Western Hockey League teams pretty much all arrived at the 36-game mark as the Christmas break in the schedule arrived. Regular season play starts up again tonight with 11 games on the slate.
When we last collaborated about the B.C. Division, at the quarter pole in early November, the Victoria Royals had a significant lead in the standings.
Well, things have certainly changed.
The Kelowna Rockets (20-11-2-1) have caught the Royals, and although both teams have 20 wins, the Rockets sit atop the division standings based on points percentage. Kelowna (.632) has two games in hand on Victoria (.597).
The Rockets lineup is also as healthy as it has been all season long, though Dillon Dube nursed a tender shoulder during Hockey Canada’s selection camp. Kole Lind has returned from a bout of mononucleosis.
Only second year forward Erik Gardiner remains sidelined by an upper body injury, thought to be concussion-related after being hit in the head by a puck a few weeks ago. Despite his absence, Kelowna is the fifth highest scoring team in the WHL.
Victoria (20-13-3) has stumbled these past six weeks, appearing early on as an unthreatened front-runner. In comparison to its 7-0 start out of the gate, the team’s 13-13-3 record since then seems rather pedestrian. In fact, since our Quarter Pole update on Nov. 9, the Royals have gone 7-8-2.
A deal in early December to acquire forward Noah Gregor from the Moose Jaw Warriors cost the Royals forward Ryan Peckford, but it is the core group of 19 year olds that will have to take the reigns for the Royals during the second half.
The Vancouver Giants (18-13-2-2) have been on a tear of late, winning six straight heading into the break. They are well over the .500 mark for the first time in recent memory. The Giants have become a fast, tenacious and tireless group and may be in the process of leaving both the Kamloops Blazers and Prince George Cougars in the dust this season.
Kamloops (16-17-0-1) has rebounded from a horrible 0-9 start to post a 16-8-0-1 run for 33 points in the standings. The Blazers are one point out of a wild card playoff berth through 34 games and speculation is rampant that the organization could be big sellers at the trade deadline.
Prince George (12-17-3-2) is simply mediocre at this point, with one of the biggest talking points of late being a potential trade of elite defenceman Dennis Cholowski. If the Cougars are focused on planning for the future, moving Cholowski for a package of prospects and draft picks would seem logical, given the 19-year-old is likely to play professionally next season in the Detroit Red Wings system.
Our panel has collaborated to bring you our following player recognition, based on performances over the first half of the season.
Top Forward: Matthew Phillips
Draft history:
2013 WHL Bantam Draft – Victoria Royals, Round 2 (#33)
2016 NHL Draft – Calgary Flames, Round 6 (#166)
Phillips was also our panel’s pick at the Quarter Pole. He continues to lead the division in scoring with 24 goals and 29 assists in 36 games.
The Royals seem to have been living and dying with him lately. When he is “zeroed out” of the game, Victoria has been slow to get its other offensive parts moving. While the Royals have sputtered slightly in the second quarter of the season, it has not been the fault of their captain. Snubbed by Hockey Canada in early December, Phillips may be even more motivated as the season wears on.
Honourable mention: Dillon Dube, Kelowna Rockets
Top Defenceman: Cal Foote
Draft history:
2013 WHL Bantam Draft – Kelowna Rockets, Round 2 (#43)
2017 NHL Draft – Tampa Bay Lightning, Round 1 (#14)
Foote continues to show his pedigree. In the coming weeks, his absence rather than his presence in the Rockets lineup, may indicate just how important a cog he is in Kelowna.
Foote, who checks in at 6’4 and 210 pounds, has earned a spot with Team Canada for the 2018 WJC. He handles himself with efficiency at both ends of the rink and he is scoring at a point per game pace with six goals and 24 assists in 30 outings, while compiling a plus-12 rating.
