon’s top offensive blueliner … F Brandon Lisowsky is Saskatoon’s best returning scorer from a year ago.
New faces: F Ben Riche was acquired in an off-season deal with the Victoria Royals … D Brayden Klimpke looked good in short stints last season and will be a full-timer for the Blades in 24-25 … F Zach Olsen will look to play a major role as a 16-year-old.
Watch for: 16-year-old G Ryley Budd would get a few games this season if Saskatoon is out of the playoff race.
Noteworthy: Brennan Sonne, the head coach of Saskatoon last season, has accepted an assistant coaching position with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Thunderbirds.
Did you know?: Saskatoon has made it to the Eastern Conference final in back-to-back seasons.
Prognosis: After losing a lot of key contributors from the team that made it to the Eastern Conference Final a year ago, it will be an uphill battle for Saskatoon to return to the playoff dance.
— Nathan Reiter/Prince Albert Daily Herald
SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS
Last season: 40-22-4-2, first in Central Division, second in conference, eliminated in second round of playoffs by Moose Jaw
General manager: Chad Leslie (third season)
Head Coach: Taras McEwen (second season)
Assistant coaches: Regan Darby, Zach Franko
Key losses: F Conor Geekie had 99 points in 55 games with Wenatchee and the Broncos last season and is highly unlikely to return … F Josh Filmon had 189 points in 212 WHL games and is also likely off to the professional ranks … D Owen Pickering was a stalwart on the Broncos blue line for four seasons and is also likely to play in the NHL or AHL as a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins … Pesky forward F Mathew Ward produced 208 points in 199 games with the Broncos before being traded to Medicine Hat for his overage season … D Ryan McCleary, D Tyson Galloway, and F Caleb Wyrostok will also be missed after aging out of the league.
The imports: Adam Král, 18, is a smooth skating 6-foot-2 product of Czechia who looks poised to play an important role on the blue line this season. Král had 19 points in 50 games with Bílí Tygři Liberec U20 last season and also has experience with numerous Czechia youth national teams.
New faces: The Broncos traded for Prince Albert Raiders captain Eric Johnston to add experience to the defensive corps. D Jace McFaul, F Sawyer Dingman, and local F Parker Rondeau have all been pushing for full-time roster spots this season.
Noteworthy: Clarke Caswell led all Bronco players with 51 assists and 77 points in 68 games last season. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Seattle Kraken and will be leaned on heavily to drive the offence this season … Connor Hvidston could be one of the three overage players this season. The Tisdale product scored 27 goals in 53 games last season … Grayson Burzynski is suddenly one of the wily veterans on the blue line with 171 regular season games under his belt. The 6-foot-4 Winnipeg product will see major minutes this season on a revamped blue line, especially on the penalty kill, a unit that will look to improve on it’s 73.3 per cent mark last season.
Did you know? F Rylan Gould made a staggering jump from four points in 2022-23 to 68 points in 2023-24. The former 2020 second rounder is quickly becoming a fan favourite in Swift Current with his strong two-way play and the excitement he injects into every game … D Peyton Kettles won gold with Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer in Edmonton. The former sixth overall pick in the 2022 WHL Draft had 13 points and a plus-19 rating in 61 games in his rookie season in 2023-24 … G Reid Dyck was named to the WHL Central Division second all-star team last season after breaking out with a 25-7-2-0 record, a 2.70 goals against average, and a .911 save percentage.
Prognosis: The Broncos are back in the East Division for the first time since the 2018-19 season and should be in the playoff hunt in a wide-open Eastern Conference, especially if Dyck returns between the pipes.
— Steven Mah/Southwest Booster
PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS
Last season: 31-32-2-3, fourth in division, eighth in conference, lost to Saskatoon in first round of playoffs
General manager: Curtis Hunt (ninth season)
Head coach: Jeff Truitt (third season, 24th season in WHL)
Assistant coaches: Ryan McDonald (fourth season), Conor Yawney (first season), Dan Ferguson (goalie coach; first season)
Key losses: F Sloan Stanick aged out, F Ryder Ritchie was dealt to Medicine Hat, defensive D Terrell Goldsmith was traded to Tri-City and D Eric Johnston was dealt to Swift Current.
