Finally, the U.S. division....
Spokane Chiefs:
Projected Losses:
Kevin Armstrong (G-88): 33-20-5-4-2.17-0.915 (traded to Prince George)
Judd Blackwater (F-87): 71-31-29-60-96 (graduated overager)
Chris Bruton (F-87): 67-26-37-63-99 (graduated overager)
Seth Compton (F-88): 71-13-7-20-39 (overage numbers - projected)
Jace Coyle (D-90): 52-1-8-9-23 (traded to Medicine Hat)
Curtis Kelner (F-88): 53-6-9-15-89 (left WHL for university)
David Rutherford (F-87): 52-22-21-43-65 (graduated overager)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Drayson Bowman (F-89): 66-42-40-82-62
Dustin Donaghy (F-89): 38-1-0-1-49
Tyler Johnson (F-90): 69-13-22-35-34
Levko Koper (F-90): 69-12-14-26-45
Ryan Letts (F-89): 56-0-6-6-75
Justin McCrae (F-88): 30-8-9-17-25
Ondrej Roman (F-89): 72-15-46-61-28
Mitch Wahl (F-90): 67-20-53-73-63
Defence:
Brett Bartman (D-89): 48-0-6-6-20
Jared Cowen (D-91): 68-4-14-18-62
Justin Falk (D-88): 72-4-22-26-98
Trevor Glass (D-88): 27-3-10-13-14
Mike Reddington (D-90): 71-2-8-10-102
Jared Spurgeon (D-89): 69-12-31-43-19
Stefan Ulmer (D-90): 37-3-10-13-20
Goaltenders:
Dustin Tokarski (G-89): 45-30-10-3-2.05-0.922
Projected Rookies:
Cory Baldwin (D-91)
Michael Betz (F-92): 1-0-0-0-0
David Conrad (F-91)
T.C. Cratsenberg (F-92)
Blake Gal (F-92)
Brenden Kichton (D-92)
Garrett Leedahl (D-91)
James Reid (G-90)
Alex Wright (G-90)
Prognosis: the Chiefs are about to find out if the old adage is true: defending a title is really harder than winning it. They're the standard everyone else in the league measures themselves against this year and opponents will be bringing their "A" game every night. I think this team is up to the challenge though. There's three big guns up front in Bowman, Roman (assuming his paperwork gets sorted out) and Wahl, plus the leadership of McCrae and the team will surely be looking to guys like Koper and Johnson to take big steps offensively this year too. Ditto for Seth Compton if he ends up with an overage spot after all. The depth in the forward group is not as good as last year and they're going to be leaning on a bunch of 16 year olds to fill out the lines, but the top 6-9 forwards are pretty solid. The real strength of this team though is the back end, where they return at least six, maybe even seven (if Falk is back) defencemen from last year's team. Cowen (potential top-five NHL pick there), Falk, Glass, Reddington, Spurgeon, Ulmer...that might be the only top six in the WHL that could give Kelowna's a run for their money. And in net there's standout Dustin Tokarski so no worries there at all although the backup goalie will be one of two completely unproven 18 year olds.
Prediction: Cream of the crop in this division I think, and 1st or 2nd in the conference. Could be a good battle with Kelowna for #1 seed.
