Western Conference eyes Memorial Cup in Kelowna
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The Western Conference will have 12 teams for the first time as the Western Hockey League expands to Penticton this season.
Here’s a capsule look at each team.
Teams have to reduce to three overagers and three imports, with one exception. Some final rosters weren’t posted before press time, so the final cuts weren’t available.
Everett Silvertips forward Carter Bear celebrates a goal last season, something the team hopes he’ll be doing lots of this winter. (Andy Glass/Everett Silvertips)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
B.C. DIVISION
KAMLOOPS BLAZERS
• Head coach: Shaun Clouston.
• General manager: Shaun Clouston.
• Overagers: D Ryan Michael, D Rhett Ravndahl, F Jordan Keller, F John Szabo.
• Imports: G Ivans Kufterins (Latvia, 2007), F Vit Zahejsky (Czechia, 2007).
• Goalies: Ivans Kufterins (2007), Logan Edmonstone (2007), Madex Kabrud (2008).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: After a couple of real tough seasons, the Blazers should be back in the playoff hunt this season. Nathan Behm and Jordan Keller will have to step up if signed Detroit prospect Emmitt Finnie doesn’t return.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 24-39-4-1, 4th in division, 10th in conference.
2023-24: 20-42-3-3, 6th in division, 11th in conference.
2022-23: 48-13-4-3, 1st in division, 2nd in conference.
2021-22: 48-17-3-0, 1st in division, 2nd in conference.
2020-21: 18-4-0-0, 1st in division.
KELOWNA ROCKETS
• Head coach: Derrick Martin
• General manager: Bruce Hamilton.
• Overagers: D Mazden Leslie, D Carter Kowalyk.
• Imports: F Tomas Poletin (Czechia, 2007), F Daniel Pekar (Czechia, 2006).
• Goalies: Jake Pilon (2006), Nathan Kam (2007), Harrison Boettiger (2007), Linden Sobocan (2009).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: The Rockets, who were the second worst team in the WHL a year ago, were awarded the Memorial Cup in May. You can expect one of the great buying sprees in league history over the next four months as they try to build a competitive roster.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 18-44-4-2, 5th in division, 11th in conference.
2023-24: 33-30-4-1, 2nd in division, 5th in conference.
2022-23: 27-37-4-0, 4th in division, 8th in conference.
2021-22: 42-20-1-5, 2nd in division, 5th in conference.
2020-21: 10-5-1-0, 2nd in division.
PENTICTON VEES
• Head coach: Fred Harbinson.
• General manager: Fred Harbinson.
• Overagers: F Matteo Danis, F Ryden Evers, F Brady Birnie, D Nolan Stevenson.
• Imports: D Jiri Kamas (Czechia, 2007).
• Goalies: Jesse Sanche (2006), Marek Schlenker (2006), Andrew Reyelts (2006).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: It’s hard to know what to expect from the first-year club, which has the one advantage of being able to dress four overagers instead of three. WHL rookie Nolan Stevenson of Shaunavon, Sask., will serve as the first captain.
• Five-year glance: Expansion club.
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS
• Head coach: Mark Lamb.
• General manager: Mark Lamb.
• Overagers: F Kooper Gizowski, D Aleksey Chichkin, D Bauer Dumanski.
• Imports: D Arseni Anisimov (Russia, 2007), G Alexander Levshyn (Russia, 2007), F Dmitri Yakutsenak (Russia, 2007).
• Goalies: Joshua Ravensbergen (2006), Alexander Levshyn (2007), Brady Holtvogt (2007).
• Westman connection: F Carson Carels (Cypress River, 2008).
• The lowdown: The Riley Heidt-Koehn Ziemmer era is over in PG, although they have an outstanding young prospect in the second-year defenceman Carels. Ravensbergen will need to be very good.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 41-21-4-2, 2nd in division, 4th in conference.
2023-24: 49-15-1-3, 1st in division, 1st in conference.
2022-23: 37-24-6-1, 2nd in division, 4th in conference.
2021-22: 24-39-4-1, 3rd in division, 6th in conference.
2020-21: 9-10-2-1, 4th in division.
