Quarter Pole: B.C. Division Edition

Prince George Cougars (14-4-2-0) .750

To no one’s surprise, the Cougars have played well this season. They are one of the oldest teams in the league this season. Some what surprisingly, the Cougars are a very good road team with an 8-1-1-0 record away from CN Centre. Having recently hosted the CIBC Canada / Russia Series the Cougars will look to keep the crowd momentum going and making their home an even tougher place to play. They have established themselves as a team that is excellent at killing penalties as they have an 86.4% penalty kill rate, good for 1st in the WHL. They have also shaved more than 5 minutes of penalties taken over last season.

Cougars Leading Scorer Brad Morrison
Cougars Leading Scorer Brad Morrison

Goals: Brad Morrison / Jesse Gabrielle (8)

Assists: Brad Morrison (14)

Points: Brad Morrison (22) T-11th Overall

Rookie Points: Ryan Schoettler (1g,3a)

It would not have been a stretch for any prognosticator to have conceded the Cougars their first ever B.C. Division title prior to the current campaign, given the strength of the roster and its tremendous depth. However, the manner in which the team has bolted to an eight-point lead through 20 games is likely the biggest league-wide surprise to date. – Glen Erickson

Victoria Royals (10-7-2-0) .579

The Royals have been a very medicore team this season despite scoring 9 goals in back to back games in mid-October. Despite their play they are in 2nd place in the BC division. Their rookies and younger players have yet to step up, especially in the absence of Joe Hicketts on the back end. Griffen Outhouse will need to continue to make saves (.920 sv %, 5th overall) for this team to have a chance at catching the Cougars.

Royals Leading Scorer (tie) Tyler Soy
Royals Leading Scorer (tie) Tyler Soy

Goals: Tyler Soy / Jack Walker (10)

Assists: Chaz Reddekopp (12)

Points: Tyler Soy / Jack Walker (20)

Rookie Points: Eric Florchuk / Oliver Kaid (1g,1a)

The defending Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy winners have been inconsistent through the quarter pole this season, though its 10-7-2 record has enabled the Royals to stay within striking distance of Prince George. While the core group in Victoria includes speed and skill with huge potential to dominate on special teams, the group would surely benefit from the emergence of a couple of youngsters this season. – Glen Erickson

Kelowna Rockets (10-9-0-0) .526 

A recent 6 game win streak brought the team back to respectability after a poor start with new head coach Jason Smith. Injuries played a role in their poor start early in the season but with some of the key players making returns of late the team has been on a solid run to return to respectability. Michael Herringer will need to improve in the nets as the Rockets do have a younger than usual defense.

Rockets Leading Scorer Kole Lind
Rockets Leading Scorer Kole Lind

Goals: Kole Lind (8)

Assists: Cal Foote (12)

Points: Kole Lind (19)

Rookie Scoring: No players have recorded a point yet.

A 3-7 start has slowly been transformed into a 10-9 record so far, a tremendously inconsistent start by Rockets standards. Injuries have played a role so far, in addition to players attending NHL camps early on. When Kelowna gets completely healthy and begins to ice its entire roster, the skill and depth of its top nine forwards and top six defencemen should impact the divisional standings. Even though the organization is on its fourth head coach in four seasons, this is a team that is much better than its current record. – Glen Erickson

Kamloops Blazers (10-9-1-0) .525

A tale of two teams, the Blazers are excellent at home (7-1-1-0) and awful on the road (3-8-0-0). Newly minted captain Collin Shirley has stepped up to provide the team with some offense and their recent import draft pick Rudolfs Balcers has stepped into a big role with the club and done well with it. Team Canada World Junior Hopeful Conner Ingram leads the league in save percentage (.937) and is only 2nd to Carter Hart in Goals Against Average (2.01/gm). The Blazers have to be somewhat hopeful that Ingram doesn’t miss a ton of game during the holidays.

Blazers Goal Scoring Leader
Blazers Goal Scoring Leader Rudolfs Balcers

Goals: Rudolfs Balcers (10)

Assists: Collin Shirley (12)

Points: Collin Shirley (21)

Rookie Points: Rudolfs Balcers (10g,9a) 3rd among WHL Rookies

As dominant as the Blazers have been in the friendly confines of the Sandman Centre in Kamloops (7-1-1), they have struggled mightily on the road (3-8) so far. This is the real mystery through 19 games this season for a  team with a very skilled top six up front, which is also backstopped by perhaps the top junior goaltender in the entire country. – Glen Erickson

Vancouver Giants (9-11-0-0) .450

With a new home in Langley, the Giants are off to a much better start than last season. They have won 3 of their last 4 at home. Vancouver has already had 12 games at home this season, tied for 1st with Moose Jaw. Radovan Bondra and Tyler Benson are the straw that stirs the drink in Vancouver and hopefully the 2 players will be able to avoid the injury bug that has plagued Benson in the recent past. Benson is a hopeful for the World Junior team so the Giants will need to find someone to replace his experience for a while around the Christmas break. Bondra looks to be a lock to play for Slovakia at the tournament as well, he played on last year’s Bronze Medal team.

Giants Leading Scorer (tie) Tyler Benson
Giants Leading Scorer (tie) Tyler Benson

Goals: Radovan Bondra (12) T-8th overall

Assists: Tyler Benson (10)

Points: Radovan Bondra / Tyler Benson (18)

Rookie Points: Tristyn DeRoose / Marcus Kitchon (0g,2a)

At 9-11 to date, the Giants have served notice that complacency appears to have vanished under the new management team. The adjustment to playing in a new facility in a new community on the lower mainland seems to agree with the organization these days and its key veterans are staying healthy and are stepping up. A reliable goaltender also gives the Giants a chance to win every time out. – Glen Erickson