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Tri-City Americans:
Projected Losses:
T.J. Fast (D-87): 71-17-37-54-92 (graduated overager)
Drew Hoff (F-88): 67-3-5-8-46 (overage numbers - projected)
Radek Meidl (F-88): 26-8-8-16-14 (released)
Nolan Toigo (D-89): 14-0-1-1-2 (released)
Shaun Vey (F-87): 70-27-46-73-42 (graduated overager)
Colton Yellow Horn (F-87): 67-48-49-97-63 (graduated overager)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Jason Gardiner (F-91): 36-0-6-6-37
Adam Hughesman (F-91): 61-17-24-41-19
Johnny Lazo (F-89): 70-15-24-39-18
Blair Macaulay (F-88): 72-9-18-27-72
Taylor Procyshen (F-88): 51-32-20-52-39
Kruise Reddick (F-90): 72-23-51-74-60
Jason Reese (F-88): 68-24-58-82-44
Joel Ridgeway (F-90): 46-2-3-5-4
Petr Stoklasa (F-89): 68-6-15-21-70
Mason Wilgosh (F-91): 44-3-5-8-17
Defence:
Mitch McColm (D-89): 52-1-8-9-100
Eric Mestery (D-90): 71-2-14-16-65
Brett Plouffe (D-89): 59-3-9-12-53
Tyler Schmidt (D-90): 66-2-12-14-129
Jarrett Toll (D-89): 64-5-12-17-47
Lane Werbowski (D-91): 37-2-2-4-8
Goaltenders:
Kyle Birch (G-90): 15-6-4-0-2.51-0.904
Chet Pickard (G-89): 64-46-12-4-2.32-0.918
Projected Rookies:
Spencer Asuchak (F-91)
Justin Feser (F-92)
Spencer Humphries (D-92)
Colan Jackson (F-90): 8-0-0-0-0
Brooks Macek (F-92)
Brett Martyniuk (G-91)
Jordan Messier (F-92)
Drew Owsley (G-91)
Brendan Shinnimin (F-91): 4-0-0-0-0
Brock Zimak (F-91)
Prognosis: some big losses offensively for this team but they still return a pretty good bunch. The main challenge is replacing the 90+ goals that walked out the door, but there's still Reddick, Reese, Procyshen who had 20+ last year and last year's secondary guys like Hughesman, Lazo, and Macauley will get the chance to boost their totals as well. Some rookies with offensive potential here too who could chip in a few goals. The team might not score as many goals as last year but they'll be OK. The defence is good at the top end - Mestery, Schmidt, Toll - but I think it tails off a bit in the #4 - #6 spots. Still an average to slightly above average group though. And in net, the Americans have one of the 2 or 3 best - if not THE best - goalie in the league in Pickard, probably playing his final season in the league. There's a three-way battle for his backup spot still going on but Pickard is going to get the bulk of the action regardless.
Prediction: not quite as good as Spokane, I don't think, but still a pretty good team. 2nd in the division, 3rd or 4th in the conference.
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Seattle Thunderbirds:
Projected Losses:
Jan Eberle (F-89): 55-7-14-21-35 (released)
Riku Helenius (G-88): 41-22-12-6-2.42-0.915 (turning pro)
Bud Holloway (F-88): 70-43-40-83-55 (turning pro)
Scott Jackson (D-87): 58-6-17-23-44 (graduated overager)
Josh Lazowski (F-91): 13-1-1-2-0 (traded to Red Deer)
Ian McKenzie (F-87): 68-19-21-40-103 (graduated overager)
Benn Olson (D-87): 71-0-12-12-266 (graduated overager)
Steve Oursov (F-91): 3-0-0-0-0 (traded to Red Deer)
Isak Quakenbush (F-90): 61-3-2-5-57 (traded to Prince George)
Greg Scott (F-88): 72-38-37-75-56 (turning pro)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Jeremy Boyer (F-90): 72-16-14-30-44
Spencer Edwards (F-90): 30-3-1-4-21 (stats with Red Deer)
Colin Haas (F-89): 65-3-5-8-37 (stats with Prince George)
Ashton Hewson (F-88): 62-6-9-15-77 (stats with Prince Albert)
Jared Jagow (F-88): 29-5-6-11-15 (stats with Prince Albert)
Mike Krgovich (F-90): 63-4-3-7-54 (stats with Red Deer)
Devon LeBlanc (F-88): 71-17-14-31-67 (stats with Prince Albert)
Lindsay Nielsen (F-89): 72-13-30-43-29
Jim O'Brien (F-89): 70-21-34-55-66
Prab Rai (F-89): 72-20-45-65-21
David Richard (F-89): 72-22-32-54-59
Brenden Silvester (F-91): 52-2-5-7-11
Charles Wells (F-91): 45-3-4-7-25
Defence:
Sena Acolatse (D-90): 71-7-24-31-107
Steve Chaffin (D-91): 49-0-5-5-55
Brenden Dillon (D-90): 71-1-10-11-54
Brad Haber (D-90): 12-1-0-1-11
Thomas Hickey (D-89): 63-11-34-45-49
Jeremy Schappert (D-89): 40-1-6-7-14
Goaltenders:
Jacob DeSerres (G-90): 34-20-11-1-2.28-0.922
Projected Rookies:
Erik Fleming (D-92): 2-0-2-2-0
Matt Hallick (F-89)
