The calendar has turned to yet another exciting WHL season, bringing with it the optimism and hope of a new year.
Some teams are banking on their younger cores to take the next step and rise to prominence, while others are looking to extract every last ounce of production from their more experienced, contending rosters.
One significant change in the WHL this year is the relocation of the Winnipeg Ice to the Wenatchee Wild, moving them from the Eastern Conference to the US Division in the Western Conference.
This adjustment increases the conference’s size to 11 teams, which means that three teams will now miss the playoffs out west, in contrast to the usual two – a departure from the pattern that has persisted throughout the entirety of the Royals’ existence thus far.
Now, let’s take a look at the five teams in the BC Division, presented in alphabetical order.
Kamloops Blazers
Last year: 48-13-4-3, 1st in Division
NHL drafted players: Jakub Demek (Vegas), Emmitt Finnie (Detroit), Connor Levis (Winnipeg), Fraser Minten (Toronto)
The Kamloops Blazers were the hosts of last year’s Memorial Cup and boasted a team that lived up to that standard. They had an impressive roster with eleven NHL draft picks, but despite their potential, they fell short of their Championship goals, reaching a disappointing Conference Final.
However, that was last year.
This year, Kamloops is expected to take a step back. Star forward Logan Stankoven, who had an impressive 99 points in 46 games last year, has graduated to the Dallas Stars’ pro system, along with reigning WHL Defenseman of the Year, Owen Zellweiger, who has moved on to the pros with the Anaheim Ducks.
This holds true for many of their NHL-drafted players as well.
While they should still perform well, the Blazers now have the second-youngest team in the BC Division this year, with an average age of 17.79. They will undoubtedly lack experience.
It remains to be seen whether the next generation can maintain the team’s performance or if Kamloops is headed for the slow decline that is often hard to avoid in these cyclical CHL leagues.
Kelowna Rockets
Last year: 27-37-4-0, 4th in Division
NHL drafted players: Andrew Cristall (Washington), Caden Price (Seattle)
The Kelowna Rockets took a step backward last year, and that trend may continue. Despite having star forward Andrew Cristall, who lit up the league with 95 points at just 17-years-old last year, the Rockets could still struggle to generate meaningful offense.
Tij Iginla, a former 9th overall pick in the 2021 WHL Draft by Seattle and the son of former Calgary Flames star Jarome Iginla, will aim to join forces with Cristall on the offensive front.
The Rockets dominated the BC Division for nearly seven years, from 2013 to 2018, even winning the Championship in 2015. However, their recent lack of high selections in the top two rounds may start to catch up with the team, as it appears to be happening now.
The Royals will keep a close eye on the Rockets as they seek to climb out of the basement.
Prince George Cougars
Last year: 37-24-6-1, 2nd in Division
NHL drafted players: Ty Young (Vancouver), Riley Heidt (Minnesota), Koehn Ziemmer (Los Angeles)
The Prince George Cougars had their best season in 8 years last year, securing 37 wins and claiming 2nd place in the BC Division. Historically, they have often been at the bottom of the Western Conference, but this season, the Cougars appear poised to contend with a strong core of NHL-drafted players who still have time left in their WHL careers.
Leading this charge is Riley Heidt, who was selected 64th overall in the recent NHL draft. He had an outstanding season last year at just 17-years-old, amassing 97 points in 68 games and setting a franchise record for assists in the process. Heidt is known for his speed, physicality, and impressive playmaking abilities.
Prince George is also fortunate to have elite goaltending, relying heavily on Canucks draft pick Ty Young to keep them competitive even in challenging situations.
While last year’s Cougars were prolific scorers, they also conceded a significant number of goals. If they can make meaningful improvements to their defensive game, they will be a formidable opponent throughout the season. Scoring goals should not be a problem for them.
Vancouver Giants
Last year: 28-32-5-3, 4th in Division
NHL drafted players: Samuel Honzek (Calgary), Jaden Lipinski (Calgary)
The Vancouver Giants have been a consistently average team lately, maintaining a .500 record over the past four seasons, showing varying levels of performance from decent to somewhat poor.
It won’t be surprising if this trend continues, especially since their top scorer from last year, Ty Thorpe, was an overaged player who won’t be returning this season.
Despite these challenges, there is some promise for the team. Samuel Honzek, the Flames’ first-round draft pick in 2023, is looking to build on a strong season as a 17-year-old. He plays a power game and is expected to be a formidable presence in the Division throughout the season.
Another Flames draft pick from 2023, Jaden Lipinksi, selected in the 4th round, brings substantial size to the center position at 6 feet 4 inches. There’s potential for him to make significant progress as he continues to develop physically.
Nonetheless, it could be a challenging year ahead for Vancouver.
Victoria Royals
Last year: 17-43-6-2, 5th in Division
NHL drafted players: Justin Kipkie (Arizona), Kalem Parker (Minnesota)
The Victoria Royals have embarked on a complete rebuild over the past few seasons, and the effects have been evident in their performance. The payoff for enduring such hardship is high draft picks, but unfortunately, the Royals missed out on some of them due to earlier trades made during their competitive years in 2018 and 2019.
However, those rewards are gradually materializing.
The Royals are set to field a strong defensive unit, led by the recently NHL-drafted players Justin Kipkie and Kalem Parker. Overaged goaltender Braden Holt will bring stability to the net, while the goaltender of the future, 16-year-old Jaden Kraus, will compete with Nicolas Cristiano for backup starts.
On the offensive front, good health will be essential. Brayden Schuurman returns as a 19-year-old and aims to rediscover his goal-scoring form after an injury-riddled campaign. Reggie Newman and Tanner Scott will be relied upon to contribute significantly to the team’s offense.
Royals fans have plenty of reasons to be excited, particularly the integration of 16-year-old Cole Reschny into the lineup.
Expectations should be tempered for a player of his age, but he joins the Royals as the highest draft pick in team history (3rd overall in 2021) and dominated AAA Midget hockey in Saskatchewan last year at just 15 years old. Watching him adapt to playing alongside some of the best players on this side of Ontario will be a treat.
If the Royals can make meaningful improvements on the offensive side of the game, this year’s goaltending and defensive units should perform better. Victoria could find themselves competing for a playoff spot this year, having last qualified for the playoffs four years ago, although two of those playoff opportunities were canceled due to COVID.
The home opener is just days away!
The Royals will welcome the Cougars to town for their first two home games of the season this Friday, September 29th, and Saturday, September 30th.
Get your tickets here!
