08-09 Prospects: Brandon

Brandon voters have them in first place in the poll right now, so here goes.....I know the theme is 08-09 prospects but I have listed every player on the team's protected list who was not a full-time WHLer last year. Anyone with a 08-09 age of 15 is ineligible to play in the WHL full-time next season....but you all knew that already.

Still no stats for the AMHL or SAML so I've proceeded without them....feel free to check those two leagues' websites (links on the left) for the stats on those players sometime in the future.

You can stop voting for Brandon now....any more votes for them won't matter. Everett, Spokane, and Portland will be the next three teams done, hopefully today or over the weekend.

Darren Bestland Acquired: listed player
Defense, 5'11", 185 lb 08-09 Age: 18
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Selkirk Steelers (MJHL Jr A)	60	3	27	30	151
Selkirk Steelers (MJHL Jr A - PLF)	5	0	0	0	4
Ryan Breen Acquired: 2007 10th round bantam pick
Defense, 6'1", 180 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Sturgeon Heights (Winnipeg H.S.)	17	1	11	12	57
Sturgeon Heights (Winnipeg H.S. - PLF)	4	0	1	1	0
Tanner Butler Acquired: 2008 10th round bantam pick
Defense, 5'9", 135 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Westman South (Directors Cup)	4	0	1	1	2
Souris (MB AA bantam)	stats not available
Souris Valley Vipers (Westman (MB) H.S.)	2	0	1	1	0
John Calkins Acquired: 2005 9th round bantam pick
Left Wing, 6'2", 160 lb 08-09 Age: 18
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Moose Jaw Warriors (Macs Midget)	4	1	0	1	14
Moose Jaw Warriors (SMHL AAA midget)	42	15	31	46	93
Moose Jaw Warriors (SMHL AAA midget - PLF)	4	0	0	0	4
Paul Ciarelli Acquired: listed player
Center, 6'1", 175 lb 08-09 Age: 17
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Winnipeg South Blues (MJHL Jr A)	1	0	0	0	0
Winnipeg Wild (MMHL AAA midget)	39	14	14	28	82
Winnipeg Wild (MMHL AAA midget - PLF)	8	1	1	2	10
Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)	5	0	0	0	0
Chuck Day Chief Acquired: 2006 13th round bantam pick
Left Wing, 6'2", 190 lb 08-09 Age: 17
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Beardys Blackhawks (Macs Midget)	3	0	0	0	12
Beardys Blackhawks (SMHL AAA midget)	41	5	5	10	56
Beardys Blackhawks (SMHL AAA midget - PLF)	4	0	0	0	8
Jordan De Pape Acquired: 2007 3rd round bantam pick
Right Wing, 5'10", 175 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Winnipeg Wild (MMHL AAA midget)	40	34	27	61	14
Winnipeg Wild (MMHL AAA midget - PLF)	8	4	2	6	4
- DePape is the younger brother of Ryan DePape of the Pats.
Dallas Ehrhardt Acquired: 2007 4th round bantam pick
Defense, 6'2", 195 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Calgary Northstars (Macs Midget)	3	0	0	0	0
Calgary Blazers (SAML midget 15 y.o.)	28	8	11	19	98
- Ehrhardt is the younger brother of Travis Ehrhardt of the Winter Hawks.
Josh Elmes Acquired: 2008 8th round bantam pick
Defense, 6'1", 188 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Brandon (Directors Cup)	4	0	0	0	4
Brandon Wheat Kings (MB AAA bantam)	3	1	3	4	0
Brandon Wheat Kings (WMHA AA midget)	7	2	2	4	4
Brandon Wheat Kings (WMHA AAA bantam)	30	5	17	22	24
Ross Fox Acquired: listed player
Left Wing, 6'1", 195 lb 08-09 Age: 17
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Lethbridge Hounds (SCAHL AA midget)	30	67	29	38	127
Jordan Fransoo Acquired: 2008 5th round bantam pick
Defense, 5'9", 135 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Notre Dame Hounds (KIBIHT)	7	1	2	3	0
Notre Dame Hounds (SSMHL AAA bantam)	26	6	22	28	44
Notre Dame Hounds (St. Albert tournament)	5	1	3	4	4