Honourable mention: Dennis Cholowski, Prince George Cougars
Top Goaltender: David Tendeck
Draft history:
2013 WHL Bantam Draft – Kelowna Rockets, Round 2 (#43)
With his play of late, the 18-year-old has perhaps laid claim to the starter’s role ahead of capable Todd Scott, yet one wonders how the inner-competition might be aiding the development of both Vancouver netminders.
The 6’2, 173-pound Tendeck has compiled a tidy 2.90 goals against average and a .913 save percentage in 20 appearances, placing him among the top goaltenders statistically in the entire WHL. He has a solid 12-6-2 record for the resurgent Giants.
Honourable mention: Griffen Outhouse, Victoria Royals
Top Rookie: Bowen Byram
Draft history:
2016 WHL Bantam Draft – Vancouver Giants, Round 1 (#3)
He continues to impress with his poise and maturity, looking like a true blue-chip prospect. Byram, from Cranbrook, brings the full skills package to the Giants roster and has looked sharp so far in Vancouver.
Byram checks in at 6′, 173 pounds. He has appeared in 24 games, scoring twice and adding 10 assists with a plus-7 rating.
Honourable Mention: Brodi Stuart, Kamloops Blazers
Top 20-Year-Old: Ty Ronning
Draft history:
2012 WHL Bantam Draft – Vancouver Giants, Round 1 (#15)
2016 NHL Draft – New York Rangers, Round 7 (#201)
Ronning has been a major contributor to the Giants good play in recent weeks. With 184 shots, the 5’9, 172-pound forward leads the WHL and is dangerous whenever the puck is in his possession.
Through 35 games, he has scored 31 goals and added 15 assists for 46 points and a plus-16 rating. Ronning scored in 11 straight games through November, setting a club record. The league record of 18 straight games is held by Cliff Ronning, Ty’s father.
Honourable mention: Carsen Twarynski, Kelowna Rockets
Top Import Player: Milos Roman (VAN)
Draft history:
2016 CHL Import Draft – Vancouver Giants, Round 1 (#6)
The 18-year-old from Slovakia has been a pleasant surprise at both ends of the ice this season.
Offensively, Roman has scored eight goals and added 21 assists in 33 games. Primarily playing at centre for the Giants, Roman continues to find his way in the faceoff circle, winning 48.3% of his draws. A very key contributor to the Giants recent turnaround, the 5’11, 187-pound forward has demonstrated versatility alongside veteran teammates and leads by example as a tenacious checker. Roman is occupied for the next week or so at the WJC in Buffalo.
Honourable mention: Libor Zabransky, Kelowna Rockets
Surprise Team: Vancouver Giants
What’s not to like about a perennial cellar-dwelling group doing everything it can to qualify for a playoff spot?
The Giants have indeed become a “fun to watch” team. The return of a healthy Tyler Benson has been huge, along with the offensive consistency of 20-year-old Ty Ronning. While the “name guys” are obvious keys, the Giants are getting important contributions from the entire roster.
2018 Top Prospects Game
A pair of players from the B.C. Division have been invited to the annual Sherwin Williams Top Prospects Game.
Milos Roman, along with Eric Florchuk of the Royals will travel to Guelph, Ontario for the festivities at the Sleeman Centre on January 25.
Draft Eligible players to watch
Kyle Topping (C) Kelowna Rockets
5’11, 185 pounds
13 – 23; 36 points. Plus-13 in 34 games
Draft history: 2014 WHL Bantam Draft – Kelowna Rockets, Round 11 (#220)
NHL Central Scouting: “C” Rated
Jackson Leppard (LW), Prince George Cougars
6’2, 196 pounds
7 – 7; 14 points. Plus-3 in 31 games
Draft history: 2015 WHL Bantam Draft – Prince George Cougar, Round 1 (#8)
NHL Central Scouting: “C” rated
Libor Zabransky (D) Kelowna Rockets
6’1, 189 pounds
1 – 13; 14 points. Plus-6 in 34 games
Draft history: 2017 CHL Import Draft – Kelowna Rockets, Round 1 (#51)
NHL Central Scouting: “C” Rated
