WHL West preview
r The WHL opens its 44th regular season on Thursday, September 17th as the WHL Champion Kelowna Rockets begin defense of their title against B.C. Division rivals the Vancouver Giants at Prospera Place. The game will be broadcast LIVE across Western Canada on the SHAW television network starting with a preview show at 7:00pm PT.
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r As the 2009-10 season draws closer, fans can look forward to many exciting storylines: Will there be a 50 goal scorer this season? Who will shine among the rookies this year? Who will take this year’s scoring title? And which team will prevail as Ed Chynoweth Cup – WHL Champions?
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r Please find below and attached a team-by-team WHL Western Conference preview for the 2009-10 WHL season.
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r B.C. Division
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r Kelowna Rockets
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r 2009 pre-season: 2-3-0
r General Manager: Bruce Hamilton
r Head Coach: Ryan Huska
r 2008-09 Record: 47-21-1-3, 98 pts (2nd in B.C. Div., 3rd in Conf.) GF: 267 GA: 178
r 2009 Playoffs: WHL CHAMPIONS.
r 2008-09 Top Scorers:
r Colin Long 68gp-33g-58a-91pts
r Jamie Benn 56gp-46g-36a-82pts
r Cody Almond 70gp-33g-33a-66pts
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r Up Front: It will be a different-looking group of Rockets forwards that hits the ice on opening night of the 2009-10 season than the one that led the team to the 2009 WHL Championship. Gone are stars Jamie Benn, Cody Almond and Mikael Backlund as well as veterans Ryley Grantham and Ian Duval, leaving significant holes up front. The team could also lose top scorer Colin Long, should he sign with the Phoenix Coytotes and play in their system. Returning veterans Brandon McMillan, Kyle St. Denis and Lucas Bloodoff will need to step up and take on much more responsibility this season in the wake of losing so many impact players. Czech winger Stepan Novotny and feisty sparkplug Mitchell Callahan could also help fill the offensive holes, as could talented 16-year-old Shayne McColgan.
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r On The Blue Line: The Rockets will return many of the rearguards who helped the team to the 2009 WHL title. Guaranteed to return are 18-year-old veterans Tyson Barrie and Collin Bowman, and sophomores Curt Gogol and Aaron Borejko. In Barrie, a Colorado Avalanche prospect, the Rockets have one of the most effective offensive rearguards in the League. Bowman provides a steady presence in the defensive zone, while Gogol adds toughness to the blue line. The big question is whether or not All-Star Tyler Myers returns to the team. If the towering Buffalo Sabres prospect doesn’t stay in the NHL, he’ll surely be one of the most dominant forces in the WHL this season.
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r Goaltending: With veteran Mark Guggenberger and sophomore Adam Brown returning to the team, the Rockets are set in goal for the season. Although currently battling a nagging injury, Guggenberger is a proven quality starter in the WHL who led his team to a WHL championship while outdueling some of the best goalies in the League such as Chet Pickard, Tyson Sexsmith and Martin Jones. Brown, meanwhile, is a highly-rated NHL draft-eligible prospect who has the talent to be a solid and dependable starter in the WHL.
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r Player to Watch: Adam Brown
r A native of Yorba Linda, CA, Brown joined the Rockets as a 17-year-old rookie last season, and did nothing but impress. The 5’10”, 165-lb netminder posted an outstanding 18-5-1 record in 29 games with two shutouts, and an outstanding 2.02 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage to finish among the top netminders in both categories. One of the top goaltending prospects in the WHL for the 2010 NHL draft, Brown should be able to build on an excellent rookie season and help the Rockets in their quest to defend their 2009 WHL Championship.