Spencer Galbraith Acquired: 2008 12th round bantam pick
Defense, 5'6", 135 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Northwest Sharks (Alberta Cup)	4	2	1	3	8
Spruce Grove Timberwolves (AMBHL AAA bantam)	33	8	15	23	85
Spruce Grove Timberwolves (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF)	2	0	0	0	2
Spruce Grove Timberwolves (Edmonton tournament)	5	1	1	2	4
Jesse Hall Acquired: 2006 7th round bantam pick
Center, 5'11", 160 lb 08-09 Age: 17
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Winnipeg Thrashers (MMHL AAA midget)	38	25	27	52	56
Winnipeg Thrashers (MMHL AAA midget - PLF)	9	5	5	10	8
Winnipeg Thrashers (Telus Cup)	7	4	9	13	8
Graham Hildebrand Acquired: listed player
Goaltender, 5'9", 160 lb 08-09 Age: 17
	GP	GAA	W	L	T/OTL	SV%
Beardys Blackhawks (SMHL AAA midget)	27	2.30	16	8	3	0.918
Beardys Blackhawks (SMHL AAA midget - PLF)	4	3.12	1	3	0	0.868
Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)	1	2.96	0	0	1	0.921
Western (World U-17 Challenge)	1	6.00	1	0	0	0.846
Jay Hudon Acquired: 2007 8th round bantam pick
Goaltender, 6'2", 175 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	GAA	W	L	T/OTL	SV%
Tisdale Ramblers (CFHL AA midget)	13	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wheaton King Acquired: 2007 6th round bantam pick
Center, 6'2", 170 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Brandon Wheat Kings (MMHL AAA midget)	39	9	16	25	53
Brandon Wheat Kings (MMHL AAA midget - PLF)	6	1	3	4	6
- younger brother of Sanfred King of Brandon. This guy will own the coolest name in the league if he makes the team: "Wheat King of the Wheat Kings"....
Kyle Krzyzaniak Acquired: listed player
Defense, 6'2", 170 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Yellowhead Chiefs (MMHL AAA midget)	40	6	13	19	60
Yellowhead Chiefs (MMHL AAA midget - PLF)	5	2	1	3	4
Aaron Lewadniuk Acquired: trade with Portland
Center, 5'11", 172 lb 08-09 Age: 19
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Omaha Lancers (USHL)	58	15	24	39	59
- Lewadniuk is headed NCAA (Bemidji State) in 2008-09.
Austin Lewis Acquired: 2008 9th round bantam pick
Center, 5'8", 160 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Brandon (Directors Cup)	4	0	1	1	4
Brandon Wheat Kings (MB AAA bantam)	6	2	7	9	2
Brandon Wheat Kings (WMHA AA midget)	1	0	0	0	0
Brandon Wheat Kings (WMHA AAA bantam)	30	25	17	42	34
Liam Liston Acquired: 2008 3rd round bantam pick
Goaltender, 6'1", 165 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	GAA	W	L	T/OTL	SV%
Northwest Sharks (Alberta Cup)	4	3.67	1	1	2	0.939
St. Albert Sabres (AMBHL AAA bantam)	19	3.40	8	7	4	0.903
St. Albert Sabres (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF)	2	7.50	0	2	0	0.847
St. Albert Sabres (St. Albert tournament)	4	3.25	2	2	0	0.915
Jens Meilleur Acquired: 2008 7th round bantam pick
Right Wing, 5'10", 130 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Central Plains (Directors Cup)	4	1	3	4	4
Winnipeg Hawks (WMHA AAA bantam)	30	20	15	35	14
Ryley Miller Acquired: 2007 2nd round bantam pick
Defense, 6'1", 185 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
St. Albert Raiders (AMHL AAA midget)	stats not available
St. Albert Raiders (Macs Midget)	4	1	0	1	8
Jeff Olson Acquired: 2008 5th round bantam pick
Left Wing, 5'11", 155 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
West Central Klippers (CFHL AA bantam)	18	21	24	45	77
Beardys Blackhawks (CFHL AA midget)	24	10	21	31	36
Jesse Pentland Acquired: 2007 11th round bantam pick
Left Wing, 6'1", 170 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Calgary Rangers (SAML midget 15 y.o.)	stats not available
Brandon Regier Acquired: 2007 1st round bantam pick