VANCOUVER GIANTS
• Head coach: Parker Burgess.
• General manager: Hnat Domenichelli.
• Overagers: F Ty Halaburda, D Ethan Mittelsteadt.
• Imports: F Adam Titlbach (Czechia, 2006), F Tobias Tomik (Slovakia, 2007), Jan Skok (Czechia, 2006).
• Goalies: Ryan Tamelin (2006), Burke Hood (2007), Owen Lunneborg (2007), Oliver Bryks (2009).
• Westman connection: G Burke Hood (Brandon), Jordan Murray (Decker, 2006).
• The lowdown: Cameron Schmidt enters his 18-year-old season, and the Dallas prospect could take off. Hood was a revelation in his rookie WHL season. Things are trending upward for Vancouver.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 34-26-8-0, 3rd in division, 6th in conference.
2023-24: 32-32-4-0, 3rd in division, 6th in conference.
2022-23: 28-32-5-3, 3rd in division, 7th in conference.
2021-22: 24-39-5-0, 4th in division, 8th in conference.
2020-21: 12-10-0-0, 3rd in division.
VICTORIA ROYALS
• Head coach: James Patrick.
• General manager: General Manager.
• Overagers: D Cosmo Wilson, F Reggie Newman, F Roan Woodward.
• Imports: None.
• Goalies: Ethan Eskit (2006), Cole Prelusky (2008), Seth Badry (2009).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: Victoria was battered by the NCAA rule change, losing their top defencemen in Justin Kipkie and Keaton Verhoeff, and their two top forwards, Cole Reschny and Teydon Trembecky. They were a top contender with everyone back, but appears a reset is coming.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 40-17-4-7, 1st in division, 2nd in conference.
2023-24: 29-30-5-4, 4th in division, 7th in conference.
2022-23: 17-43-6-2, 5th in division, 9th in conference.
2021-22: 23-39-5-1, 5th in division, 9th in conference.
2020-21: 3-17-1-1, 5th in division.
U.S. DIVISION
EVERETT SILVERTIPS
• Head coach: Steve Hamilton.
• General manager: Mike Fraser.
Kaden Allan (6) of Hamiota celebrates a victory with his Spokane Chiefs teammate, goalie Carter Esler. Both are back for their second seasons. (Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs)
• Overagers: F Nolan Chastko, F Zachary Shantz, D Rylan Pearce.
• Imports: F Julius Miettinen (Finland, 2006), F Matias Vanhanen (Finland, 2007), D Jakub Seidl (Czechia, 2007).
• Goalies: Raiden LeGall (2006), Finn Werner (2008), Evan Enck (2009).
• Westman connection: F Nolan Chastko (Brandon, 2005), F Cole Temple (Brandon, 2007), D Kaeson Fisher (Brandon, 2007), GM Mike Fraser (Brandon).
• The lowdown: The Silvertips will once again be a favourite to win it all. Exceptional status defenceman Landon DuPont lived up to the hype and enters his second season. Carter Bear, Miettinen and Temple will lead the offence.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 48-12-4-4, 1st in division, 1st in conference.
2023-24: 45-18-2-3, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference.
2022-23: 33-32-2-1, 4th in division, 6th in conference.
2021-22: 45-13-5-5, 1st in division, 1st in conference.
2020-21: 19-4-0-0, 1st in division.
PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS
• Head coach: Kyle Gustafson.
• General manager: Mike Johnston.
• Overagers: F Alex Weiermair, F Tyson Yaremko, D Carter Sotheran.
• Imports: G Ondrej Štěbeták (Czechia, 2007), D Max Pšenička (Czechia, 2007).
• Goalies: Ondrej Štěbeták (2007), Sergio Davidson (2008), Nixon Mah (2009), Tyler DiCarlo (2009), Blake Clark (2009).
• Westman connection: D Cole Slobodian (Brandon, 2006).
• The lowdown: The Hawks lost two of their top scorers in Diego Buttazzoni and Josh Zakreski to the NCAA but bring back the explosive Weiermair. They always find a way to reload rather than rebuild.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 36-28-3-1, 3rd in division, 5th in conference.