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r Chilliwack Bruins
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r 2009 pre-season: 4-2-0
r General Manager / Head Coach: Marc Habscheid
r 2008-09 Record: 19-46-2-5, 45 pts (5th in B.C. Div., 9th in Conf.) GF: 154 GA: 267
r 2009 Playoffs: Did not qualify.
r 2008-09 Top Scorers:
r Ryan Howse 61gp-31g-13a-44pts
r Kevin Sundher 67gp-19g-20a-39pts
r Andy Smith 75gp-16g-22a-38pts
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r Up Front: The Bruins will look to greatly improve an offense that ranked last in the WHL last season. Fortunately, the team’s two most talented scorers, Ryan Howse and Kevin Sundher, are back and ready to put up much better numbers. Howse, a Calgary Flames prospect, scored 31 goals last season – 12 more than any other Bruins player – while Sundher impressed with 19 goals and 39 points as a 16-year-old rookie. Also back is 20-year-old veteran Andy Smith, who is capable of putting up points, and 19-year-old Swede Alexander Wiklund, who had 11 goals and 25 points last season. The Bruins are hoping Czech forward Roman Horak, a New York Rangers prospect, can add more to the team’s offense and help improve a power play that ranked last in the WHL last season.
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r On The Blue Line: The Bruins return six rearguards from last year’s squad, including 20-year-old veteran Jesse Craige and 19-year-old Brandon Manning. Manning has shown strong two-way ability, managing 11 goals and 29 points last season while playing a hard-nosed, rugged style as evident with his 140 penalty minutes. 20-year-old Mitch McColm was acquired from Tri-Cities to add more experience, toughness and defensive presence. The Bruins will need more from returnees Carter Berg and Scott Ramsay while 16-year-old top prospect Mitch Topping could also help the team improve their 17th-ranked defense from last year.
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r Goaltending: Last year’s tandem of 19-year-olds Mark Friesen and Lucas Gore return, giving the Bruins plenty of experience and strength in goal. Friesen and Gore posted similar numbers last season, with Friesen getting into 43 games compared with Gore’s 35 appearances. With two WHL-proven netminders to choose from, goaltending should be a strength for the Bruins.
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r Player to Watch: Kevin Sundher
r The Bruins’ first-round pick at the 2007 Bantam Draft, Sundher showed himself to be a game-breaking player and a go-to guy as a 16-year-old rookie last season, finishing second on the team in goals and points. The Surrey, B.C., product can skate very well, has excellent puck skills and offensive instincts, and doesn’t shy away from the physical side of the game. A consistent threat as a scorer or a playmaker, Sundher will be a key performer as the Bruins try to improve what was the 22nd-ranked offense in the WHL last season.
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r Kamloops Blazers
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r 2009 pre-season: 2-4-1
r General Manager: Craig Bonner
r Head Coach: Barry Smith
r 2008-09 Record: 33-33-2-4, 72 pts (3rd in B.C. Div., 6th in Conf.) GF: 242 GA: 277
r 2009 Playoffs: Lost in four games to Tri-Cities in first round.
r 2008-09 Top Scorers:
r C.J. Stretch 72gp-29g-57a-86pts
r Tyler Shattock 68gp-30g-39a-69pts
r Shayne Wiebe 72gp-32g-33a-65pts
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r Up Front: With five of their top six scorers from last season returning, plus the expected development of some of their young, up-and-coming stars, the Blazers should be one of the more dangerous offensive teams this season. Forwards C.J. Stretch, Tyler Shattock, Shayne Wiebe and Jimmy Bubnick combined for 116 goals last season, and will be expected to deliver similar, if not better numbers this year. Also back are talented Slovak Dalibor Bortnak and 17-year-old Brendan Ranford, both of whom could see strong increases in production with more responsibility this season. Rookies Dylan Willick, 17, and Colin Smith, 16, could also prove to be valuable to the Blazers’ attack.
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r On The Blue Line: The Blazers welcome back six rearguards from last season’s team, including veterans Giffen Nyren and Zak Stebner, who combined for 22 goals and 80 points from the blue line last season. While both will undoubtedly continue to provide offense, they’ll have to tighten up in their own zone to help the Blazers improve what was the 19th-ranked defense last season. 18-year-old sophomore Linden Saip adds some size and toughness to the Blazers’ defense corps while second-year rearguards Josh Caron and Brandon Underwood should see more responsibilities this season. The Blazers acquired mobile, puck-moving defenseman Bronson Maschmeyer from the Vancouver Giants, which should benefit the team this season.
