The WHL schedule is light to start this week thanks to the Subway Super Series, which kicks off Nov. 10 in Saskatoon. The Series will move to Brandon, Man., on Nov. 11 for the second Team WHL game. This will be a chance for the best Canadian players the league has to offer to display their talents in hopes of impressing Hockey Canada. The Super Series is part of the evaluation process Hockey Canada uses to select its World Junior Championship team.
In recent years the Russians have opted not to send all of their top prospects to compete in the series, which makes you wonder whether the current format is really the best way to evaluate the CHL’s top players. Perhaps it is time to re-evaluate.
Why not look at scrapping the Russians all together and set up a six-game series between the three CHL leagues? Hockey Canada would still get to evaluate potential world junior prospects and a WHL versus OHL versus QMJHL format might generate more fan attention—sort of an all-star version of the Memorial Cup. There would be some logistics to work out, but imagine watching Connor McDavid match up against Sam Reinhart in the championship game.
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For the time being it doesn’t appear that any changes are coming, but we can dream. Here’s what you need to know about the past week in the WHL:
Reinhart back with a bang
After being returned to the Kootenay Ice by the Buffalo Sabres a week ago, Sam Reinhart made an immediate impact. He scored 38 seconds into his first shift in his first game back on Friday night against the Edmonton Oil Kings, and added another later in the game. The Ice have won three straight contests.
There has been a presumptive feeling the Ice will move Reinhart to stock up on draft picks to rebuild, but three straight wins may cause them to think twice. Reinhart’s return along with Tim Bozon coming back could be enough for them to get into the playoffs in the East. Both Reinhart and Bozon are off to hot starts, each with a point per game in the limited time they’ve been back.
The Ice now are only four points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and only 10 points out of fourth. With 53 games still to play and with the league’s best player, don’t be surprised if they start to climb up the standings.
Watch out for Wheat Kings
Winners of six straight and nine of their past 10, the Brandon Wheat Kings continue to rule the roost in the Eastern Conference. All while taking on the conference’s top teams as well. A week after shutting out the Central-leading Medicine Hat Tigers, Brandon edged the Calgary Hitmen 2-1 in a shootout this past weekend. The Wheat Kings are also the first WHL team to pot 100 goals on the year, averaging five goals per game.
Speaking of Calgary, despite the setback in Brandon, the Hitmen may be showing signs of life. Prior to the game with the Wheat Kings, the Hitmen had won three straight and are closing in on Medicine Hat for the top spot in the Central Division. The Tigers aren’t making it easy on Calgary, though, as they too have won three straight games.
Everett, Tri City setting pace in West
When the Everett Silvertips made the move to pick up Nikita Scherbak, some people wondered if they paid too much. After 14 games with Everett it doesn’t look like it. Scherbak leads the Silvertips in scoring with 11 goals and 23 points and Everett is on top of the U.S. Division. If you’re a Silvertips fan you might not look forward to seeing the Spokane Chiefs any time soon. They are the only team to beat the Silvertips in regulation this year, having done so twice.
The Tri City Americans made a move last week to try and keep pace with Everett, swinging a deal with Brandon for 20-year-old import Richard Nejezchleb for 2015 and 2017 third-round bantam picks. The New York Rangers prospect made an immediate impact, scoring five points in his first three games. Tri City has now won four straight and is nipping at Everett’s heels only three points back.
Will the rest of the teams in the West look to make moves to keep pace? The trade deadline is still two months away but Everett and Tri City have both made early season statements and so far they’re paying off.
Chase on the market
While the Calgary Hitmen have been playing well of late, they did have some player turmoil this week. Early in the week, the team sent Greg Chase home and announced the Edmonton Oilers draft pick asked for a trade. Chase scored 35 goals for the Hitmen last season, but there were reports that he was unhappy with his role this season. Still, he’s been a point-per-game player with Calgary (15 points in 15 games).
Chase should garner a lot of interest from the rest of the league. While Central Division rivals Edmonton and Medicine Hat could use a scoring forward, look for Calgary to try and move him out of the division and most likely out of the conference.
Former WHL player passes away
There was sad news this past week as Cole Hamblin lost his battle with cancer at 21 years old. The Manitoba native played for Spokane and Regina during his WHL career. He was well liked by his teammates and friends throughout the league. After the news of his passing spread there was an outpouring of grief expressed by WHL players everywhere. Nick Patterson on Twitter: “#Silvertips goaltender Austin Lotz remembers his best friend, Cole Hamblin, who passed away from cancer on Wed.: http://t.co/APTnGZa3rB”
WHL player of the week
Nikita Scherbak, RW, Everett Silvertips He started his week with a hat trick in a win over Red Deer and finished strong to total six points (four goals, two assists). He not only leads the Silvertips in scoring but he is now 12th and rising in the league race. He will be joining Team Russia for the Subway Super Series.
Honourable mention goes to Cole Sanford of the Medicine Hat Tigers. He continued his hot start by potting four more goals this past week. Spokane’s Adam Helewka picked up three goals and a couple of helpers for the Chiefs over the weekend.
2015 NHL Draft Tracker
Mathew Barzal, C, Seattle Thunderbirds The WHL’s top-rated draft prospect suffered an undisclosed lower-body injury this week. The team was vague as to his prognosis, only saying that it would be at least “a couple of weeks.”
Nick Merkley, C , Kelowna Rockets He continues to be an assist machine. He has 27 on the season—tops in the league and only four other players have more points than Merkley does helpers.
Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon Wheat Kings The Russian blueliner continues to impress and is now up eight goals and 22 points in his first 20 WHL games. He’s third in defenceman scoring for the league and leads all WHL rookies.
Adam Musil, C, Red Deer Rebels The lanky centre from Delta, B.C. has 19 points and has shown that despite his frame he is not afraid of physical play. He should be a cornerstone for Red Deer next year as they host the Memorial Cup.