WHL Gameday Preview: Saturday, September 21st, 2019

DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: Calgary Hitmen @ Swift Current Broncos 7:00PM (MDT)

On the first Saturday night of the WHL season, we see a brand new divisional matchup as the Calgary Hitmen travel to Swift Current to take on their new Central Division rivals, the Broncos. With the divisions being realigned this past off-season due to the relocation of the Kootenay ICE to Winnipeg, this season the Broncos move from the WHL’s East Division to the Central and the ICE take their spot in the Central.

The Hitmen will look to continue their strong finish to last year, where they finished third in the tough Central Division while making it to the second round of the WHL Playoffs. This year’s Hitmen squad is very deep with all but last year’s captain, and the WHL’s third-leading goal-scorer (47 Goals) Mark Kastelic, still absent from the team as he is participating in Ottawa Senators training camp. James Malm, who tied Kastelic in points last year with 77, is back with the team but is nursing a lower-body injury after participating in the Calgary Flames training camp.

Calgary has a strong crop of defenceman including Philadelphia Flyers prospect Egor Zamula and 2018 Vancouver Canucks second-round draft pick Jett Woo, who will make his Hitmen debut after being acquired in the off-season from Moose Jaw.

After a 5-0-0-1 preseason, the Swift Current Broncos will look to carry that momentum into the regular season and rebound from an absolutely miserable year last season. The Broncos won only 11 games and ended up finishing last in the entire WHL. Winning the Western Hockey League title two seasons ago, the Broncos were decimated by the number of players that left the team either by trades or graduation.

This year’s Broncos team will be lead by newly-named captain, third-year forward Ethan Regnier. Regnier is one of only two remaining players from the 2018 championship team. Last year, he tied for the team lead in scoring with 31 points. Swift Current will also have a high profile draft pick in their lineup Saturday night as Kasper Puutio, who was selected first overall in the 2019 CHL Import Draft, will make his WHL debut. Also looking to have a big first full season with the Broncos is forward Carter Chorney. After being acquired last year from the Spokane Chiefs, Chorney will look to build off his 14 goals from a season ago.

Expected in goal:

  • Jack McNaughton (Calgary) — McNaughton will look to continue his strong play from a year ago where he finished his rookie year with an impressive 25 wins in 46 games played. 
  • Isaac Poulter (Swift Current) — Poulter will get the bulk of the workload in net this year for the Broncos after competing in 25 games a year ago. 

Other Action:

Victoria Royals 0-0-0-0 @ Everett Silvertips 0-1-0-0 7:05 PM (PDT)

After dropping a 4-2 opening night loss to Tri-City, Calgary Flames prospect and Everett Silvertips goalie Dustin Wolf looks to rebound as they host the Victoria Royals. After finishing second in the B.C. Division a year ago, Victoria had a very busy off-season, making 10 major transactions since the end of the 2018-19 campaign. 

Spokane Chiefs 1-0-0-0 @ Kelowna Rockets 0-0-0-0 7:05 PM (PDT)

Spokane forward Jake McGrew scored two goals including the game winner last night versus the Kamloops Blazers. McGrew and the Chiefs will look to make it two in a row in British Columbia as they travel to face the 2020 Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets who kick off their season. 

Lethbridge Hurricanes 0-0-0-1 @ Medicine Hat Tigers 1-0-0-0 7:30 PM (MDT)

After an exciting 4-3 opening night shootout victory in which five of the six shooters scored, Medicine Hat will look to make it two in a row over the Alberta rivals. Hurricanes goalie Carl Tetachuk will look to rebound after allowing all three shooters to score. 

Regina Pats 1-0-0-0 @ Moose Jaw Warriors 0-1-0-0 7:00 PM (MDT)

Pats forward Ty Kolle had two goals including the game winner, which helped Regina defeat Moose Jaw last night. The Warriors will look to slow him and the rest of the Pats down as they open up the home portion of their schedule.

Edmonton Oil Kings 0-0-0-0 @ Red Deer Rebels 0-0-0-0 7:00PM (MDT)

Central Division rivals pick up right where they left off from round one of the playoffs a year ago as Dawson Barteaux and the Rebels host Jake Neighbours and the Oil Kings. 

Prince Albert Raiders 0-0-1-0 @ Saskatoon Blades 1-0-0-0 7:00 PM (MDT)

After raising four new banners to the roof, the Raiders suffered a heartbreaking opening night loss to the Blades. Blades forward Ryan Hughes scored 17 seconds into overtime to secure a season-opening victory. Round two goes tonight, this time in Saskatoon.

Tri-City Americans 1-0-0-0 @ Portland Winterhawks 0-0-0-0 6:00 PM (PDT)

The Portland Winterhawks kick off their season as they play host to division rivals the Tri-City Americans. Tri-City won their opening contest last night vs. the Everett Silvertips 4-2, led by two goals from Nikita Krivokrasov.

Kamloops Blazers 0-1-0-0 @ Seattle Thunderbirds 0-0-0-0 6:05PM (PDT)

After a perfect preseason, Kamloops dropped their opening night contest 4-3 to Spokane last night. Rookie Logan Stankoven and the Blazers will look to rebound tonight vs. the Thunderbirds as Seattle opens their season.

Vancouver Giants 1-0-0-0 @ Prince George Cougars 0-1-0-0 7:00PM (PDT)

For the second straight night, the Cougars play host to the Giants and look to bounce back after last night’s 5-3 opening night loss. Cougars forward Tyson Upper had a strong opening night scoring twice.

Brandon Wheat Kings 0-1-0-0 @ Winnipeg ICE 1-0-0-0 7:30 PM (CDT)

The battle of Manitoba round two goes tonight as the ICE play their first ever game in Winnipeg. They are coming off a 3-2 opening night victory on the road against the same Wheat Kings team they face-off against tonight.