Right Wing, 5'11", 180 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Fraser Valley Bruins (BCAHA AAA midget)	31	15	4	19	150
Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)	4	0	0	0	0
Tyler Rimmer Acquired: 2007 14th round bantam pick
Goaltender, 5'8", 155 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	GAA	W	L	T/OTL	SV%
Edmonton K of C Pats (AMHL AAA midget)	stats not available
Edmonton K of C Pats (Macs Midget)	3	4.96	0	1	1	0.853
Stephane Robidaux Acquired: 2006 11th round bantam pick
Defense, 6'1", 175 lb 08-09 Age: 17
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Pembina Valley Hawks (MMHL AAA midget)	38	6	16	22	58
Pembina Valley Hawks (MMHL AAA midget - PLF)	11	1	6	7	14
Brett Rock Acquired: 2006 8th round bantam pick
Defense, 6'2", 195 lb 08-09 Age: 17
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (AMHL AAA midget)	stats not available
Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (Macs Midget)	4	1	0	1	0
Brendan Rouse Acquired: 2007 5th round bantam pick
Left Wing, 5'11", 160 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Abbotsford Pilots (PIJHL Jr B)	1	0	0	0	0
Rylan Schwartz Acquired: trade with Spokane
Center, 5'10", 180 lb 08-09 Age: 18
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Notre Dame Hounds (Macs Midget)	4	4	0	4	4
Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL Jr A)	56	29	34	63	83
- Schwartz is bound for Colorado College in 08-09.
Jesse Sinatynski Acquired: 2007 13th round bantam pick
Center, 5'10", 160 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (REM midget 15 y.o.)	29	37	46	83	123
Derek Sobkow Acquired: 2008 11th round bantam pick
Defense, 5'8.5", 130 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Brandon (Directors Cup)	4	0	0	0	6
Brandon Wheat Kings (WMHA AA midget)	3	0	0	0	4
Brandon Wheat Kings (WMHA AAA bantam)	30	2	9	11	28
Mark Stone Acquired: 2007 5th round bantam pick
Right Wing, 6'1", 170 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Winnipeg Thrashers (MMHL AAA midget)	40	22	31	53	28
Winnipeg Thrashers (MMHL AAA midget - PLF)	9	7	7	14	2
Winnipeg Thrashers (Telus Cup)	7	8	5	13	4
- Stone is the younger brother of the Hitmen's Michael Stone.
Lee Stykel Acquired: 2007 9th round bantam pick
Left Wing, 5'10", 155 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Moose Jaw Warriors (Macs Midget)	3	0	1	1	0
Moose Jaw Warriors (SMHL AAA midget)	39	4	3	7	18
Moose Jaw Warriors (SMHL AAA midget - PLF)	4	0	1	1	0
Jason Swyripa Acquired: 2008 2nd round bantam pick
Center, 5'8", 155 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
South Senators (Alberta Cup)	5	4	4	8	12
Airdrie Xtreme (AMBHL AAA bantam)	33	37	70	107	95
Airdrie Xtreme (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF)	10	7	9	16	18
Airdrie Xtreme (Western championships)	5	4	7	11	14
David Toews Acquired: 2005 6th round bantam pick
Left Wing, 5'10", 180 lb 08-09 Age: 18
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Shattuck-St. Mary's (USA H.S.)	51	44	56	100	20
- Toews is headed to NCAA (North Dakota) for 08-09.
Brenden Walker Acquired: 2007 12th round bantam pick
Center, 5'11", 170 lb 08-09 Age: 16
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Eastman Selects (MMHL AAA midget)	39	24	24	48	46
Eastman Selects (MMHL AAA midget - PLF)	5	4	4	8	0
Klarc Wilson Acquired: 2008 1st round bantam pick
Right Wing, 6'0", 183 lb 08-09 Age: 15
	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Edmonton North Oilers (Alberta Cup)	5	1	2	3	12
Edmonton K of C Squires (AMBHL AAA bantam)	31	34	45	79	52
Edmonton K of C Squires (Edmonton tournament)	4	3	5	8	8
Edmonton K of C Centennials (REM midget 15 y.o.)	2	0	1	1	0

