Catch-22, Editorial

Catch-22: Around the WHL

Written by Paul Figler on

 

Welcome to the first edition of Catch-22. This is something I was wanting to do to replace the old Thursday Thoughts articles and thought what better way than to do a catch-all type of article? I’ll be posting random facts and stats as well as my thoughts on some of the things happening around the WHL. Feel free to shoot me a message (@paul_figler on Twitter or my e-mail p.figler@dubnetwork.ca) any time to get some eyeballs on an issue you feel is important!

1 – Winnipeg ICE. Will they lose a game this season? The team has opened the season 9-0-0-0 while outscoring their opponents 58-17. Their closest game came at the hands of the Moose Jaw Warriors over the weekend. They will face a tough test as they arrive in Red Deer on Tuesday to take on the Rebels.

2 – Speaking of high scoring, seven of the top 10 scorers in the WHL are members of the Winnipeg ICE. Only Lukas Svejkovsky, Tristen Robins, and Kyle Crnkovic break into the Winnipeg offensive display. The top three defensemen in league scoring are, you guessed it, Winnipeg ICE defensemen.

3 – The WHL considers Matthew Savoie a rookie, despite having played 22 games as a member of the Winnipeg ICE in 2019-20. Last season he scored 38 points (21G, 17A) in 34 games with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL. Well, you guessed it again, he leads the WHL in rookie scoring with six goals and nine assists. He is eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft. Zachary Benson (WPG) is second with six goals and seven assists.

4 – What’s happening in Victoria? The team quietly released several players, including Ty Yoder, who joined the Okotoks Oilers. The team then iced well below a full lineup for a weekend series in Prince George and now the team has brought in Anson McMaster and Caleb Willms. The team had nine injuries listed for their game on October 23 against the Prince George Cougars.

5 – Victoria has made 10 deals since the beginning of May, by far the most of any team in the league. Only 14 players on their roster were selected by the team at a WHL Prospects Draft.

6 – The Everett Silvertips and Winnipeg ICE are the only undefeated teams remaining in the WHL. Everett has six wins in a row while as mentioned above the ICE are at nine wins. Both teams are a long way from the WHL record of 24 straight wins. This was done by the Victoria Cougars from February 6, 1981, to October 9, 1981.

7 – The Victoria Royals are the only team with one win under their belts, as they currently sit at a 1-8-0-0 record. They have an opportunity to change that in Prince George on Wednesday night. Five teams (Regina, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Kelowna, and Tri-City) have only two wins early in the season.

8 – Rumours are flying around that the 33rd overall pick at the 2020 CHL Import Draft, Brad Lambert is contemplating a move to North America and the Saskatoon Blades. Lambert played 13:11 in JYP’s 5-3 loss in Liiga action in Finland on Saturday. A reason rumors are flying is his lack of ice time, and barely 13 minutes for an NHL Draft eligible forward is low. He has one goal and one assist in 11 league games this season. General Manager Colin Priestner also shot down rumours of his potential arrival. Don’t bet on him coming to Saskatoon.

9 – Saskatoon would need to part ways with one of Egor Sidorov or Moritz Elias. Both are playing well and producing points. Neither player can be traded until December 1 so there will definitely be some interesting developments in bridge city should Lambert head there. Again, don’t bet on it.

10 – The Red Deer Rebels are scoring goals at a torrid pace and have already surpassed 2020-21’s four-win season. The sky is the limit for this team and Steve Konowalchuk has the team firing on all cylinders. They have scored 36 goals through 10 games, good for the third-most goals in the WHL.

11 – Despite a slightly higher than normal price tag, 20-year-old Blake Stevenson was a shrewd pick-up by Rebels General Manager Brent Sutter. With his focus solely on the general manager’s duties, will we see more deals like this for the Rebels down the stretch? Stevenson has four goals and six assists through 10 games. He’s likely had the biggest impact of all the trades that have happened so far this season. Don’t forget Sutter also added 18-yer-old Kai Uchacz for a second-round 2021 WHL Prospects Draft pick. He has two goals and six assists through 10 games.

12- Raiders fans are growing restless as the team continues to slide despite receiving two import players last week. Tikhon Chaika allowed four goals on 28 shots in his debut and Vladislav Shilo was held off the score sheet in both weekend games. The team had a similar start last season and got themselves into a would-be playoff position over the final half of the season. The East Division’s third spot is not out of reach as the Brandon Wheat Kings have only four more points than the Raiders.