The 20-year-olds: G Max Hildebrand, F Krzysztof Macias and F Niall Crocker
The imports: Polish F Krzysztof Macias is back for a second season in Prince Albert and 19-year-old German defenceman Norwin Panocha was selected 26th overall in the import draft. Panocha spent last season with Chicoutimi in the QMJHL.
Key returnees: Max Hildebrand enjoyed a breakout season a year ago. Expect the 20-year-old Martensville product to carry the workload in net for the Raiders … D Justice Christensen is back for a third season and will look to improve on his 45 point season from a year ago … C Aiden Oiring has blossomed since arriving in PA via trade from Winnipeg in 2022-23.
New faces: F Tomas Mrsic was acquired in an off-season blockbuster with Medicine Hat. Expect the St. Louis Blues prospect to play top line minutes immediately for the Raiders … D Lukas Dragicevic was brought in with a deal with the Tri-City Americans. The Seattle Kraken prospect will provide an immediate offensive jolt from the back end … 2023 first overall pick Daxon Rudolph is expected to break camp with the Raiders.
Watch for: F Cole Peardon, a first-round pick of the Raiders in 2021, will look to have a breakout season as an 18-year-old.
Did you know?: Max Hildebrand spent the summer as the equipment manager for the WCBL’s Saskatoon Berries. Hildebrand catches with his left hand as a goaltender, but catches with his right in baseball.
Prognosis: The youth is starting to emerge in Hockeytown North. The Raiders have made five first round picks in the past two drafts, including four top five selections. While the team is young, don’t be surprised if Prince Albert is in contention for home ice in the first round of the playoffs at season’s end.
— Nathan Reiter/Prince Albert Daily Herald
Central Division
EDMONTON OIL KINGS
Last season: 27-37-3-1, sixth in division, 10th in conference, missed playoffs
General manager Kirt Hill (seventh season)
Head coach: Luke Pierce (third season)
Assistant coaches: Kyle Chipchura (second season), Devan Praught (first season)
Key losses: Edmonton graduates overage forwards Skyler Bruce and Ty Nash, plus D Marc Lajoie … Big 18-year-old defenceman Ismail Abougouche was traded … Assistant coach and manager of player development Serge Lajoie moved on.
The imports: Czech defenceman Adam Jecho, 18, was a third-round pick of the St. Louis Blues and will be one of the leaders in the blue line … F Miroslav Holinka, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, debuts at age 19. He was a big scorer in the Czech U20 league.
Key returnees: F Gracyn Sawchyn, 19, is a special player who was acquired from Seattle last season. He had 43 points in 37 games and has an incredible set of hands … Overage forward Marshall Finnie set career highs at 19 and can be impactful and G Kolby Hay simply stole some games last season … Winnipegger Gavin Hodnett was sensational at 16, better at 17 as he led the team in scoring and could be outstanding in his third season in the WHL … Roan Woodward was a nice pickup from Everett, with a career-high 38 points in 56 games with the Oil Kings.
New faces: A highly touted young forward with a familiar name comes to town in the guise of 16-year-old Joe Iginla, the younger brother of Kelowna star Tij and son of longtime NHLer Jarome Iginla … California’s Noa Ta’Amu was the third overall pick in the 2023 U.S. draft and is a strong candidate to make the team at 16 … Former Portland Winterhawks overage defenceman Josh Mori was acquired and will add some leadership to the back end.
Noteworthy: Edmonton scored nearly 100 more goals last season than the year before — 227 in 2023-24 and 131 in 2022-23 — and have the ability to increase that number again. But the big key is reducing their goals against. In team history, they’re surrendered more than 300 goals three times, with it happening twice in the last two years.
