WHL East Division preview

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS:

Last season: 39-28-1-4, third in East Division, sixth in Eastern Conference. Beat Calgary in first round of playoffs, lost to Edmonton in the conference semifinals.

General manager/owner: Kelly McCrimmon (24th season as GM).

Head coach: Dwayne Gylywoychuk (first season).

Assistant coaches: Darren Ritchie (sixth season), Brent Zelenewich (goaltending coach, first season).

Key losses: The top two scorers from last season, RW Mark Stone and LW Mike Ferland, are slated to play professionally as 20-year-olds, along with C Kevin Sundher. C Brenden Walker was traded to Saskatoon, while LW Darian Dziurzynski, C Paul Ciarelli and D Brodie Melnychuk graduated.

The 20-year-olds: C Nick Buonassisi and D Tyler Yaworski were added in off-season trades, and D Ryley Miller beat out LW Dominick Favreau for the final spot.

The imports: Swiss LW Alessio Bertaggia, who led returning forwards with 24 goals and 26 assists last season, is joined by Czech RW Richard Nejezchleb, who combines size (6-foot-2, 212 pounds) and skill.

Key returnees: G Corbin Boes was third in the WHL with a .916 save percentage last season, while Ryan Pulock (19G, 41A) and Eric Roy (11G, 42A) are two of the WHL’s top offensive defencemen. C Tyrel Seaman is a two-way power forward who is looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued season.

New faces: Buonassisi and Yaworski provide needed experience, while Nejezchleb could help replace some of the lost offence. D Colton Waltz has been arguably the best rookie so far, while a deep group of young forwards including C Tim McGauley, LW Geordie Maguire, LW Taylor Cooper, C John Quenneville, C Jayce Hawryluk and C/D Kord Pankewicz will try to make an impact.

Watch for: A more balanced attack than the offence that revolved around the line of Stone, Ferland and Walker (combined 300 points) last season, and an increased focus on defence from a club that tied for 15th in goals against in 2011-12.

Just notes: The Wheat Kings have made the playoffs 12 years in a row and 19 times in 20 seasons.

Did you know: Gylywoychuk is a rookie head coach, but was an assistant for nine years. The former defenceman also holds the club record of 323 games played.

The prognosis: The Wheat Kings need veterans like Seaman, C Jason Swyripa, RW Jens Meilleur and C Daniel Asham to develop offensively, plus contributions from their rookies. If they can get that and can tighten their team defence, there is enough talent for a 13th straight playoff appearance.

— Rob Henderson/Brandon Sun

MOOSE JAW WARRIORS:

Last season: 45-19-6-2, second in Eastern Conference, first in East Division. Lost in Eastern Conference final.

General manager: Alan Millar (first season, third in the organization).

Head coach: Mike Stothers (second season).

Assistants: Mike Vandenberghe, Mark O’Leary, Jamie Hodson (goaltenders).

Key losses: Kenton Miller, Cam Braes and James Henry (graduated), Quinton Howden (signed, Florida) and Cody Beach (signed, St. Louis) scored a combined 127 goals last season. D Dylan McIlrath (signed, New York Rangers) and import RW Eric Arnold are also gone.

The 20-year-olds: D Kendall McFaull will captain the team again. RW Justin Kirsch will be called on for offence. LW Austin Bourhis (free agent, Prince Albert) adds grit and toughness to the young forward group.

The imports: Just one: F Nikita Zagryadskiy is a 6-3 Russian who was a second-round CHL Import Draft pick.

Key returnees: Morgan Rielly will lead a deep and talented defence that includes McFaull and fellow NHL draft picks Travis Brown and Joel Edmundson of Brandon.

New faces: Much will be expected from C Brayden Point in his first WHL season after he scored seven goals in 14 playoff games last year. G Justin Paulic has three WHL starts, but two came in the conference final. Rookie G Daniel Wapple is also a ’95. D Reid Jackson, 19, came over in a trade (Prince George).

Watch for: Point to pick up where he left off in the playoffs and for Sam Fioretti, Andrew Johnson, Torrin White and Carter Hansen to pick up some of the offensive slack.

Just notes: The players who netted 153 of the 258 goals the Warriors scored last season are gone ... C Brayden Cuthbert, a Brandonite, was assigned to Melville of the SJHL this week. He hasn’t played since suffering a concussion in January of 2011 ... Vandenberghe and Hodson are both former Brandon Wheat Kings.

