WHL Preview: Central Division

By Ryan McCracken on September 22, 2018.

Medicine Hat Tigers

Last season: 36-28-8, first in Central Division, eliminated in first round by Brandon Wheat Kings

Head coach and general manager: Shaun Clouston (Seventh season as GM, ninth as HC)

Assistant coaches: Joe Frazer (ninth season), Ryan Smith (first season)

Key losses: RW Mark Rassell (graduated), D Kristians Rubins (graduated) G Michael Bullion (graduated), D David Quenneville (unlikely to return), C Mason Shaw (unlikely to return)

The 20-year-olds: RW Ryan Jevne, D Dylan MacPherson (Florida Panthers camp), D Linus Nassen (Panthers camp, Swedish import) D Dalton Gally

The imports: D Linus Nassen (Panthers camp), G Mads Søgaard, F Vasily Podkolzin (has not reported)

Key returnees: C James Hamblin (64 points, named team captain), G Jordan Hollett (Senators draft pick), D Dylan MacPherson, F line of Ryan Chyzowski, Ryan Jevne and Tyler Preziuso, RW Josh Williams

New faces: G Mads Søgaard, Denmark (32nd overall pick in import draft), Assistant coach Ryan Smith (coach with WHL champion Swift Current Broncos last season)

Watch for: RW Josh Williams is poised for a breakout season in his first year of NHL draft eligibility. The 17-year-old Langley product shared the team lead with four goals for Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last month.

Noteworthy: Medicine Hat is coming off back-to-back Central Division banners, two shy of their franchise record —a streak of four set between 2003-04 and 2006-07. The Tigers also won two WHL championships in the span, 2004 and 2007.

Did you know: D Joel Craven is the only known third generation player in the Western Hockey League, following in the footsteps of father Murray and grandfather Ron.

Prognosis: The Tigers are likely to lose a handful of game-changing players including C Mason Shaw, D David Quenneville and RW Mark Rassell, but return a solid core with plenty of established chemistry. Expect Medicine Hat to challenge for another Central banner.

– Ryan McCracken/Medicine Hat News

Lethbridge Hurricanes

Last season: 33-33-6-0, second in the Central Division, lost in the Eastern Conference final to the Swift Current Broncos in six games.

General manager: Peter Anholt (fourth season)

Head coach: Brent Kisio (fourth season)

Assistant coaches: Jeff Hansen (second season), Josh MacNevin (fourth season)

Key losses: C Brad Morrison graduated, scoring 16 goals and 40 points in 32 games after being acquired from the Vancouver Giants at the trade deadline. D Tate Olsen and G Logan Flodell also graduated. C Ryan Vandervlis suffered serious burns from a campfire incident in June and continues to recover.

The 20-year-olds: C Jake Elmer, LW Taylor Ross, D Matthew Stanley and D Igor Merezhko, who is currently at the Calgary Flames camp.

The imports: G Akira Schmid (2018 CHL import, first round), D Danila Palivko (2018 CHL import, second round).

Key returnees: Unless he sticks with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, F Jordy Bellerive scored 46 goals and 92 points in 71 games to lead the Canes last year. Fellow Penguins prospect and D Calen Addison led Canes blueliners in scoring with 11 goals and 65 points last season and returns for his third season. F Dylan Cozens is already touted to go in the top three in next year’s NHL draft and returns following a 22-goal, 53-point season that earned him the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year.

New faces: F Noah Boyko, D Alex Cotton, D Nolan Jones, G Akira Schmid.

Watch for: Cozens had a strong rookie campaign and only stands to improve in his second season. Fellow 2001-born F Logan Barlage came over in the blockbuster deal with Swift Current at the trade deadline and the fourth overall pick in the 2016 WHL draft adds some size up front with his six-foot-four, 201-pound frame.

Did you know: After being acquired from the Giants at the deadline, Morrison proceeded to write his way into the franchise record books with 37 playoff points to tie him with Wes Walz, who hit that total in the 1989-90 season. That no doubt played a role in landing Morrison a three-year, entry-level deal with the Los Angeles Kings a day after the Hurricanes were eliminated by the Broncos.