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r Goaltending: Goaltending should be a strength for the Blazers this season, with both Justin Leclerc and Jon Groenhyde returning to the team. 20-year-old Leclerc has 183 regular-season games under his belt, and has proven to be one of the top netminders in the WHL. 18-year-old Groenhyde has shown plenty of potential, and should see more work this season. Both Leclerc and Groenhyde will benefit from a tighter defense in front of them.
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r Player to Watch: Brendan Ranford
r The Blazers’ first-round pick at the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, Ranford is poised to become an impact player for the Blazers in 09-10. The Edmonton, AB, product put up a respectable 13 goals and 27 points as a 16-year-old rookie last season, and added three assists in four post season games as well. A tireless worker and gritty competitor, Ranford possesses terrific vision and playmaking ability, and has a knack for making things happen when he’s on the ice. Playing with talented forwards like C.J. Stretch and Jimmy Bubnick, Ranford should be able to increase his production in his NHL Draft-eligible season.
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r Prince George Cougars
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r 2009 pre-season: 2-2-1
r General Manager: Dallas Thompson
r Head Coach: Dean Clark
r 2008-09 Record: 25-44-0-3, 53 pts (4th in B.C. Div., 8th in Conf.) GF: 188 GA: 298
r 2009 Playoffs: Lost in four games to Vancouver in first round.
r 2008-09 Top Scorers:
r Brett Connolly 65gp-30g-30a-60pts
r Cameron Cepek 69gp-8g-37a-45pts
r Dana Tyrell 30gp-19g-21a-40pts
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r Up Front: The Cougars will look to improve upon what was the 19th-ranked offense in the WHL last season. Fortunately, the Cougars return their leading scorer, Brett Connolly, who is poised for a terrific year. Having led the team with 30 goals and 60 points as a 16-year-old, Connolly could be a candidate to find himself among the WHL’s scoring elite this season. Aside from Connolly, the Cougars return just four players who topped the 10-goal mark last season. 20-year-old Tyler Halliday and 19-year-olds Parker Stanfield and Marek Viedensky will need to contribute considerably more to the offense while providing strong leadership. 19-year-old off-season acquisition James Dobrowolski and 20-year-old veteran Alex Rodgers should also be able to pitch in offensively.
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r On The Blue Line: Defensively, the Cougars will need significant improvement this season as they allowed the second-most goals of any team in the WHL last year. Veteran Dallas Jackson returns to provide an offensive element while looking to shore up his defensive game, while veteran Art Bidlevskii will look to improve his defensive zone play this season. Recent acquisitions Daniel Medlan-Marchen and Kurt Torbhorm from Kamloops should add depth to the Cougars’ blue line, while youngsters Jesse Forsberg and Bruin McDonald will look to find a regular spot in the defense corps. Improving their 19th-ranked penalty killing unit would go a long way to helping reduce the Cougars’ goals-against.
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r Goaltending: 18-year-old James Priestner, acquired from Brandon in the off-season, will look to assume the starting role in the Cougars’ cage. The Edmonton, AB, product posted a 17-7-2 record in 29 games for the Wheat Kings last season, and has two years experience in the WHL. 17-year-old prospect Michael Salmon is the team’s goaltending future, and will push Priestner for playing time this season.
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r Player to Watch: Brett Connolly
r The Cougars’ first-round pick at the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, Connolly starred for the Cougars as a 16-year-old rookie last season, scoring an impressive 30 goals and 60 points in 65 games to lead the team in scoring while winning both the WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year awards. A Prince George, B.C., product, Connolly has all the tools to be a special player at any level. With good size and strength, strong skating and quick feet, a hard and accurate shot, and character, heart and determination in abundance, Connolly is a player who makes an impact whenever he’s on the ice. Expect Connolly to rise to All-Star status for the Cougars this season.