Did you know: Kirsch and Fioretti are the only current Warriors to have scored more than 20 goals in a WHL season.

The prognosis: The talented defence should keep the Warriors in games despite their youth in goal. Scoring will be a concern, but the Warriors should have enough depth and talent up front to make the playoffs in a rebuilding season.

— Matthew Gourlie/Moose Jaw Times-Herald

PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS:

Last Season: 21-45-3-3, last overall in the WHL. Missed playoffs.

General Manager: Bruno Campese (sixth season).

Head Coach: Steve Young (first full season as head coach, fifth overall).

Assistants: Dave Manson, Tim Leonard.

Key losses: The Raiders will miss leading scorer Justin Maylan (26-63-89) and fellow overager Kellan Tochkin (14-23-37). Michal Hlinka, one of the team’s imports, was told not to come back and D Tyler Yaworski was traded to Brandon.

The 20-year-olds: G Luke Siemens, C Anthony Bardaro and D Antoine Corbin.

The imports: This is where all the buzz is around the Raiders this year as 16-year-old German Leon Draisaitl, the second pick overall in the 2012 import draft, has led the team in pre-season scoring. The other import is returnee Jonas Knutsen of Norway.

Key returnees: Captain Mark McNeill is entering his fourth season with the Raiders and D Harrison Ruopp is anchoring the blue-line for a third campaign. C Mike Winther, who was drafted by the Dallas Stars in July, and sophomore D Josh Morrissey, a Canadian under-18 team member, is in his draft year.

New faces: Prince Albert made a pair of off-season trades with Moose Jaw, landing Siemens and 18-year-old D Shayne Gwinner.

Watch for: Three 16-year-olds remain on the roster as Reid Gardiner (Raiders first pick in 2011 bantam draft), Tim Vanstone and Spencer Meyer are looking for spots front. Another youngster to watch is 18-year-old Logan McVeigh.

Just notes: C Carson Perreaux of Brandon had two goals and five points in 43 games in his rookie season.

The prognosis: The Raiders will be stronger in goal and the defence should be improved. Scoring is still a concern, but the addition of Draisaitl will help and if Bardaro and Winther can pick up where they left off, the pressure will be off McNeill to be the go-to guy. Special teams will have to be improved, but if they are, the Raiders should challenge for a playoff spot.

— Dave Leaderhouse/Prince Albert Daily Herald

REGINA PATS:

Last season: 37-27-6-2, seventh in Eastern Conference. Lost in first round of playoffs.

General manager: Chad Lang (third season).

Head coach: Pat Conacher (second season).

Assistants: Malcolm Cameron, Josh Dixon, Rob Muntain (goalies).

Key losses: C Matt Marantz, D Artem Bidlevskii, D Brandon Davidson (all graduated). C Jordan Weal (signed, L.A. Kings) and D Martin Marincin (signed, Edmonton Oilers) are slated to turn pro.

The 20-year-olds: F Lane Scheidl and G Matt Hewitt, who won the starting job, are the locks among five candidates for three spots. RW Andrew Rieder is mending two shoulder injuries. D Colton Jobke (signed, Minnesota Wild) will try out for the AHL’s Houston Aeros. If Jobke returns, it could be bad news for D Brandon Underwood.

The imports: Swedish C Emil Sylvegard (32nd overall, 2012 CHL import draft) ... The Pats hold the rights to Czech F Dominik Volek, who is in the Swedish junior league.

Key returnees: Scheidl, Chandler Stephenson and Morgan Klimchuk lead an offence by committee that’s trying to weather the loss of Weal (116 points), who won the team scoring title by 61 points last season ... Hewitt gives Regina a legitimate starter ... Underwood and Jobke are proven blue-line leaders, but will both return?

New faces: Kade Pilton (trade, Victoria Royals), Tye Hand (Everett Silvertips) and Cole Hamblin (free agent) add size to the back end ... A trio of Junior A pickups could make an impact: G Teagan Sacher, who beat out veteran Adam Beukeboom for the backup job, and forwards Patrick D’Amico and Braden Christoffer ... Leading the rookie class is D Colby Williams and forwards Adam Brooks, Ty McLean and Henry Hardarson.

Watch for: Klimchuk and D Kyle Burroughs to have breakout seasons.

Just notes: Sylvegard, 19, played for the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs last season.

Did you know: Hardarson, 18, is a U.S. citizen who grew up in Sweden.