Prognosis: With the likes of Cozens, Barlage, Addison and potentially Bellerive alongside newcomers Boyko, Cotton and Jones, expect the Hurricanes to combine speed and scoring and challenge for a top spot in the Eastern Conference.

– Dale Woodard/Lethbridge Herald

Red Deer Rebels

Last season: The Rebels managed a third-place finish in the central division with a 27-32-10-3 record. They were ousted by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference quarter-final in five games.

General manager/head coach: Brent Sutter, 15 seasons.

Assistant coaches: Brad Flynn, 1st season; Ryan Colville, 1st season; Erik Lodge, 2nd season; Kraymer Barnstable, goalie coach, 1st season.

Key losses: Mason McCarty is out, he exploded for 38 goals and 74 points in 68 games last year. Kristian Reichel is also gone. The centre was not selected in the NHL draft but decided to forgo his final WHL season. He pitched in 34 goals and 57 points in 67 games last year. Former captain Graysen Pawlenchuk also moved on, he had 18 goals and 52 points in 72 games.

The imports: Alex Alexeyev and Oleg Zaytsev. Alexeyev was a first-round pick of the Washington Capitals in the 2018 NHL Draft. If and when he returns from Washington, he will be a workhorse for the Rebels. Zaytsev, a 17-year-old Russian forward picked 17th overall in the import draft is a bit of an unknown. He showed some chemistry with Brandon Hagel in exhibition play.

Key returnees: Brandon Hagel, Reese Johnson, Dawson Barteaux and Alexeyev.

The 20-year-olds: Hagel, de Wit, Colin Paradis and Reese Johnson. They will cut that down to three by mid-October.

Noteworthy: Last year, the Rebels scored 209 goals. The players who accounted for almost half (90) of those are gone. Only one player on their current roster scored more than 20 last season, and only two were over 10.

Did you know: The Rebels have been in the playoffs seven of the last nine seasons. In three of the last four seasons, they have lost in the first round.

Prognosis: Three seasons removed from hosting the Memorial Cup, the Rebels are now clearly in rebuild mode. They have no 19-year-old forwards in their lineup and two goalies with under 60 games of WHL experience. However, Brent Sutter seems to almost always find a way into the playoffs. Might sneak in with a wildcard berth.

– Byron Hackett/Red Deer Advocate

Kootenay Ice

Last year: 27-38-5-2, fourth in Central Division, missed playoffs for third consecutive season

General manager: Matt Cockell (second season)

Head coach: James Patrick (second season)

Assistant coaches: Jon Klemm (associate, second season), Gord Burnett (fourth season), Roman Vopat (fourth season), Nathan Lieuwen (goalies, first season)

Key losses: Overagers Alec Baer (RW), Colton Kroeker (C) and Colton Veloso (RW)

Key returnees: Peyton Krebs (LW), Brett Davis (RW), Duncan McGovern (G), Jaeger White (RW, last season with Medicine Hat)

Edmonton Oil Kings

Last season: 22-42-6-2, last in Western Hockey League, missed playoffs for second consecutive season

General manager: Kirt Hill (first season)

Head coach: Brad Lauer (first season)

Assistant coaches: Luke Pierce (first season), Dustin Schwartz (goalies)

Key losses: Overagers Colton Kehler (RW), Tomas Soustal (C) and Travis Child (G)

Key returnees: Trey Fix-Wolansky (RW), Conner McDonald (D), Brett Kemp (C)

Calgary Hitmen

Last season: 24-37-9-2, fifth in Central Division, missed playoffs

General manager: Jeff Chynoweth (second season)

Head coach: Steve Hamilton (first season)

Assistant coaches: Trent Cassan (third season), Joel Otto (12th season), Jason LaBarbera (goalies, third season)

Key losses: Overagers Nick Schneider (G), Jakob Stukel (LW) and Conner Chaulk (C)

Key returnees: Jake Kryski (C), Mark Kastelic (C), Riley Stotts (LW), Vladislav Yeryomenko (D)

62
-61