What a way to close out the the Western Hockey League season.
With the playoffs starting this week it took until the last day of the regular season to settle every seed. Heading into this past weekend, only the East and B.C. Divisions had been won and playoff spots and positioning were all on the line. There was drama in almost every rink this weekend.
Here’s how it all shook out:
Sportsnet Magazine’s Toronto
Blue Jays Special: From the heart of the order to the bottom of the bullpen, we’ve got this team covered in our preview issue. Download it right now on your iOS or Android device, free to Sportsnet ONE subscribers.
Central Division
The Medicine Hat Tigers had been in control of the Central for most of the season. But a huge second-half surge from the Calgary Hitmen tightened things up down the stretch. The two teams leapfrogged each other this weekend and Calgary needed a win on Sunday against Kootenay to edge the Tigers out. The Hitmen got a big goal from Travis Sanheim late in the third period to put them ahead and win the Central Division.
That means Calgary will play Kootenay in the first round of the playoffs. The Ice upset the Hitmen in the first round last year as a seven seed. Surely Calgary remembers that and will be looking for some revenge. Medicine Hat will have a tough first-round tilt with the Red Deer Rebels.
East Division
The Brandon Wheat Kings seemingly had the East wrapped up on opening day this year and cruised into the post-season with eight wins in their final 10 games. There was some drama for the Wheat Kings this weekend as they were battling with Kelowna for the Scotty Munro Trophy as the league’s top team. They were able to inch out the Rockets by two points. Brandon will open the playoffs Thursday by hosting the defending WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings.
Brandon Wheat Kings on Twitter
The Swift Current Broncos almost gave away the last playoff spot in the East, but bounced back to hold off the Moose Jaw Warriors. Jake DeBrusk was huge for the Broncos down the stretch (more on him later). They will take on the Regina Pats in the first round.
B.C. Division
The Kelowna Rockets lost out to Brandon for the top spot in the WHL, but they might have more to worry about with their injury situation. They have been playing without a couple of key players—most notably defenceman Josh Morrissey, who has been nursing a lower-body and hasn’t played since February. The Rockets finished the season with a somewhat pedestrian five wins in their final 10 games. Kelowna will begin the playoffs against goalie Eric Comrie and the Tri-City Americans.
How about the Prince George Cougars? They had three games with Kamloops down the stretch—the team they were fighting for the last playoff spot with. The Cougars won the first two to clinch their first playoff berth since 2011 and they will take on the Victoria Royals in a series that should be closer than it might appear on paper.
U.S. Division
They have to be kicking themselves in Portland these days. Two weeks ago, the Winterhawks were two points off the division lead, trailing Everett with two games in hand and a seemingly easier schedule. Then they dropped three key games and ended up losing out to Everett for the division title. Everett will now play Spokane in the first round while Portland will play its fiercest rival in Seattle. It’s the first time the two franchises have squared off in the post-season since 2006. This is as good as it gets in junior hockey.
Tri-City managed to scrape together a couple of wins, mainly behind the goaltending of Eric Comrie, to clinch the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Its prize? A date with Kelowna. Good luck Americans.
Bjorkstrand finishes strong
Portland’s Oliver Bjorkstrand continued to set fire to the WHL over the last weekend of the season. He picked up a hat trick Saturday in Seattle and followed that up with a ho-hum two-goal game against Tri-City on Sunday. He finished as the league’s leading scorer with 118 points and leading goal-scorer with 63. He did all that in only 59 games. His linemate, Winnipeg Jets prospect Nic Petan, finished the season with an impressive 75 assists. Guess who he’s been feeding the puck to?
Sanheim leads defencemen
With a goal on Sunday, Calgary’s Travis Sanheim ended the year as the league’s top scoring defenceman, nudging out Victoria’s Joe Hicketts by one point and Spokane’s Jason Fram by three. The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick finished with 15 goals and 50 assists.
Provorov top rookie
Brandon’s rookie sensation, Ivan Provorov, was the league’s top scoring freshman this year. The defenceman potted 15 goals to go along with 46 assists. AHe’s raced up most draft rankings and is a lock to be a top-15 pick this June. Spokane’s Kailer Yamamoto finished second in rookie scoring—and first amonh non-import rookies—with 23 goals and 57 points.
Kozun, Hart top goaltenders
Everett rookie Carter Hart ended the year with the top goals-against average (2.29) and second-best save percentage (.914). Seattle’s Taran Kozun equaled Hart’s save percentage and was second in GAA at 2.41. Of course, Kozun appeared in 60 games to Hart’s 30, so with the larger sample size, give Kozun the top goaltending nod for this season.
Last and somewhat the least
The Saskatoon Blades and Vancouver Giants have the dubious honour of residing in the cellars of both respective conferences. The Blades finished the season by losing nine straight games, something they now get to carry into next year. It was a rebuilding season in Saskatoon after trading away several top players, including Nikita Scherbak, but they did accumulate a number of draft picks. If they choose wisely things could get it turned around quickly.
Player of the week
Jake DeBrusk, W, Swift Current Broncos With the Broncos in danger of slipping out of the playoffs DeBrusk played his best hockey of the season to help them clinch. DeBrusk picked up six goals and 13 points in the final week of the season.
2015 NHL Draft Tracker
Ryan Gropp, W, Seattle Thunderbirds Scored six times in two games over the weekend, including his first hat trick in Spokane. He had four goals in that game and ends the season as Seattle’s leading goal-scorer with 30.