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r Vancouver Giants
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r 2009 pre-season: 4-2-0
r General Manager: Scott Bonner
r Head Coach: Don Hay
r 2008-09 Record: 57-10-2-3, 119 pts (1st in B.C. Div., 1st in Conf.) GF: 319 GA: 151
r 2009 Playoffs: Lost in six games to Kelowna in Western Conference final.
r 2008-09 Top Scorers:
r Casey Pierro-Zabotel 72gp-36g-79a-115pts
r Evander Kane 61gp-48g-48a-96pts
r Brent Regner 70gp-15g-52a-67pts
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r Up Front: The Giants will miss the offensive wizardry of last year’s WHL scoring king Casey Pierro-Zabotel. However, they still return an impressive group of forwards who can provide a balanced offensive attack. Evander Kane should be able to challenge for the WHL goal-scoring and point-scoring titles this season, should he not stick with the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers. Also back are veterans Garry Nunn, Craig Cunningham and James Wright, who combined for 76 goals last season, and sophomores Andrej Kudrna and Brendan Gallagher, who could both see a jump in production this year. Veteran James Henry has the talent and ability to contribute much more to the offense, while hard-nosed winger Lance Bouma should be able to pitch in more scoring while continuing to play his rugged, physical style.
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r On The Blue Line: Losing high-end NHL prospects like Jonathon Blum, Brent Regner, Craig Schira and Nick Ross to graduation might decimate the defense corps of most WHL teams. However, the Giants have reloaded their blue line with talents like Vancouver Canucks prospect Kevin Connaughton, who defected from the NCAA to join the Giants, veteran Ryan Funk, and 16-year-old top prospect David Musil, whom all should be able to step into large roles this season. In addition, returning rearguards like Neil Manning, Dillon Scholten and Nolan Toigo will need to take on more responsibility while 16-year-old rookies Zach Hodder and Luke Fenske have shown promise and could play support roles should they find themselves in the Giants’ defensive plans.
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r Goaltending: The graduation of veteran Tyson Sexsmith to the pro ranks means Giants will have a new starting goaltender for the first time since the 2006-07 season. 18-year-old Jamie Tucker posted an outstanding 18-1-1 record with six shutouts, a 1.51 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage in 22 games as Sexsmith’s backup last season. He’ll have the upper hand in the battle to take over the starting job. Battling for a backup role are 18-year-old Mark Segal and 16-year-old prospect Brendan Jensen.
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r Player to Watch: Lance Bouma
r The Giants’ second-round pick at the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft, Bouma has emerged as one of the team’s most valuable players. The Provost, AB, product and Calgary Flames prospect boasts good size and strength, plays a punishing physical game, and has the leadership qualities and fearless attitude. Yet, Bouma also has good offensive abilities, and could develop into a key cog in the team’s attack this season.
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r U.S. Division
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r Everett Silvertips
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r 2009 pre-season: 5-1-0
r General Manager: Doug Soetaert
r Head Coach: Craig Hartsburg
r 2008-09 Record: 27-36-7-2, 63 pts (4th in U.S. Div., 7th in Conf.) GF: 199 GA: 259
r 2009 Playoffs: Lost in five games to Tri-Cities in first round.
r 2008-09 Top Scorers:
r Kellan Tochkin 72gp-20g-54a-74pts
r Shane Harper 72gp-32g-34a-66pts
r Byron Froese 72gp-19g-38a-57pts
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r Up Front: The Silvertips return their top five scorers as well as several other forwards from last season. Sophomores Kellan Tochkin, Byron Froese and Tyler Maxwell will look to build upon their strong rookie campaigns. Veteran Shane Harper enjoyed a breakout 32-goal season last year and will look to equal or better that goal total this season. Veterans Zack Dailey and Dale Hunt will also be counted on to contribute offense while other forwards like Paul Van de Velde, Markus McCrae and newcomer Corey Tyrell could also pitch in scoring. The ‘Tips will definitely need more scoring depth this year if they want to improve upon what was the League’s 16th-ranked offense last season.
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r On The Blue Line: The Silvertips return five rearguards with WHL experience, but only two with more than one season under their belts. Gone are veterans Taylor Ellington, Graham Potuer and Mike Alexander, meaning returnees like Chris de la Lande and veteran off-season acquisition Colin Scherger, should he stick with the team, will need to step into much bigger roles. De la Lande has strong offensive skills and could be an option on the power play. Look for recent CHL Import Draft picks Rasmus Rissanen and Radko Gudas to assume important roles on the blue line once they get accustomed to the WHL. 16-year-old Ryan Murray has impressed in pre-season play, and could be an asset this season if he finds himself in the ‘Tips’ plans.
