A look at the WHL’s Eastern Conference
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Note: Teams have to reduce to three overagers and three imports. Some final rosters weren’t posted before press time.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EAST DIVISION
Brandon Wheat Kings forward Brady Turko (71) tries to keep the puck out of reach of Saskatoon Blades defenceman Brayden Klimpke (4). Klimpke is part of Saskatoon’s talented group of 18-year-old blue-liners. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
BRANDON WHEAT KINGS
• Note: An enhanced capsule will run in Friday’s paper.
MOOSE JAW WARRIORS
• Head coach: Mark O’Leary.
• General manager: Jason Ripplinger.
• Overagers: D Aiden Ziprick, F Ethan Semeniuk, F Pavel McKenzie.
• Imports: F Dominik Pavlik (Czechia, 2007), F Jan Trefny (Czechia, 2008).
• Goalies: Matthew Hutchinson (2006), Josh Banini (2006), Kyle Jones (2007), Cade Mitchell (2009).
• Westman connection: Aiden Ziprick (Russell, 2005), Cole Dupuis (Brandon, 2008).
• The lowdown: After winning the championship in 2024, the Warriors have done a good job of recouping assets, but more deals and another tough year could be coming. Big forward Lynden Lakovic is worth the price of admission alone.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 15-45-6-2, 6th in division, 11th in conference.
2023-24: 44-21-0-3, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference, won title.
2022-23: 41-24-0-3, 3rd in division, 4th in conference.
2021-22: 37-24-4-3, 2nd in division, 4th in conference.
2020-21: 8-13-3-0, 6th in division.
PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS
• Head coach: Ryan McDonald.
• General manager: Curtis Hunt.
• Overagers: F Brayden Dube, F Aiden Oiring, F Harrison Lodewyk, D Justice Christensen.
• Imports: Michal Orsulak (Czechia, 2007), Matyas Man (Czechia, 2006), F Alisher Sarkenov (Kazakhstan, 2007).
• Goalies: Dimitri Fortin (2006), Michal Orsulak (2007), Steele Bass (2008).
• Westman connection: Brayden Dube (Roblin), Jonah Lemoine (Brandon, 2008).
• The lowdown: The Raiders are a talented squad that should be among the favourites. A big key is getting good goaltending after three seasons of the since graduated Max Hildebrand carrying the mail.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 39-23-5-1, 1st in division, 2nd in conference.
2023-24: 31-32-2-3, 4th in division, 8th in conference.
2022-23: 28-37-3-0, 6th in division, 11th in conference.
2021-22: 28-35-4-1, 5th in division, 8th in conference.
2020-21: 9-11-3-1, 4th in division.
REGINA PATS
• Head coach: Brad Herauf.
• General manager: Dale Derkatch.
• Overagers: F Kaden Brown, D Ephram McNutt, G Kelton Pyne.
• Imports: D Manuel Schams (Germany, 2006).
• Goalies: Kelton Pyne (2005), Taylor Tabashniuk (2007).
• Westman connection: Assistant coach Ken Schneider (Brandon), goaltending coach Max Paddock (Brandon), senior advisor John Paddock (Oak River).
• The lowdown: Dale Derkatch takes over from former GM Alan Millar as the slow march to the top continues. Regina will have to wait for a year to have young star Maddox Schultz in the lineup, but will have to score more now to be competitive.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 16-44-5-3, 5th in division, 10th in conference.
2023-24: 22-40-4-2, 5th in division, 11th in conference.
2022-23: 34-30-3-1, 4th in division, 6th in conference.
2021-22: 27-36-3-2, 6th in division, 9th in conference.
2020-21: 9-12-2-1, 5th in division.
SASKATOON BLADES
• Head coach: Dan DaSilva.
• General manager: Colin Priestner.
• Overagers: F Dominik Petr, F Tyler Parr, F Rowan Calvert.
• Imports: F Dominik Petr (Czechia, 2005), F Dustin Willhöft (Estonia, 2007), F David Lewandowski (Germany, 2007).
• Goalies: Ethan McCallum (2006), Evan Gardner (2006).
• Westman connection: G Ethan McCallum (Brandon, 2006).
• The lowdown: With scoring up front — including former Wheat King Dominik Petr — and great goaltending, they acquired veteran D-man Tristen Doyle to help bolster their group of four 18-year-olds. You simply can’t count out the Blades.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 37-23-4-4, 3rd in division, 6th in conference.
2023-24: 50-13-2-3, 1st in division, 1st in conference.
2022-23: 48-15-4-1, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference.
2021-22: 38-26-3-1, 3rd in division, 5th in conference.
2020-21: 16-5-2-1, 3rd in division.
SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS
• Head coach: Dean DeSilva.
• General manager: Chad Leslie.
• Overagers: G Joey Rocha, F Connor Dale, F Tony Wilson, F Connor Gabriel, D Marek Ročák.
• Imports: D Marek Ročák (Czechia, 2005), William Morin (Sweden, 2007).
• Goalies: Joey Rocha (2005), Berney Weston (2007), Aiden Eskit (2008).
• Westman connection: D Josh McGregor (Brandon, 2007), D Bryce Bryant (Virden, 2006), GM Chad Leslie (Elkhorn).
• The lowdown: The trade of Luke Mistelbacher and Grayson Burzynski to Brandon on draft day signalled the rebuild has begun in Swift. Key an eye on rookie forward William Morin: The Swede was a nice addition for the Broncos, who may struggle to score.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 35-30-1-2, 4th in division, 8th in conference.