Luke Lockhart (F-92): 2-0-0-0-2
Chance Lund (F-92): 7-0-0-0-2
Jon Parker (F-91)
Calvin Pickard (G-92)
Kaydon Trumbley (D-91)
Stefan Warg (D-90) (new import)
Prognosis: not a bad-looking team, too bad they play in the same division with Spokane and Tri-City or else they would have a shot at higher than 3rd. This is the most experienced team in the league, top-to-bottom, with no major weaknesses at any position. There are no big scoring stars up front but they have 6, 7, 8 players who should all score 15-20 goals and up. That's a pretty good offensive punch there, with lots of depth provided by 3rd/4th liners who have 1 or 2 years in the league already. On the blueline, assuming they get Hickey back from the NHL, there's five experienced guys from last year lead by Hickey, and although they tail off towards the average in the #5-#7 slots, it's still a pretty decent group. Goaltending is maybe the only question mark, where Jacob DeSerres gets the chance to be #1 all by himself for the first time. He posted excellent numbers in a 1B/backup role last year; he'll be backed up by 16 year old Calvin Pickard, who the Birds sure hope will be as good as his older brother.
Prediction: Could be 2nd or even first in any other division in the league. In the U.S., 3rd, and 4th-6th in the conference.
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Everett Silvertips:
Projected Losses:
Clayton Bauer (F-87): 51-21-15-36-41 (graduated overager)
Dane Crowley (D-87): 66-10-19-29-131 (graduated overager)
Eric English (F-88): 39-0-1-1-88 (released)
Dan Gendur (F-87): 60-29-55-84-68 (graduated overager)
Zach Hamill (F-88): 67-26-49-75-88 (turning pro)
Jonathan Harty (D-88): 65-11-34-45-143 (left WHL for university)
Leland Irving (G-88): 56-27-24-3-2.45-0.919 (turning pro)
Vitaly Karamnov (F-89): 61-10-15-25-61 (turning pro)
Tyler Kieffer (D-89): 27-0-3-3-27 (traded to Medicine Hat)
Jordan Mistelbacher (F-90): 67-10-10-20-54 (awaiting trade)
Tyler Skauge (F-90): 52-1-3-4-23 (retired)
Lukas Vartovnik (F-89): 72-11-11-22-51 (turning pro)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Daniel Bartek (F-88): 54-22-14-36-18 (stats with Brandon)
Kyle Beach (F-90): 60-27-33-60-222
Jesse Burt (F-89): 71-3-5-8-59
Zack Dailey (F-89): 60-9-10-19-39
Shane Harper (F-89): 71-17-26-43-18
Matt Ius (F-90): 66-4-6-10-28
Defence:
Mike Alexander (D-89): 58-0-6-6-33
Shayne Brown (D-89): 55-3-7-10-89 (stats with Medicine Hat)
Chris de la Lande (D-90): 39-2-7-9-8
Taylor Ellington (D-88): 48-3-11-14-66
Graham Potuer (D-88): 64-3-11-14-110
Jeff Regier (D-91): 41-0-2-2-17
Goaltenders:
Shayne Barrie (G-89): 20-12-6-0-2.99-0.900
Projected Rookies:
Cameron Abney (F-91): 4-0-0-0-0
Byron Froese (F-91)
Tyler Maxwell (F-91)
Markus McCrea (F-92)
Drew McDermott (D-91)
Tyler Parker (F-92)
Kent Simpson (G-92): 1-0-0-0-2.07-0.950
Paul Sohor (D-90): 3-0-0-0-0
Brenden Stephen (D-90): 7-0-0-0-2
Kellan Tochkin (F-91)
Paul Van de Velde (F-90)
Ryan White (F-91)
Prognosis: Could this be the year the Tips finally resemble an expansion team? With 12 rookies on their current 25 man roster, the Silvertips are going to have some growing pains this season. Start up front where Bartek-Beach-Harper is a good first three but after that, there's pretty much zero for proven scoring and in fact there will be 6 rookie forwards dressed every night. Some of those rookies come with pretty good credentials but it's never fair or realistic to expect 16 or 17 year old rookies to carry your team in a league dominated by 18 & 19 year olds, so we won't. The blueline is actually pretty decent, with a couple 200+ game overagers anchoring it along with a couple 19 year olds in their 3rd/4th years in the league. There might not be a lot of offence coming from the back end but they should be able to do the job in their own end decently well at least. In net is another question mark though, as Shayne Barrie and his 1060 minutes (that's 18 games) of experience gets handed the starting job, backed up by a 16 year old rookie. Not to say Barrie can't do the job but if he can't, it could be a really long year in Everett given that goals may be at a premium here.