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r Goaltending: 19-year-old Thomas Heemskerk and 17-year-old Kent Simpson return to man the cage in Everett, giving the ‘Tips a solid tandem in net. Heemskerk was acquired from Kootenay midway through last season and performed well for the ‘Tips, particularly in the post-season where he faced over 40 shots per game in their first-round loss to Tri-Cities. Simpson saw 27 games of action last season as a 16-year-old rookie, and appears to be the goalie of the future for the ‘Tips.
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r Player to Watch: Byron Froese
r Always one of the hardest-working players on the ice at any given time, Froese has the heart and determination that teams covet. The 18-year-old from Winkler, MB, enjoyed a strong rookie season last year, scoring 19 goals and 57 points in 72 games for the ‘Tips, and even suited up for Canada’s Under-18 team at the U-18 World Championship. The Chicago Blackhawks prospect might not dazzle with Pavel Datsyuk-like moves, but you’d be hard pressed to find a player who will battle as hard as Froese does, night in and night out.
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r Portland Winterhawks
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r 2009 pre-season: 5-1-0
r General Manager / Head Coach: Mike Johnston
r 2008-09 Record: 19-48-3-2, 43 pts (5th in U.S. Div., 10th in Conf.) GF: 176 GA: 288
r 2009 Playoffs: Did not qualify.
r 2008-09 Top Scorers:
r Chris Francis 66gp-21g-46a-67pts
r Luke Walker 71gp-29g-23a-52pts
r Radim Valchar 67gp-21g-20a-41pts
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r Up Front: With several of their top offensive players returning, plus the addition of a few top prospects, the Winterhawks are poised to make some noise in the offensive zone this season. Back are veterans Luke Walker and Chris Francis, the Hawks’ top two scorers from last season. Both could improve upon last season’s solid offensive numbers. Also returning are sophomores Colin Reddin, Oliver Gabriel and Brad Ross, who should be able to build on strong rookie campaigns last year. The Hawks should also get some offense from newcomers Spencer Bennett, a Calgary Flames prospect, and highly-touted scorer Ty Rattie. In addition, the Hawks boast three strong Europeans in Czech Radim Valchar, who scored 20 goals last season, Swiss prospect Nino Niederreiter and Swede Jacob Berglund. However, the team can only keep two of the three import players.
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r On The Blue Line: The Hawks may be young on the blue line this season, but there is plenty of talent and potential among the team’s defense corps. Veteran Travis Bobbee, 19, is the elder statesman and will need to provide strong two-way play and leadership. Towering 18-year-old Brett Ponich, a St. Louis Blues prospect, is set for a breakout season and could become a dominant force on the Hawks’ blue line. Sophomore Troy Rutkowski has shown good offensive instincts, and is a prime candidate for an increased workload this season. One of the Hawks’ proprieties will be to improve a penalty killing unit that has ranked at the bottom or near the bottom of the League for the last three seasons.
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r Goaltending: The Hawks have three netminders who could potentially take the starting role this season. Longtime incumbent Kurtis Mucha is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, and could potentially hold down the job for a fourth straight season. 19-year-old Ian Curtis has 40 games of WHL seasoning, including 17 with the Winterhawks last season, while 17-year-old Keith Hamilton got his feet wet, appearing in 10 games as a rookie last year. Whoever comes away with the starting job should benefit from an improved defense in front of them.
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r Player to Watch: Nino Niederreiter
r Drafted 2nd overall by Portland at the 2009 CHL Import Draft, Niederreiter is a forward who could make a big impact for the Winterhawks this season. The product of Chur, Switzerland, Niederreiter has a big frame, is a strong skater, and has very good puck skills. A leader on the Swiss Under-18 team at the World U-18 Championship, Niederreiter has been a point producer at every level. Expect Niederreiter to become an impact player for the Hawks sooner rather than later.
