With four teams posting records at least nine games above.500 as they approach the 60-game mark of the regular season, it can be argued the B.C. Division might be the deepest in the league.
Okay, it’s very close and its western conference adversaries in the U.S. Division might beg to differ.
So far, the B.C. Division has the edge in total wins, 152-151. On the other hand, how about average winning percentage? Give the U.S. Division the nod by a count of .600 to .574.
But drill down a bit and use only the top four teams in each division, those that will very likely comprise the group that advances to the post-season.
The numbers change.
The top four B.C. Division teams have combined for 134 wins and a .627 average winning percentage, while the top four in the U.S. Division check in with 128 wins and a .625 average winning percentage.
The conference playoff picture is surely quite clear at this point, excluding exact matchups. That is, unless the Spokane Chiefs can battle through a loser point system that makes its current seven-point deficit very difficult to overcome.
Another review of league statistics after play on Feb. 11 confirmed that half of the top ten goalies in the league reside in the B.C. Division. That’s based on goals against average. In fact, three of the top four in the WHL are the number one guy for their respective British Columbia based team.
These players will be crucial down the stretch and in the playoffs, where a hot goalie can steal games. Here’s a look at the past ten days, with a focus on the exploits of B.C. Division goalies.
Prince George Cougars (37-16-3-1…78 points)
Games remaining: 15
Divisional games: 7
Kelowna: 2; Victoria: 0; Kamloops: 5; Vancouver: 0.
Prince George has dropped three of its last four games against divisional opponents – all in the supposedly friendly confines of the CN Centre in B.C.’s northern capital. The Cougars are 4-4-1-1 in its last ten games.
Veteran goaltender Ty Edmonds has been the workhorse for PG this season, appearing in 42 games. During his first two seasons in the WHL, the Winnipeg native appeared in 55 and then 60 regular season games. Last year and this season, with capable youngster Nick McBride in tow, the Cats have been able to reduce the 20-year-old Edmonds workload.
Edmonds’ 2.47 goals against average is good for third spot among WHL goalies this season. He has posted a 26-12-2-1 record and a .915 save percentage. McBride, from Maple Ridge, B.C., has appeared in 18 games.
The tandem also has another nifty commonality. Each goalie has played in the CHL Top Prospects Game – Edmonds in 2014 at Calgary and McBride in 2015 at St. Catherines, Ontario.
The Cougars have an opportunity to get back on track at home this week as they host the Spokane Chiefs for a mid-week doubleheader. Then the Cats hit the road for a couple huge divisional games, visiting Kelowna on Saturday and Kamloops on Sunday.
Kamloops Blazers (34-18-2-4…74 points)
Games remaining: 14
Divisional games: 10
Prince George: 5; Victoria: 2; Kelowna: 1; Vancouver: 2.
Kamloops took three out of four points in Victoria against the Royals this past weekend to keep the Cougars in sight and maintain its lead for second place on the Kelowna Rockets. The Blazers are 3-0-0-2 in its last five games and 5-2-1-2 in its last ten.
Connor Ingram appears to have settled back in as the number one after perhaps a challenging December and January. It was an up and down experience for Ingram with Team Canada at the 2017 World Junior Championship, where the team earned a silver medal. After the tournament, Ingram was able to gear down for awhile at this home in Imperial, Saskatchewan. In his absence, Dylan Ferguson was outstanding in relief.
In 34 appearances so far, Ingram has posted a 2.21 goals against average and a league best save percentage of .932. He has compiled a 20-9-2-2 record and last week, earned his first career assist. Ingram has got to be a somewhat imposing figure in the Blazers net, a goalie that appears to force opponents to maybe get too fine with the puck. If Ingram can see it, he usually stops it.
The surprise has been Ferguson, from Lantzville, B.C., with 26 appearances this season. His goals against average is 2.71, but his .923 save percentage is second best in the WHL. At 14-9-0-2 on the season, Ferguson is a big reason why the Blazers were able to withstand the absence of so many key players between mid-December and the end of January.