2023-24: 48-15-4-1, 1st in division, 2nd in conference.
2022-23: 40-20-5-3, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference.
2021-22: 47-16-3-2, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference.
2020-21: 13-8-3-0, 2nd in division.
SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS
• Head coach: Matt O’Dette.
• General manager: Bill La Forge.
• Overagers: D Ashton Cumby, F Coster Dunn, F Maddux Martin.
• Imports: D Radim Mrtka (Czechia, 2007), F Matej Pekar (Czechia, 2007), G Marek Sklenicka (Czechia, 2008).
• Goalies: Grayson Malinowski (2007), Marek Sklenicka (2008).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: After winning their second league title in seven years in 2023, Seattle took an expected step back. Forwards Braeden Cootes and Coster Dunn will make them a fun team to watch.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 30-33-3-1, 5th in division, 8th in conference.
2023-24: 27-38-2-1, 5th in division, 9th in conference.
2022-23: 54-11-1-2, 1st in division, 1st in conference.
2021-22: 44-18-4-2, 3rd in division, 4th in conference.
2020-21: 10-12-0-1, 3rd in division.
SPOKANE CHIEFS
• Head coach: Brad Lauer.
• General manager: Matt Bardsley.
• Overagers: F Sam Oremba.
• Imports: G Linus Vieillard (Germany, 2006), F Assanali Sarkenov (Kazakhstan, 2006), F Elias Pul (Germany, 2006).
• Goalies: Linus Vieillard (2006), Carter Esler (2008)
• Westman connection: D Kaden Allan (Hamiota, 2008), Nolan Saunderson (Brandon, 2008).
• The lowdown: Spokane enters the season as another promising group, in large part due to star forward Berkly Catton. They graduated a lot of offence but Sam Oremba and Mathis Preston will be sparkles up front.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 45-20-1-2, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference.
2023-24: 30-32-5-1, 4th in division, 8th in conference.
2022-23: 15-43-4-6, 5th in division, 10th in conference.
2021-22: 24-39-4-1, 4th in division, 7th in conference.
2020-21: 6-10-4-1, 4th in division.
TRI-CITY AMERICANS
• Head coach: Jody Hull.
• General manager: Bob Tory.
• Overagers: D Carter Savage, F Jake Gudelj.
• Imports: F Tomas Racz (Slovakia, 2007), F David Krcal (Czechia, 2007), D Jakub Vanecek (Czechia, 2008).
• Goalies: Ryan Grout (2007), Ryler Gates (2008), Xavier Wendt (2008).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: Losing defenceman Jackson Smith certainly hurts, and trading their leading scorer, Czech forward Max Curran, didn’t help the offence. Savin Virk and Gavin Garland will be counted on for offence.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 32-29-6-1, 4th in division, 7th in conference.
2023-24: 23-42-2-1, 6th in division, 10th in conference.
2022-23: 34-26-5-3, 3rd in division, 5th in conference.
2021-22: 19-43-6-0, 5th in division, 10th in conference.
2020-21: 7-12-0-0, 5th in division.
WENATCHEE WILD
• Head coach: Don Nachbaur.
• General manager: Bliss Littler.
• Overagers: F Dawson Seitz, F Sam Elliott, F Shaun Rios.
• Imports: D Michal Capos (Slovakia, 2007), G Tobias Tvrznik (Czechia, 2007)
• Goalies: Cal Conway (2007), Tobias Tvrznik (2007), Mark Djomo (2009).
• Westman connection: John Fluker (Boissevain, 2006).
• The lowdown: Losing defenceman Reid Andresen and forward Luka Shcherbyna to the NCAA didn’t help as the Wild continue to dig their way out of the Winnipeg Ice mess. Their top returning scorer, Shaun Rios, will need to make another big jump in production.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 23-36-8-1, 6th in division, 9th in conference.
2023-24: 34-30-4-0, 3rd in division, 4th in conference.
2022-23: 57-10-1-0, 1st in division, 1st in conference.
2021-22: 53-10-3-2, 1st in division, 1st in conference.
2020-21: 18-5-1-0, 2nd in division.