NHL non-signings

The deadline for NHL teams to sign their 2006 draft picks passed over the weekend....of WHL relevance, the Wild did not sign Ondrej Fiala (Saskatoon), the Blue Jackets did not sign Ben Wright (Lethbridge) or Jesse Dudas (Swift Current), the Flames did not sign Juuso Puustinen (Kamloops), the Canadiens did not sign Cameron Cepek (Edmonton), the Canucks did not sign Evan Fuller (Moose Jaw), and the Lightning did not sign Dane Crowley (Everett).

From the WHL perspective, the non-signings of Fiala, Crowley, and Puustinen make no difference since none of them were going to be in the league next year anyway - Fiala and Crowley were overage this past year while Puustinen has already signed a pro contract in Finland for next year.

Wright, Dudas, Cepek, and Fuller though will all now re-enter the 2008 draft this month, and their chances of being back in the WHL as overagers next season just went way up.

First offseason trade

First trade of the offseason was made tonight between Seattle and Red Deer. Red Deer acquires '91 forward Steve Oursov from Seattle for '90 forward Mike Krgovich and a 2010 5th round bantam pick. Oursov played three games for Seattle last year but spent the season in the BCHL with Trail. Krgovich played 63 games for Red Deer last year, posting 7 points.

This must be the beginning of the annual Red Deer purge, where the Rebels trade away everybody who played for the team last year and start the new season with 20 new guys. They've done that the last two or three years now.

Monday notes

Still plugging away on the prospects stuff. Looking at the poll, I think we might have some ballot-stuffing going on from a Brandon fan or two since that team went from about 10 votes to about 35 overnight. I have no way to enforce that people only vote once in this poll, so all I can say is just please play nicely. Every team is going to get done eventually no matter how many or few votes they might get.

For today, if you want an interesting read, you should check out Mike Remmerde's blog, NHL Draft Notes. Mike is a scout for the independant NHL scouting service, Red Line Report, and for the last few days he has been posting his analysis of a good number of the WHL's top prospects. Want to know what somebody who actually gets paid to scout possible NHL players thinks of some of your favourite draft-eligibles this year? Check it out.....

One more thing about Mike Remmerde's comments.....I know he sounds critical of some of the kids and I know that isn't going to play well with some fans. But you have to remember that an NHL scout's job is not to analyze how well a kid does against WHL competition but rather to project how he might do against NHL competition starting in three or four years. All of these players are very good players at the WHL level and sometimes as WHL fans it might look like they don't have many faults. But keep in mind that almost every single player in the NHL was also a big star when he was junior aged. At the WHL level, future NHL prospects are playing against (typically) no more than 2 or 3 future NHLers on each opposing team. At the NHL level, it will be like playing against a CHL all-star team. A defenceman who is a little slow of foot can probably get by at the WHL level because most of his opponents probably are too, but at the NHL level he'll get burned. A goaltender who is a little weak on high shots might be OK in the WHL because most WHL forwards can't consistently pick those top corners, but in the NHL they can and the kid will get lit up. A WHL forward who needs that extra half-second to find the open man can probably still put up the points in the WHL, but at the NHL level the defenceman will tie him up before he can get the pass away. It goes on and on...so scouts have to focus on those weaknesses. It's their job to come up with reasons why a kid might NOT play in the NHL just as much as it is to come up with reasons why he WILL. Just keep that in mind....