Did you know? One of the wildest stats in the WHL remains Edmonton’s consistency in where they finish in the Central Division. In the 17 seasons since joining the WHL in 2007-08, they’ve finished first in the division seven times, fourth (twice), fifth (four times) and sixth (four times). They’ve never finished second or third.
Prognosis: Edmonton sold the farm to win the franchise’s third WHL championship in 2022, and after a terrible 2022-23 season, showed marked improvement last year. They have some solid pieces in place and should work their way back into the playoff picture this season.
— Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun
CALGARY HITMEN
Last season: 28-31-8-1, fifth in division, ninth in conference, missed playoffs
General manager: Garry Davidson
Head coach: Paul McFarland
Assistant coaches: David Liffiton, Ben Wilson
Key Losses: F Maxim Muranov led the Hitmen in plus-minus last season … F Tyson Greenway has graduated from the WHL ranks
The 20-year-olds: G Ethan Buenaventura is the lone 20-year-old for the Hitmen at the outset of the season.
Key returnees: D Carter Yakemchuk was a big reason the Hitmen nearly made the playoffs last year after a slow start … F Ben Kindel was a pleasant surprise as a 16-year-old last season … D Reese Hamilton will look to play a full schedule after missing time due to injury … F Oliver Tulk will look to build off a strong season a year ago.
New faces: Hurtig will look to step in as a 19-year-old blueliner … Calgary returns a lot of the same pieces from last year.
Watch for: Yakemchuk was taken seventh overall by Ottawa for a reason. Expect the 19-year-old blueliner to lead Calgary offensively.
Noteworthy: 2023 first rounder Noah Kosick is committed to the University of Michigan. If the current NCAA/CHL situation changes, don’t be surprised if he ends up in Calgary.
Did you know?: It’s been nearly a decade since Calgary last made a conference final, losing to Brandon in five games in 2015.
Prognosis: A slow start proved to be too much for the Hitmen to overcome a year ago. If they get off to a good start, expect Calgary to be in the playoff picture at season’s end.
— Nathan Reiter/Prince Albert Daily Herald
LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES
Last season: 33-28-7-0, fourth in division, seventh in the conference, swept in the first round of the playoffs by Swift Current
General manager: Peter Anholt (10th year)
Head coach: Bill Peters (second season)
Assistant coaches: Ryan Aasman, Matt Anholt
Key losses: Captain Joe Arntsen graduated after playing out his whole WHL career with the ‘Canes … Dylan Sydor and Sean Tschigerl aged out after coming over via trades… Trae Wilkie was traded to Red Deer in the off-season.
The imports: F Leo Braillard
Key returnees: Nashville Predators third round pick Miguel Marques, Brayden Edwards (Detroit Red Wings camp invite) and Logan Wormald are expected back to carry the load offensively as the top line … G Harrison Meneghin (2024 Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick) will be heavily relied on to backstop Lethbridge this season in the crease … Kooper Gizowski will no doubt have to bring more this season as far as depth scoring goes… new captain Noah Chadwick and 20-year old Logan McCutcheon will anchor a young blue line this season.
New faces: Trae Johnson came over in a trade with the Kelowna Rockets.
Noteworthy: The young factor with nine players on the current roster for forwards being born 2006-2008 and six defencemen born between those years as well.
Did you know? Noah Chadwick was named 32nd captain in team history after the departure of Joe Arntsen.
Prognosis: The Canes will have a young roster this season that will have to find more depth scoring beyond its top line. Expect Lethbridge to be competing for a playoff spot.
— Justin Seward/Lethbridge Herald
RED DEER REBELS
Last season: 33-26-3-6, third in division, fifth in conference, eliminated in second round of playoffs by Saskatoon
President/general manager Brent Sutter: (14th season)
Head coach Dave Struch: (hired midseason last year, re-signed this off-season)
Assistant coaches: Mike Egener (fourth season), Clayton Beddoes (second season)
Key losses: F Kai Uchacz was a staple of the Rebels’ lineup in his last two season, leaving a large offensive hole to be filled … F Frantisek Formanek is playing his overage season in Czechia and D Mats Lindgren will be in the AHL.