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r Seattle Thunderbirds
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r 2009 pre-season: 2-3-0
r General Manager: Russ Farwell
r Head Coach: Rob Sumner
r 2008-09 Record: 35-32-1-4, 75 pts (3rd in U.S. Div., 5th in Conf.) GF: 222 GA: 234
r 2009 Playoffs: Lost in five games to Spokane in first round.
r 2008-09 Top Scorers:
r Greg Scott 65gp-32g-44a-76pts
r Prab Rai 61gp-25g-40a-65pts
r Jim O’Brien 63gp-27g-35a-62pts
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r Up Front: A much different and younger group of forwards will hit the ice for the Thunderbirds this season. The departure of four of the team’s top five scorers from last season leaves plenty of room for younger players and newcomers to step in and show what they’ve got. Returning veterans Prab Rai and Lindsay Nielsen will be required to not only provide offense but strong leadership for the team. 18-year-old Californian Jonathan Parker should be able to improve upon a solid rookie season last year, and become a go-to guy for offense, while converted defenseman Sena Acolatse should be able to chip in offense while providing a physical presence as well. The T-Birds also hope Russian Mikhail Senturin and talented 16-year-old Colin Jacobs can step in and add scoring depth.
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r On The Blue Line: The T-Birds will miss the presence of All-Star Thomas Hickey on their blue line, but still return six rearguards from last year’s team. 20-year-old Jeremy Schappert is the elder statesman in the defense corps, and will need to take on a bigger role this season. Also back are 19-year-olds Stefan Warg, Brenden Dillon and Brad Haber. Big-bodied, two-way Swedish defender Warg should be able to have a bigger impact this year. 17-year-old Erik Fleming will look to earn himself a bigger role this season, while 18-year-old Steve Chaffin will look to bounce back after spending time on the injured list towards the end of last season.
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r Goaltending: The T-Birds have plenty of talent between the pipes, and will have some tough decisions to make as to who gets the starting job. 19-year-old Jacob DeSerres, a Philadelphia Flyers prospect, has shown himself to be one of the best goalies in the League with his past performances. However, highly-rated 17-year-old Calvin Pickard performed valiantly as a rookie last season, and stole the starting job from DeSerres. 19-year-old Kyle Jahraus is also in the mix for a spot in the T-Birds’ cage.
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r Player to Watch: Calvin Pickard
r The T-Birds’ second-round pick in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, Pickard is following in his older brother Chet’s footsteps in becoming a blue chip goaltending prospect. As a 16-year-old last season, Pickard’s performance was strong enough for him to supplant NHL-drafted Jacob DeSerres as the T-Birds’ starter. With good size, strong athletic ability, excellent fundamentals, and a calm and cool demeanor, Pickard may continue to follow his brother’s lead as a potential first-round pick in next summer’s NHL Entry Draft.
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r Spokane Chiefs
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r 2009 pre-season: 1-4-0
r General Manager: Tim Speltz
r Head Coach: Hardy Sauter
r 2008-09 Record: 46-23-0-3, 95 pts (2nd in U.S. Div., 4th in Conf.) GF: 244 GA: 145
r 2009 Playoffs: Lost in seven games to Vancouver in second round.
r 2008-09 Top Scorers:
r Drayson Bowman 62gp-47g-36a-83pts
r Mitch Wahl 63gp-32g-35a-67pts
r Tyler Johnson 62gp-26g-35a-61pts
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r Up Front: Although the Chiefs will miss the goal-scoring abilities of Drayson Bowman, who has moved on to the pro ranks, they still return a number of talented forwards who can put up points. 19-year-old Mitch Wahl, Tyler Johnson and Levko Koper will carry the bulk of the offensive load this season. The trio combined for 81 goals and 187 points last season and should be able to match or better that production this season. Also back is 20-year-old Dustin Donaghy, who is the only other returning forward to top the 10-goal mark last year. Donaghy will need to step up into a bigger offensive role this season. 17-year-old Blake Gal and 18-year-old David Conrad are also candidates to fill offensive roles this season, and the Chiefs hope Czech rookie Dominik Uher can contribute to the attack.