Kamloops has logged a few miles over the past two weeks, through Washington state and over to Vancouver Island. The Blazers will host Portland this week, run down to Vancouver to face the Giants, then return home for a Sunday afternoon tilt against Prince George.
Kelowna Rockets (32-20-4-0…68 points)
Games remaining: 16
Divisional games: 8
Prince George: 2; Victoria: 2; Kamloops: 1; Vancouver: 3.
Kelowna is riding a two game winning streak and has gone 6-4 for its last ten games. Its last three games have not even been close as the Rockets were drubbed 6-0 in Kamloops, before clobbering the Vancouver Giants 6-0 in Kelowna and 5-0 in Vancouver on consecutive nights.
Michael Herringer is 9th among the league leaders in games played with 42 appearances so far. His 2.92 goals against average (10th) and .900 save percentage are perhaps not spectacular, but the 20-year-old has assuredly kept the Rockets in many games this season. The Comox, B.C. native has quietly and confidently compiled a 23-13-3 record this season.
While Herringer is the go-to-guy, Brodan Salmond is the number two with 18 appearances. Salmond’s confidence is growing, coming off back-to-back shutouts over Vancouver.
The Rockets have a huge week ahead, but they’ll sleep in their own beds for the next couple of weeks. Seattle pays a visit for a Family Day afternoon tilt, Spokane comes in on Friday and Prince George arrive on Saturday night. That’s two division leaders on the Rockets dance card this week, and a pesky Chiefs team that won in overtime the last time it played in Kelowna.
Victoria Royals (31-22-4-0…66 points)
Games remaining: 15
Divisional games: 8
Prince George: 0; Kamloops: 2; Kelowna: 2; Vancouver: 4.
Perhaps it will be a blessing of sorts for Victoria as they hit the road for awhile, as they have not won a home game in regulation time in their last four starts at Save On Foods Memorial Arena. Victoria is hanging in in the tough B.C. Division, going 6-4 in its last ten games.
Goaltender Griffen Outhouse leads the WHL with 52 appearances and will soon eclipse the 3,000 minutes played mark. He is the only goalie in the Dub with 30 wins so far, compiling a 30-19-3 record. His 2.63 goals against average is fourth best, as is his .921 save percentage. The Williams Lake native will celebrate his 19th birthday in mid-March.
He has been an absolute workhorse this season and it is apparent the Royals will ride Outhouse the rest of the way. He has faced the most shots in the league (1,633) and has made the most saves (1,504). The tandem of Dylan Miskiw and Dean McNabb behind Outhouse have not inspired tremendous confidence, although in fairness, Miskiw has just returned from a lower body injury. McNabb has been returned to Regina in the SAAAMHL.
Victoria will ride the ferry this week and play three games in four nights. They roll into Alberta to play Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. On the way back home, the Royals will stop in Cranbrook. Next home game for Victoria is Feb. 25, which is part of a three-in-three set, all against the Vancouver Giants.
Vancouver Giants (18-34-2-3…41 points)
Games remaining: 15
Divisional games: 9
Prince George: 0; Kamloops: 2; Kelowna: 3; Victoria: 4.
Vancouver dropped a couple games to Kelowna this weekend and look every bit a tired and downtrodden group. The young Giants, which have been decimated by key injuries, are 1-7-1-1 in its last ten.
Goaltender Ryan Kubic is, shall we say, facing plenty of rubber. Last season, Kubic appeared in 50 games and already this season he has 46 appearances. Developmentally, there should be some upside for the St. Andrews, Manitoba native, but it will not show in the win column.
The 18-year-old inspired enough confidence for the Giants to make him their second round selection at the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft. This season, his body of work includes a 3.53 goals against average, an .896 save percentage and a 14-25-2-3 record. His next appearance will be a milestone – his 100th career WHL game.
The Giants will play its next three games at home against the Tri City Americans, Red Deer Rebels and Kamloops.
