WHL’s Eastern Conference at a glance
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Here is a look around the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference, based on team rosters.
Ten teams have not posted their regular season rosters — less than 60 hours before the puck drops — so some capsules are based pre-season rosters.
All teams have to reduce to three overagers and three imports. Brandon’s capsule will run in Friday’s paper.
Brandon Wheat Kings forward Jimmy Egan and Swift Current Broncos defenceman Jace McFaul chase the puck during Western Hockey League action at Assiniboine Credit Union Place on Nov. 5, 2025. Both players are back as Swift Current looks to move up in the standings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EAST DIVISION
MOOSE JAW WARRIORS
• Head coach: Scott King.
• General manager: Jason Ripplinger.
• Overagers: D Brady Ness, F Casey Brown.
• Imports: F Jan Trefny (Czechia, 2008), D Rasmus Kamarainen (Finland, 2007)
• Goalies: Kyle Jones (2007), Jordan Switzer (2007), Dylan Mingo (2010).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: After winning the championship in 2024, the Warriors have been slowly rebuilding, a process was set back when they couldn’t trade injured captain Lynden Lakovic for younger assets. They’ll be looking to take a step forward but it likely won’t be a big one.
• Five-year glance:
2025-26: 25-36-5-2, 5th in division, 9th in conference
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 championship.
2022-23: 41-24-0-3, 3rd in division, 4th in conference.
2021-22: 37-24-4-3, 2nd in division, 4th in conference.
PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS
• Head coach: Ryan McDonald.
• General manager: Curtis Hunt.
• Overagers: F Carson Dyck, F Evan Smith, F Maddix McCagherty.
• Imports: G Michal Orsulak (Czechia, 2007), F Alisher Sarkenov (Kazakhstan, 2007), D Oskars Luks (Latvia, 2008).
• Goalies: Michal Orsulak (2007), Brady Holtvogt (2007), Steele Bass (2008).
• Westman connection: Athens Shingoose (Waywayseecappo, 2010).
• The lowdown: The Raiders lost their top two defenceman, rugged captain Justice Christensen and silky smooth Daxon Rudolph, but return forwards Brandon Gorzynski, Riley Boychuk and Jonah Sivertson. Watch for Brock Cripps to become one of the top young defenders in the league.
• Five-year glance:
2025-26: 52-10-5-1, 1st in division, 1st in conference
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.
REGINA PATS
• Head coach: David Bell.
• General manager: Dale Derkatch.
• Overagers: F Keets Fawcett, F Zach Moore, F Ellis Mieyette, D Kolten Bridgeman.
• Imports: D Ossi Tukio (Finland, 2007), D Tomas Cermak (Czechia, 2008), F Samuel Karsay (Slovakia, 2008).
• Goalies: Taylor Tabashniuk (2007), Drake Mooney (2009).
• Westman connection: Goaltending coach Max Paddock (Brandon), assistant coach Del Pedrick (Brandon/Souris).
• The lowdown: Highly touted young stars Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue enter their 16-year-old seasons, and the Pats look ready to jump back into the fray. They’ll go as far as their goaltending can take them.
• Five-year glance:
2025-26: 25-34-7-2, 4th in division, 7th in conference
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.
SASKATOON BLADES
• Head coach: Dan DaSilva.
• General manager: Colin Priestner.
• Overagers: F Hunter Laing, D Tyrone Sobry.
• Imports: G Martin Psohlavec (Czechia, 2008), F Yegor Gusev (Russia, 2007), F Konstantin Hutzinger (Austria, 2007).
• Goalies: Taye Timmerman (2007), Martin Psohlavec (2008), Max Hartel (2010), Bracken Larocque (2010).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: Star goalie Evan Gardner has graduated so they’ll be looking for lots from the six-foot-six Psohlavec. Laing, Hayden Harsanyi and Copper Williams lead up front, and the Blades still have a deep blue-line.
• Five-year glance:
2025-26: 34-27-5-2, 3rd in division, 6th in conference
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.
SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS
• Head coach: Travis Crickard.
• General manager: Travis Crickard.
• Overagers: F Trae Wilke, F Jacob Beaulieu, D Hyde Davidson.
• Imports: D Yuri Vlasenko (Russia, 2010), F Oliver Torkki (Finland, 2008), F Stepan Farushev (Russia, 2009).
• Goalies: Cal Conway (2007), Archer Cooke (2007), Aiden Eskit (2008), Wyatt Reinmer (2010).