13 – Medicine Hat Tigers fans have lots to be worried about while also being excited for one of their own. Cole Sillinger has scored one goal and added an assist in five games with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Even if the team decides to send him down before the end of the season, chances are the 18-year-old will head back to the USHL as the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL technically own his rights. There could be some interesting lobbying happening in the gas city should he be released by the Blue Jackets. The team’s 4-4-0-1 start is not where fans are used to seeing the Tigers.

14 – 68 WHL alumni have earned at least one point in the NHL this season. 78 WHL alumni playing in the AHL have also earned at least one point. The WHL remains one of the premier development leagues for professional players in the entire world. Leon Draisaitl leads the NHLers with four goals and seven assists in five games while Alexander True leads all AHLers with four goals and three assists through four games.

15 – To no one’s surprise, 18-year-old goaltender Braden Holt leads the league in goals-against average. Since the 2014-15 season, an Everett Silvertip has come first or second in goals against average. His 1.32 GAA is closely followed by 18-year-old Detriot Red Wings draft pick Sebastian Cossa of the Edmonton Oil Kings (1.37) and 18-year-old Lochlan Gordon of the Portland Winterhawks (1.53).

16 – Team BC defeated Team Alberta at the 2021 WHL Cup held in Red Deer, AB over the last week. Several players stood out over the course of the tournament but Miguel Marques of Team BC led all scorers with five goals and five assists in five games. Teammates Jordan Gavin (4G, 5A) and Tomas Mrsic (4G, 5A) were also in the top three. Goaltender Evan Gardner also of Team BC stood out with a 2-0-0-0 record, a 1.00 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage.

17 – The calls for Regina Pats Head Coach Dave Struch‘s head are growing louder in Regina. The Pats are 2-7-0-0 and in the midst of a seven-game losing skid. Only nine players have goals on the Pats and 16-year-old wunderkind Connor Bedard has just four goals and three assists in nine games. He’ll also miss time at Canada’s World Junior Championship Training Camp, and likely the tournament itself. Finding linemates for the speedy centre has proven difficult. General Manager John Paddock must also be feeling the pressure. Paddock’s contract expires after this season and it is unlikely he will receive an extension. Could the Semple family make a move early to save the season?

18 – Be careful betting on the Prince George Cougars. While the team is riding a four-game win streak, all four wins have come against the Victoria Royals, giving them a 4-3-0-0 record early in the season. After a game against the Royals on Wednesday, the Cougars will play the other three teams in the BC Division. Will they remain over .500 on the season? Time will tell in the usually tough BC Division.

19 – More transparency is required at this level for the fans, parents, and players. When teams are moving players around can we please have them be more forthcoming with information? Did you release the player from your 50-man roster? Just your active roster? Did you find them a place to play or did they do it with their agent? Fans have been craving more information, especially in the digital age, and in 2021-22 with attendance dwindling, now is the time to open the floodgates with information.

20 – Ronin Geraghty, the Prince Albert Raiders 2004-born goaltender that was recently released from the team has resurfaced with the PJHL’s (BC Junior B) Grandview Steelers. The Raiders have to be happy to have found him a place to play meaningful minutes and become the starting goaltender, although the league is considered to be two levels lower than the WHL. Hopefully, the young man’s confidence gets a boost.

21 – Now that the dust has mostly settled following the WHL’s overage roster player date has passed, this year’s oldest player is Victoria Royals defenseman Neithan Salame who was born on January 1, 2001. As of today, he is 20 years, nine months, and 25 days old. Spokane Chiefs forward Jake Guelj is the youngest current roster player at 15 years, 10 months, and 21 days old.

22 – We’re embarking on something very interesting in the coming months. WHL teams will be able to make trades for the upcoming WHL Prospects Draft in season. This will make the run to the Ed Chynoweth Cup even more interesting as teams will be able to deal away picks to assist in their immediate run. Teams will know what they are getting in a player based on the current season and will also be able to have a better idea of the kids they are giving up drafting on. If you are asking me, the WHL should keep their draft during the month of December.

Thanks for checking this out! Please feel free to leave a comment!