B.C. Division Recap

Late November is the time of year where the junior hockey world begins to shift partial focus in the direction of the World Junior Championship. The current edition will emerge in a couple of weeks and it is likely to include a key WHL contingent, with as many as seven B.C. Division players.

The hopeful B.C. Division players on Canada’s camp roster are: Kelowna’s Nick Merkley (ARI) and Dillon Dube (CGY), along with goaltender Connor Ingram (TB) of the Kamloops Blazers. Slovakia also invited Vancouver Giants’ forward Radovan Bondra (CHI), while the Czech Republic is giving Kelowna Rockets’ forward Tomas Soustal a chance to make their team. His Kelowna teammate Calvin Thurkauf (CBJ) will be attempting to make the Swiss team. The last B.C. Division representative with a strong chance to make their countries team is Latvian native and Kamloops Blazers’ leading scorer Rudolfs Balcers (SJ).

Merkley, who is signed by the Coyotes, was a late cut a year ago from Team Canada. Dube, a high-end skater who missed the Canada/Russia Super Series in early November due to injury, has been productive since returning to the Rockets lineup. Ingram has been outstanding for the Blazers this season and appears to be a lock in goal.

The road through the annual WJC, including the selection camp process can result in the absence of players from their junior teams for approximately a month. While the company line among junior teams will always speak to the development process and the opportunities for other players “step up”, it can be challenging for teams to replace top contributors with depth players.

The B.C. Division is very likely to be represented when the final rosters are announced. The Canadian selection camp begins Dec. 10 and tournament play begins on Boxing Day.

In the interim, teams in perhaps the WHL’s most tightly contested division will continue to battle each other hard. Indeed, games against division rivals will not be lacking for intensity.

Cougars continue to set pace

Josh Anderson has provided the P.G. Cougars with toughness from the back end
Josh Anderson has provided the P.G. Cougars with toughness from the back end

The Cougars are currently the number six ranked team in the CHL, thanks to a recent run of inconsistent play that resulted in the Cats drop from the number one spot a week ago.

Despite this the Cougars continue to lead the B.C. Division with a 19-6-2 record, which includes a recent 5-2 victory over the Regina Pats at the CN Centre. Of note is the team’s record away from home at 11-3-1 in 15 games on the road; tops in the western conference.

Veteran defenceman Sam Ruopp (CBJ) will soon return to lineup after serving an eight-game suspension levied by the WHL a few weeks ago. But the big news of late is the addition of Brendan Guhle (BUF) via the trade route from the Prince Albert Raiders. This deal was clearly a sign from general manager Todd Harkins that the Cats are “all in” for a run at the 2017 Memorial Cup.

Brad Morrison (NYR), Jansen Harkins (WPG) and Jesse Gabrielle (BOS) continue to lead the offence, scoring at better than a point-per-game clip so far. Ty Edmonds, 20, is the top overage goaltender in the league at this point, posting a 2.15 goals against average and a .924 save percentage through 20 appearances.

The Cougars host the Victoria Royals this weekend; it’s a doubleheader in Prince George at the CN Centre.

Blazers riding goaltender excellence

Kamloops continues to hang in with Victoria and Kelowna to this point through the outstanding efforts of Connor Ingram (TB).

While not the sole reason for the Blazers position in the standings, Ingram has established himself as perhaps the premiere keeper in the entire WHL. In 22 appearances, Ingram has compiled a 12-9-1 record with a 2.23 goals against average and .933 save percentage. An outstanding 52-save effort in a 4-3 overtime win against Seattle this week came on the heels of his invitation to the selection camp for Canada’s entry at the 2017 WJC.

Import forward Rudolfs Balcers (SJ) leads Kamloops in scoring with 29 points in 28 games. His totals place him second overall in WHL rookie scoring behind only Aleksi Heponiemi of the Swift Current Broncos. Speedy veteran forward Deven Sideroff (ANA) has emerged this season with 27 points in 28 games to date. The return of defenceman Dallas Valentine from a serious elbow injury has bolstered the blue line brigade.

The Blazers complete a five-game home stand this weekend against Vancouver and Brandon before heading out for six games through the central division prior to the Christmas break in the schedule.

Rockets rebound from rough start

The Rockets have rebounded from a slow start, posting a 12-4 record in its last 16 games. The run has enabled the perennial B.C. Division powerhouse to re-establish as a contender. Yet inconsistency has dogged the team this season. Thankfully for Kelowna fans, the group has gotten healthier up front through November.

Dillon Dube (CGY) has been solid since returning to the lineup, posting a goal and seven assists in eight games. But it has been 2017 draft eligible forward Kole Lind supplying the most consistent offensive push so far this season with 30 points in 26 games. The Shaunavon, Saskatchewan native is certain to surpass the 41 points he collected in his rookie campaign where he appeared in 70 games.

The loss of 19-year-old defenceman Gordie Ballhorn, first with a concussion and now with a hand ligament issue (six weeks) has forced the Rockets into the trade market. Gone is promising young blueliner Jonathan Smart, dealt to the Regina Pats for veteran rearguard James Hilsendager, 19, and forward Erik Gardiner, 17. Smart has been a regular of late at Hockey Canada programs, but the Rockets felt a need to bring in some experience on their blue line. Hilsendager, a stay-at-home type from Lloydminster fits the bill.

Kelowna plays a couple of tough contests at home in the coming week, hosting Brandon and Seattle before heading east to tackle the central division teams before the Christmas break.

Royals looking to hit stride

The Royals, like the Cougars, have gone 6-4 during their past ten games, enough production to keep them neck-and-neck with Kamloops and Kelowna, but enough of an inconsistent run to allow Prince George plenty of breathing room atop the division standings.

Among the impressive results of late for the 14-11-2 Royals was the team’s home ice victory over the high-flying Regina Pats. Victoria handed the Pats its first regulation time defeat of the season by a 5-3 count. The Royals followed up the big win with a split at home with the Kelowna Rockets, dropping a 5-1 decision before rebounding with a 6-2 victory two nights later.

Matthew Phillips (CGY), Jack Walker (TOR) and Tyler Soy (ANA) lead the Royals in scoring, each producing at more than a point-per-game so far. Soy is currently sidelined with an injury. Griffen Outhouse, 20, leads the WHL in appearances by a goaltender with 24 to date.

The Royals begin a tough stretch away from Vancouver Island this weekend with a double-header in Prince George, followed by three games against U.S. Division teams. Even if the team stays out east after the double dip in PG, the Royals will zigzag from Spokane to Portland, then back to Tri City before returning home.

Giants languish in division cellar

The current edition is a much more competitive group than during last season, but the Giants are a good step behind the rest of its B.C. Division rivals. Through 28 games, Vancouver has compiled a 10-16-1-1 record that sees the group in 10th place among western conference teams.

After a 30-point campaign last season as a rookie, import Radovan Bondra (CHI) leads the team in scoring through 26 games with 27 points. Bondra will likely play in the 2017 WJC. Tyler Benson (EDM) has been productive to date, collecting 25 points in 23 games. He was a key contributor for Team WHL during the Canada/Russia Super Series, though he was unable to garner a closer look by Hockey Canada for the WJC.

Unlike its division rivals, Vancouver has the potential benefit of playing most of its schedule this month relatively close to home. The Giants schedule through December will also include a healthy dose of U.S. Division teams. How the Giants emerge over the next four weeks could have an enormous impact on whether they stay the course or become January trade deadline sellers in an effort to bolster the roster for the future.