Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
Forward Tyler Coulter, who led the Brandon AAA Midget Wheat Kings in scoring last season, has returned as a 16-year-old. (FILE PHOTO)
As training camps open this weekend around the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League, here is a look at the three Westman teams playing in the league’s Western Division:
Brandon Wheat Kings
After some growing pains last season, the Wheat Kings finished in second place in the division with a record of 23-21. With a lineup that featured more than a dozen rookies on any given night and the potential to bring back as many as 13 players this season, last year’s tribulations could be this year’s triumphs.
"We’re going to set the bar higher for this group of players," said Wheat Kings head coach Ken Schneider, adding that a deep run in the playoffs last season, making it all the way to the league semifinal, should be an experience the group can rally around.
"It was a great experience for our guys to go that deep and something they will be able to draw from this year as it progresses," Schneider said.
The Wheat Kings will feature the deepest crop of forwards in the league, returning the team’s leading scorer, Tyler Coulter, who finished with 26 goals. Coulter will be joined by 15-plus goal scorers Brandon Switzer, Brett Kitt and Duncan Campbell.
Third-year player Ty Webber will anchor a defence corps that will includes Carter McMurdo and potentially Jaxon Elmes and Braden Pettinger, depending on junior camp cuts. The group could also be bolstered by rookies James Shearer, Braden Compton and Jesse Lawrence.
In net, the tandem of Justin Holder and Tyler Gutenberg is back, but could be pushed at camp by Reid Stallard.
"It’ll be competitive and we think we have some of the best goaltending in AAA Midget hockey across the province this year," Schneider said.
The Wheat Kings will play their first exhibition game against the Southwest Cougars on Wednesday at the Sportsplex at 8 p.m.
Southwest Cougars
It will be a season of flux for the Cougars this year. Gone are the top three scorers from a team that dominated the division last year, racking up a 35-9 record.
Gone are top defencemen Jordan Greig, who graduated last season, and Jordan Thomson, who is slated to play in the Western Hockey League for the Kamloops Blazers after being selected fourth overall in the WHL bantam draft two years ago.
Gone is head coach Troy Leslie, who takes over the Virden Oil Capitals in their inaugural season in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, replaced by Chris Johnston, who coached the Brandon A&W Bantam AA Wheat Kings to an 18-9-2-1 record last season.
"We’re going to be young this year and that’s not a bad thing for us," Johnston said.
On offence, the Cougars will need bigger contributions from Sheldon Kowalchuk and Cameron Whyte; on defence, Brady Chyzyk will be asked to fill the void.
Also gone is the goaltending tandem of Gage Murray and Brian Archibald, who combined for a GAA under 2.00. However, with at least 15 goalies entering camp, it may be Tyson Verhelst who has the inside track at landing the No.1 job.
Verhelst, who was a third-round selection of the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL this year, is widely considered the best goaltending prospect in Manitoba.
"We’re going to have some ups and downs because we are young, but at the end of the day our goaltending and defence is going to be very strong and that might lead to a few extra wins," Johnston said.
The Cougars will host a pre-season tournament featuring 10 teams that runs from Sept. 19 to 23 in Souris.
Yellowhead Chiefs
The Chiefs only graduated three players from a team that finished 13-31 last season. With a healthy group of players expected to return and a new face behind the bench, the Chiefs are poised to climb the standings.
"I’m excited about the opportunity to coach and it should be a great group of kids to work with, so it should be fun," said new Chiefs head coach Chad Facey.
Up front, the Bowles twins — Bradley and Shawn —will look to build on successful rookie seasons, while the Sanheim twins — forward Taylor and defenceman Travis — will provide scoring and leadership from the back end.
While the pairs of twins represent the core of the team, Facey also expects some fresh legs to add energy this season.
"We should have a veteran group, but there is also some good young talent that is coming through in their first year and we’ll be looking at them in camp," Facey said.
In net, Jaylan Blad and Matthew Short are both back, but could be pushed by a group of strong young goalies in the area.
"There should be some choices to be made," Facey said. "As a new coach there is no job that is safe."
The Chiefs begin the exhibition season against the Wheat Kings on Sept. 17 at the Sportsplex at 8 p.m.
» ctweed@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition September 7, 2012
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As training camps open this weekend around the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League, here is a look at the three Westman teams playing in the league’s Western Division:
Brandon Wheat Kings
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As training camps open this weekend around the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League, here is a look at the three Westman teams playing in the league’s Western Division:
Brandon Wheat Kings
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