• Westman connection: Director of scouting Chad Leslie (Elkhorn/Clear Lake).
• The lowdown: The Broncos scored a league-low 179 goals last season, and until that issue is solved, expectations are low. Brendan Rudolph, Trae Wilke and Zach Pantelakis will need to lead the way.
• Five-year glance:
2025-26: 15-44-4-5, 6th in division, 10th in conference
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.
CENTRAL DIVISION
CALGARY HITMEN
• Head coach: Dustin Friesen.
• General manager: Cass Bruni.
• Overagers: F Charlie Kresl
• Imports: F Andrei Molgachev (Russia, 2008), D Jakob Leander (Sweden, 2007), F Artem Katsuro (Russia, 2009).
• Goalies: Eric Tu (2008), Aidan Hesse (2008), Donagh Esler-Twiss (2010).
• Westman connection: Hockey operations advisor Garry Davidson (Virden), D Maden Simard (Brandon, 2008).
• The lowdown: The Hitmen have graduated some massive pieces but always seem to find a way. Molgachev will be a key piece of the offence, and Tu was outstanding in the playoff series win over Brandon last spring.
• Five-year glance:
2025-26: 38-21-8-1, 3rd in division, 4th in conference
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.
EDMONTON OIL KINGS
• Head coach: Jason Smith.
• General manager: Michael Chan.
• Overagers: D Dylan Ronald, F Kaslo Ferner, G Ethan Simcoe.
• Imports: F Olli Wahlroos (Finland, 2008), F Jonas Vanicek (Czechia, 2009).
• Goalies: Ethan Simcoe (2006), Parker Snell (2008), Elias Mitrikas (2010).
• Westman connection: D Ryan Gower (McCreary, 2007).
• The lowdown: The Oil Kings took a big jump last season but weren’t great late and fell in the first round of the playoffs. They’ll likely struggle to score 287 goals again, which was fourth best in the league, but have veteran goaltending and some nice pieces on the back end.
• Five-year glance:
2025-26: 45-18-3-2, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference
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 championship.
LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES
• Head coach: Matt Anholt.
• General manager: Barclay Parneta.
• Overagers: F Kade Duell, F Owen Berge, D Nathan Maloney.
• Imports: F Oliver Sichtar (Czechia, 2008), F Oliver Vanha (Czechia, 2009), D Dominick Byrtus (Czechia, 2009).
• Goalies: Koen Cleaver (2007), Leif Oaten (2009).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: Lethbridge continues to find its way back after pushing in its chips in during the 2024-25 campaign and finishing 23rd in the WHL last season. Their ability to score will dictate how far they move up.
• Five-year glance:
2025-26: 17-47-3-1, 5th in division, 11th in conference
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.
MEDICINE HAT TIGERS
• Head coach: Willie Desjardins.
• General manager: Willie Desjardins.
• Overagers: D Dayton Reschny, F Luke Cozens, F Josh Evaschesen, F Cam Parr.
• Imports: F Yaroslav Bryzgalov (Belarus, 2007), D Denis Pasler (Russia, 2008), F Arvid Drott (Sweden, 2007).
• Goalies: Carter Casey (2007), Cash Christie (2009), Ben Meyer (2010).
• Westman connection: None (Meyer was born in Brandon but grew up in Regina).
• The lowdown: The Ruck twins, Liam and Markus, and Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll enter their 18-year-old seasons and could put up crazy numbers. The Tigers lose the offence of defencemen Bryce Pickford and Jonas Woo but look to be among the favourites again anyway.
• Five-year glance:
2025-26: 50-10-5-3, 1st in division, 2nd in conference
2024-25: 47-17-3-1, 1st in division, 1st in conference, won WHL championship.
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.
RED DEER REBELS
• Head coach: Brent Kisio.
• General manager: Brent Sutter.
• Overagers: F Luc Trevors.
• Imports: D Matus Lisy (Slovakia, 2007), D Jiri Kamas (Czechia, 2008), D Zeb Lindgren (Sweden, 2007).
• Goalies: Matthew Kondro (2007), Peyton Shore (2008), Nathan Salisbury (2008).
• Westman connection: None.
• The lowdown: Scoring has been issue for a couple of years, although Cameron Kuzma and Poul Anderson may have big years. They’ll be young and Kisio is their fifth head coach in the last five years.
• Five-year glance:
2025-26: 26-36-4-2, 4th in division, 8th in conference
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.