Prediction: they are not in the same league as the three teams above them. Definitely in 4th, 7th-9th in the conference.
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Portland Winter Hawks:
Projected Losses:
Matt Betker (F-89): 38-4-4-8-38 (released)
Jacob Dietrich (F-87): 54-16-6-22-45 (graduated overager)
Tristan King (F-90): 69-9-16-25-39 (traded to Medicine Hat)
Aaron McGill (F-89): 52-0-2-2-90 (released)
Bo Montgomery (D-90): 57-0-7-7-100 (left WHL for university)
Tyler Swystun (F-88): 72-12-22-34-39 (left WHL for university)
Kevin Undershute (F-87): 18-6-6-12-14 (graduated overager)
Keith Voytechek (F-87): 38-6-10-16-54 (graduated overager)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Riley Boychuk (F-91): 5-0-1-1-0
Nick Dietrich (F-89): 49-1-3-4-25
Chris Francis (F-89): 72-10-13-23-12
Jason Grecica (F-90): 31-2-6-8-37
Colin Reddin (F-90): 23-3-3-6-17
Matt Schmermund (F-88): 72-8-12-20-84
Radim Valchar (F-89): 72-9-15-24-55
Luke Walker (F-90): 70-9-12-21-84
Defence:
Travis Bobbee (D-90): 47-5-4-9-22
Brock Cornish (D-89): DNP in 07-08 (injury)
Travis Ehrhardt (D-89): 54-7-22-29-53
Scott Gabriel (D-88): 60-1-5-6-244
Ryan Kerr (D-89): 15-0-1-1-36
Lee Morrow (D-90): 20-0-2-2-10
Brett Ponich (D-91): 64-0-3-3-63
Stefan Schneider (D-89): 36-0-4-4-36 (stats with Vancouver)
Goaltenders:
Kurtis Mucha (G-89): 49-9-36-2-4.10-0.898
Jordan White (G-88): 24-1-20-1-4.75-0.893
Projected Rookies:
Ryan Andersen (F-90)
Olver Gabriel (F-91)
Keith Hamilton (G-92)
Killian Hutt (F-91)
Daniel Johnston (D-92): 10-1-1-2-18
Joe Morrow (D-92): 1-0-0-0-0
Taylor Peters (F-92): 5-2-0-2-0
Brad Ross (F-92): 3-0-0-0-0
Troy Rutkowski (D-92)
David Watt (D-91): 8-0-0-0-2
Prognosis: it's become a cliche to pick this team last and I almost don't want to because there are some good signs here....but at the same time I'm not sure they're better than Everett. Up front there is nobody who has ever exceeded 10 goals in a season, and the Hawks are by far the least-experienced team up front in the league. There are some good rookies coming in like Hutt and Ross and Peters. But again, they are rookies and looking good in the preseason is a far cry from doing it against regular rosters. They need huge improvements from Boychuk, Francis, Redden, Grecica, etc. The defence is certainly deep in experience but save for a couple guys, it's a pretty average group talent-wise. Not a bad group though, just average. In net the Hawks are again backstopped by one of the league's underappreciated goalies, Kurtis Mucha, who should help steal a few games again this year if the offence can help him out with a little support.
Prediction: if things go well for the Hawks, they could challenge Everett for #4 and maybe even a playoff spot? For now though, 5th in the division, 9th or 10th in the conference.
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