2023-24: 40-22-4-2, 1st in division, 2nd in conference.
2022-23: 31-33-1-3, 5th in division, 9th in conference.
2021-22: 26-35-5-2, 4th in division, 10th in conference.
2020-21: 6-12-2-0, 7th in East Division.
CENTRAL DIVISION
CALGARY HITMEN
Brandon Wheat Kings forward Nick Johnson (62) watches the play in front of Prince Albert Raiders goalie Dimitri Fortin (33) last season. Fortin will have to step up for the Raiders after they graduated longtime starter Max Hildebrand. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
• Head coach: Dustin Friesen.
• General manager: Garry Davidson.
• Overagers: F Ethan Moore, D Axel Hurtig.
• Imports: D Teodor Vapenik (Czechia, 2007), F Maksim Diatchin, F Andrei Molgachev.
• Goalies: Anders Miller (2006), Aidan Hesse (2008), Eric Tu (2008).
• Westman connection: GM Garry Davidson (Virden).
• The lowdown: The Hitmen took a big swing at the conference title and then fell in seven games to Lethbridge in the semis. Ben Kindel has lost his high-scoring linemate Oliver Tulk, but will be relied on for his offence.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 45-17-3-3, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference.
2023-24: 28-31-8-1, 5th in division, 9th in conference.
2022-23: 31-29-5-3, 3rd in division, 7th in conference.
2021-22: 25-34-7-2, 5th in division, 11th in conference.
2020-21: 10-8-3-0, 3rd in division.
EDMONTON OIL KINGS
• Head coach: Jason Smith.
• General manager: Kirt Hill.
• Overagers: F Miroslav Holinka, F Brady Craik, F Niko Tsakumis.
• Imports: F Miroslav Holinka (2005), F Max Curran (2006), F Adam Jecho (2006).
• Goalies: Ethan Simcoe (2006), Parker Snell (2008), Rail Schollar (2009).
• Westman connection: D Ryan Gower (McCreary, 2007).
• The lowdown: The Oil Kings have gradually gotten better and better in recent years, and with other Central teams stepping back, could be in for a big jump. All eyes will be on 17-year-old Joe Iginla in his second season, and Winnipeg’s Gavin Hodnett is a treat to watch.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 37-27-2-2, 4th in division, 7th in conference.
2023-24: 27-37-3-1, 6th in division, 10th in conference.
2022-23: 10-54-4-0, 6th in division, 12th in conference.
2021-22: 50-14-3-1, 1st in division, 2nd in conference, won title.
2020-21: 20-2-0-1, 1st in division.
LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES
• Head coach: Matt Anholt.
• General manager: Peter Anholt.
• Overagers: F Shane Smith, F Logan Wormald.
• Imports: Tomas Malinek (Czechia, 2007), Mykolas Skadauskas (Lithuania, 2007).
• Goalies: Koen Cleaver (2007), Leif Oaten (2009).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: Lethbridge went for it last year, and subsequently graduated and lost a massive amount of talent. The interesting thing to watch is where the goals from outside Wormald.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 42-21-3-2, 3rd in division, 4th in conference.
2023-24: 33-28-7-0, 4th in division, 7th in conference.
2022-23: 36-26-3-3, 2nd in division, 5th in conference.
2021-22: 33-30-4-1, 3rd in division, 7th in conference.
2020-21: 9-12-3-0, 4th in division.
MEDICINE HAT TIGERS
• Head coach: Willie Desjardins.
• General manager: Willie Desjardins.
• Overagers: F Ethan Neutens, F Misha Volotovskii, D Josh Van Mulligen.
• Imports: D Veeti Väisänen (Finland, 2006), Niilopekka Muhonen (Finland, 2006), F Yaroslav Bryzgalov (2007).
• Goalies: Carter Casey (2007), Jordan Switzer (2007), Cruz Chase (2007), Cash Christie (2009), Quinn Beumer (2009).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: The Tigers would have been odds-on favourites to repeat if NCAA didn’t poach three of their top players. The Ruck twins and Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll enter their 17-year-old seasons and could be incredibly impactful.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 47-17-3-1, 1st in division, 1st in conference, won WHL title.
2023-24: 37-23-6-2, 2nd in division, 4th in conference.
2022-23: 30-29-8-1, 4th in division, 8th in conference.
2021-22: 11-53-3-1, 6th in division, 12th in conference.
2020-21: 14-8-0-1, 2nd in division.
RED DEER REBELS
• Head coach: Marc Habscheid.
• General manager: Brent Sutter.
• Overagers: F Brett Calhoon, F Talon Brigley, F Arjun Bawa.
• Imports: F Samuel Drancak (2006), D Matus Lisy (Slovakia, 2007).
• Goalies: Chase Wutzke (2006), Matthew Kondro (2007), Peyton Shore (2008).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: The Rebels struggled to score last season with just 174 goals, and the loss of Ollie Josephson late in the summer to the NCAA won’t help. Brigley and Ty Coupland will need to be really good up front.
• Five-year glance:
2024-25: 26-34-6-2, 5th in division, 9th in conference.
2023-24: 33-26-3-6, 3rd in division, 5th in conference.
2022-23: 43-19-3-3, 1st in division, 2nd in conference.
2021-22: 45-19-2-2, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference.
2020-21: 4-15-4-0, 5th in division.
» pbergson@brandonsun.com