The prognosis: With key losses on the blue-line and the absence of superstar Weal, the Pats will be hard pressed to match last season’s surprise showing. A .500 record and another playoff appearance would constitute a victory.

— Greg Harder/Regina Leader-Post

SASKATOON BLADES:

Last season: 40-29-1-2, fifth in Eastern Conference, Lost in first round of playoffs.

Head coach/general manager: Lorne Molleken (ninth season).

Assistants: David Struch (seventh season, first as associate coach), Curtis Leschyshyn (first season).

Key losses: RW Jake Trask, RW Michael Burns and LW Jesse Paradis were all regulars on the Blades’ top two lines as overagers. Ryan Olsen, 18, was traded to Kelowna in May.

The 20-year-olds: LW Chris Collins was placed on waivers on Sept. 7, leaving RW Josh Nicholls, C/RW Brenden Walker and D Connor Cox as the overagers. Walker was acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings for three bantam draft picks in May.

The imports: Russian G Andrey Makarov and Czech LW Matej Stransky return as imports. Makarov was named team MVP last year, while Stransky recorded 81 points (up from 26 in 2010-11) to become the leading scorer.

Key returnees: In addition to Makarov and Stransky, the entire core is back. Defensively, Duncan Siemens, Darren Dietz and Dalton Thrower will lead the way again. C Lukas Sutter will continue to play a pesky, two-way style.

New faces: Joining Walker are offensive-minded C/RW Shane McColgan and gritty LW Jessey Astles, both picked up from Kelowna and LW Logan Harland, acquired Sept. 10 from Vancouver.

Watch for: Molleken to acquire at least one frontline forward and possibly a top-four defenceman by the January trade deadline to augment his 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup-hosting team.

Just notes: A player from a Memorial Cup-hosting team has played for Team Canada at the world junior championship every year since 2006.

Did you know: McColgan is from Manhattan Beach, Calif., but has many Saskatoon ties. His grandmother is from Saskatoon and his mother, Kelly, nearly made the 1984 Canadian Olympic swim team when she lived in the city. Kelly also dated then-Blades D Duncan MacPherson at the time and McColgan now lives with his parents.

The prognosis: The Blades were founded in 1964, but have yet to capture a championship of any kind. With 13 players born in 1993 or earlier currently on the roster, the pressure is on to finally get over the hump.

— Daniel Nugent-Bowman/Saskatoon StarPhoenix

SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS:

Last season: 27-37-2-6, 62 points, 10th in Eastern Conference. Missed playoffs for the second year in a row.

Head coach/general manager: Mark Lamb (fourth season).

Assistants: Darren Evjen (third season), Jamie Heward (first season).

Key losses: RW Taylor Vause (team captain, leading scorer, 83 points, graduated), LW Brad Hoban (53 points, graduated), G Jon Groenheyde (graduated).

The 20-year-olds: LW Chance Lund (recently acquired from Seattle), D Dalton Reum, LW Ryon Moser.

The imports: D Richard Nedomlel (third season, Czech Republic), G Eetu Laurikainen (first, Finland). Fans are excited by Laurikainen’s potential after he posted a 1.91 GAA and .923 save percentage in pre-season.

Key returnees: LW Adam Lowry, C Graham Black, LW Coda Gordon and D Reece Scarlett need to lead.

New faces: Solid drafts are starting to pay off with C Zac Mackay, C Dakota Odgers, and D Brycen Martin. Local LW Justin Spagrud, recently acquired from Victoria, is trying to crack the lineup. G Steven Myland and G Landon Bow are battling for the backup job.

Watch for: Lowry to have a monster year. Buzz at training camp was how well-conditioned and determined Lowry was. Could be a dominant power forward (6-foot-5 and 201 pounds) possessing equal scoring touch and nastiness.

Just notes: The Broncos have 10 19-year-olds, so trades are imminent. The team is happy with the youngsters, but may want to add more draft picks or veteran depth, depending on how the season unfolds.

Did you know: Mackay was the top pitcher in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA baseball league (10-1, 70Ks, won the AA provincial title).

The prognosis: If Gordon and Black score like they did last season and if Lowry has fully recovered, the Broncos will be fun to watch. A playoff berth this season should be attainable, which would be a boost for Lamb, who just received a three-year contract extension from the team.

— Ryan Dahlman/Prairie Post

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition September 20, 2012