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r On The Blue Line: The Chiefs could return up to seven rearguards from last year’s team that owned the WHL’s best defense. 18-year-old Jared Cowen is back and hoping to put last season’s knee injury behind him. The Ottawa Senators prospect could be a dominant force on the blue line for the Chiefs this season. Also back is Swedish rearguard Stefan Ulmer, who can provide strong two-way play and run a power play. 20-year-old Jared Spurgeon will provide speed and offense from the blue line once he recovers from injury, while 19-year-old Mike Reddington, 18-year-old Cory Baldwin and 17-year-old Brenden Kichton will all add depth to what should be one of the better defense corps in the League.
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r Goaltending: The graduation of Memorial Cup and World Junior hero Dustin Tokarski leaves a massive hole in the Chiefs’ lineup. 19-year-old James Reid posted a 12-5-1 record with an outstanding .940 save percentage in 18 games as Tokarski’s backup last season, and will step in as the starter this season. 17-year-old rookie Chase Martin will slot into the backup role.
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r Player to Watch: Jared Cowen
r After an outstanding rookie season in 2007-08, culminating in a Memorial Cup championship, Cowen was set to dominate in 2008-09 as one of the top-rated NHL Draft-eligible prospects available. However, his season was cut short by a serious knee injury in January that sidelined him until September. Despite the injury, Cowen still went ninth overall at the NHL draft, chosen by the Ottawa Senators. Now, with his injury problems hopefully behind him, Cowen looks to regain his place as one of the brightest defense prospects in the game.
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r Tri-City Americans
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r 2009 pre-season: 3-3-0
r General Manager: Bob Tory
r Head Coach: Jim Hiller
r 2008-09 Record: 49-20-0-3, 101 pts (1st in U.S. Div., 2nd in Conf.) GF: 263 GA: 184
r 2009 Playoffs: Lost in six games to Kelowna in second round.
r 2008-09 Top Scorers:
r Taylor Procyshen 72gp-36g-45a-81pts
r Jason Reese 69gp-31g-50a-81pts
r Mitch Fadden 63gp-37g-39a-76pts
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r Up Front: The departure of Taylor Procyshen, Jason Reese and Mitch Fadden means the Ams will need to find a way to replace 104 goals and 238 points the trio generated last year – not an easy task. Veterans Johnny Lazo, 20, Kruise Reddick, 19, and Adam Hughesman, 18, will need to step up and fill the void left by the graduation of Procyshen, Reese and Fadden. Lazo is the only returning forward who topped the 20-goal mark last season, while both Reddick and Hughesman have shown they can generate consistent offense. Also back are sophomores Justin Feser and Brendan Shinnimin, who will look to build off solid rookie seasons, and fellow second-year players Jordan Messier and Brooks Macek, who have the ability to take on more responsibility this season. Rookies Sergei Drozd and Patrick Holland are also candidates to contribute offense.
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r On The Blue Line: The Ams return six regulars from last season’s defense corps, including 20-year-old veterans Brett Plouffe and Jarrett Toll, and 19-year-old Tyler Schmidt. All three boast impressive two-way abilities, having combined for 34 goals, 109 points and a +75 rating. Schmidt also adds toughness and strength to help protect a smaller group of forwards. Also returning are veterans Lane Werbowski, Brock Sutherland and Riley McIntosh, who add experience and depth to the defense corps. Impressive rookies Zach Yuen and Drydn Dow could also step in and bolster the blue line.
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r Goaltending: With the graduation of back-to-back WHL Goaltender of the Year Chet Pickard, the Ams will look to new blood to fill the void in net. 18-year-olds Brett Martyniuk and Drew Owsley shared the backup role behind Pickard last season, and both posted similar numbers. Either one could take the starting job, though Owsley has performed quite well in pre-season action. Also in the mix is 19-year-old Joel Danyluk. The Ams are also hoping to see Russian netminder Alex Pechurski at some point, though he is under contract in the KHL.
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r Player to Watch: Justin Feser
r The Americans’ ninth-round pick in the 2007 Bantam Draft, Feser enjoyed an excellent first season in the WHL last year, earning the Ams’ Rookie of the Year award after posting 12 goals and 28 points as a 16-year-old. Not the tallest player, Feser is well-built and can handle the physical play and protect the puck. He’s also got a terrific shot, good vision and hockey sense, and the confidence to make plays. With the loss of Ams’ top scorers from last season, expect Feser to take on a much bigger offensive role this season.
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