The imports: Czechia F Samuel Drancak is back for his second season, looking to improve on a 12-goal, 33 point rookie campaign. Rebels also added 18-year-old Finnish F Kasper Pikkarainen.
Key returnees: Minnesota fifth-round pick Chase Wutzke and 19-year-old Rhett Stoesser return as the top goaltending tandem in the WHL … 20-year-old defencemen Hunter Mayo and Jace Weir will be relied upon in shutdown roles … The fourth-round pick of the Seattle, Ollie Josephson looks to improve on a 12-goal, 47-point season.
New faces: Sutter spun a pair of fourth round picks to Lethbridge for F Trae Wilkie. The 18-year-old will be relied on to replenish the offence lost with Uchacz’ graduation.
Noteworthy: The Rebels have already answered the annual 20-year-old question, with forward Jhett Larson returning alongside Mayo and Weir … Red Deer is looking for a ninth-straight playoff appearance, last missing in 2013-14 (COVID-19 seasons excluded).
Did you know? Red Deer has had a player drafted in the fourth round or sooner in eight of the last 10 NHL entry drafts.
Prognosis: Making the playoffs is non-negotiable in Red Deer. Sutter has made it clear he’ll make changes as late as possible in the season if it points to success. They don’t appear to be one of the top dogs, they’ll be in the mix for a spot in the middle of the conference.
— James Tubb/Medicine Hat News
MEDICINE HAT TIGERS
Last season: 37-23-6-2, second in division, fourth in conference, eliminated in first round of playoffs by Red Deer
General manager/head coach Willie Desjardins: (14th season)
Assistant coaches: Joe Frazer (15th season; associate coach), Josh Maser
Key losses: Forward Tomas Mrsic was traded to the Prince Albert Raiders in a pre-training camp deal … 19-year-old Reid Andresen was sent to the Wenatchee Wild and captain Tyler MacKenzie was traded to the Everett Silvertips ahead of his overage season.
The imports: Finnish D Niilopekka Muhonen and Veeti Väisänen join the Tigers after being selected in the 2024 CHL Import Draft.
Key returnees: Still only 16 years old until December 20, Gavin McKenna will lead the Tigers and potentially the WHL in scoring with still another year to play in junior … Calgary second-rounder Andrew Basha will look to make this season his last in the WHL, with eyes of playing pro as a 20-year-old … Overage F Oasiz Wiesblatt has long been the heartbeat in Medicine Hat. The not-so-little ball of energy has garnered NHL attention and looks to go out on top.
New faces: F Ryder Ritchie will be a staple on the Tigers first power play, adding a right-shot option with second-round NHL pedigree to an already lethal offence … D Jonas Woo and Bryce Pickford will solidify a young back end looking for maturity after the graduation of three overagers last season … Pesky F Mat Ward will take some getting used to seeing in the orange and black, but his former foes, love his gritty play now that he’s on their team.
Noteworthy: The Tigers enter a second-straight season with three goalies in the mix. Returning are 19-year-old Zach Zahara and 18-year-old Ethan McCallum. New to the mix, 17-year-old Jordan Switzer … F Cayden Lindstrom will not start the season with the team, staying in Columbus with the Blue Jackets while he rehabs a back injury that limited him to four playoff games in the second half last season. He’s expected to arrive in MH at some point.
Did you know? Lindstrom was Medicine Hat’s 25th first-round NHL pick, first since Hunter Shinkaruk in 2013.
Prognosis: It’s simple in Medicine Hat, Ed Chynoweth Cup or bust. They’ve made it to the first round the last two season, with a sweep and a five-game exit dispatching them early. They appear to be the front-runner in the WHL and will get each team’s best every night.
— James Tubb/Medicine Hat News
The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.
With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.