2019-2020 WHL regular season thread

[wetcoast]

Just in Giants add 19 year old Langley local forward Brandon Budy sending Joel Sexsmith (D) to the Red Deer Rebels.

Click to read more...

 

[Kamsurvey]

Looks like Vancouver is still trying to recruit him. He has signed with Langley (BCHL).

 

[n00bxQb]

Anyone seen any of the Royals pre-season games? Box scores are ugly, wondering if it's just poor goaltending.

 

[wetcoast]

Looks like Vancouver is still trying to recruit him. He has signed with Langley (BCHL).

Yes I saw that I wonder why they made the trade without any commitment and I wonder why he is going back to the BCJHL?

 

[billybobjoe2112]

Looks like we're gonna have another long season in P.G. Three preseason losses so far, with two games still to play. 7-1 to Kamloops, 5-3 to Vancouver and 7-0 to Kelowna

 

[Daximus]

Looks like we're gonna have another long season in P.G. Three preseason losses so far, with two games still to play. 7-1 to Kamloops, 5-3 to Vancouver and 7-0 to Kelowna

PG is in for a rough year. Vancouver looks great, Kelowna is primed to host the MC, Kamloops is on the up and up, Victoria is doing what Victoria does.

 

[billybobjoe2112]

Looks like we're gonna have another long season in P.G. Three preseason losses so far, with two games still to play. 7-1 to Kamloops, 5-3 to Vancouver and 7-0 to Kelowna

And another 6-1 loss in Dawson Creek last night to Edmonton. Currently being outscored 25-5 in four games.

 

[The Nemesis]

Yes I saw that I wonder why they made the trade without any commitment and I wonder why he is going back to the BCJHL?

I was going to suggest that it might have to do with the fact that NCAA teams are limited in the # of scholarship players they can have at once, and it was possible that they had to sacrifice a year with Budy to fit someone else onto their roster at UND, but looking at Budy's eliteprospects profile paints a weird picture.

He played 17-18 in Langley, committed to DU, apparently played only 6 games there over the course of the first semester, didn't like being in and out of the lineup, left the team and went to Tri-City of the USHL. He was a PPG guy in the USHL and according to an article from this last summer, was apparently committed to returning there for this season before transferring to UND for 2020-21. But now he's back with the Rivermen.

I would guess he's choosing to remain in the BCHL rather than join the Giants to retain his NCAA eligibility, but it's a bizarre situation that he's yo-yo'd between so many organizations and is on the WHL radar.




In other Giants news, Vancouver traded over-age F Jadon Joseph to Moose Jaw for draft picks. This was basically a necessity for the Giants as they had 6 potential over-age guys on their training camp roster (Joseph, Owen Hardy, Brayden Watts, Habs camp invite Dylan Plouffe, Flames draft pick Milos Roman, and Coyotes draft pick David Tendeck) and even if Roman and Tendeck head to the AHL to start their pro careers they still wouldn't have enough space for everyone else. Now they can wait and see what happens with the guys getting NHL looks and make decisions from there.

Kinda sucks though because I thought Joseph was a guy that would be at the top of the pecking order for Vancouver to keep when decisions had to be made. Particularly over Watts

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

Let's get some predictions going, standings wise.


BC Division

1.Vancouver Giants
2.Kamloops Blazers
3.Kelowna Rockets
4.Victoria Royals
5.Prince George Cougars


US Division

1.Seattle Thunderbirds
2.Portland Winterhawks
3.Spokane Chiefs
4.Everett Silvertips
5.Tri-City Americans



Central

1.Edmonton Oil Kings
2.Calgary Hitmen
3.Medicine Hat Tigers
4.Lethbridge Hurricanes
5.Red Deer Rebels
6.Swift Current Broncos


East Division

1.Saskatoon Blades
2.Prince Albert Raiders
3.Brandon Wheat Kings
4.Winnipeg Ice
5.Regina Pats
6.Moose Jaw Warriors

 

[drivier]

As a Saskatoon kid who relocated to Kamloops for adulthood (and then relocated again)... all I want is a Blades vs Blazers final and the Blazers going to the Mem. Cup in Kelowna.

The chaos... the fun.

(I have to put it out in the universe just in case there is truth to the belief that one just has to put it in the universe to influence an event from coming true.)

 

[RonTugnutt]

As a Saskatoon kid who relocated to Kamloops for adulthood (and then relocated again)... all I want is a Blades vs Blazers final and the Blazers going to the Mem. Cup in Kelowna.

The chaos... the fun.

(I have to put it out in the universe just in case there is truth to the belief that one just has to put it in the universe to influence an event from coming true.)

If that happens the first beer is on me. Whether the Rockets suck or not i will be there

 

[BrettM]

2019-2020 Western Hockey League Prognostications:
*denotes top record in conference

East:
1.Saskatoon Blades
2.Brandon Wheat Kings
3.Prince Albert Raiders
4.Winnipeg Ice(wc1)
5.Moose Jaw Warriors
6.Regina Pats

Central:
1.Calgary Hitmen*
2.Edmonton Oil Kings
3.Medicine Hat Tigers
4.Lethbridge Hurricanes(wc2)
5.Red Deer Rebels
6.Swift Current Broncos

B.C:
1.Kamloops Blazers*
2.Kelowna Rockets
3.Vancouver Giants
4.Prince George Cougars(WC1)
5.Victoria Royals

U.S:
1.Portland Winterhawks
2.Seattle Thunderbirds
3.Everett Silvertips
4.Spokane Chiefs(wc2)
5.Tri-City Americans

Playoffs:

First round:

Calgary Hitmen v Lethbridge Hurricanes=Hitmen in five
Edmonton Oil Kings v Medicine Hat Tigers=Oil Kings in six
Saskatoon Blades v Winnipeg Ice=Blades in four
Brandon Wheat Kings v Prince Albert Raiders=Wheat Kings in four
Kamloops Blazers v Spokane Chiefs=Blazers in four
Kelowa Rockets v Vancouver Giants=Rockets in six
Portland Winterhawks v Prince George Cougars=Cougars in six
Seattle Thunderbirds v Everett Silvertips=Thunderbirds in seven

Second Round:

Calgary Hitmen v Edmonton Oil Kings=Oil Kings in seven
Saskatoon Blades v Brandon Wheat Kings=Wheat Kings in six
Kamloops Blazers v Kelowna Rockets=Blazers in five
Seattle Thunderbirds v Prince George Cougars=Thunderbirds in seven

Conference Finals:

Brandon Wheat Kings v Edmonton Oil Kings=Oil Kings in six
Kamloops Blazers v Seattle Thunderbirds=Blazers in seven

WHL Finals:

Edmonton Oil Kings v Kamloops Blazers=Oil Kings in six



MVP:Mark Kastelic(Calgary)
Top Defenceman:Bowen Byram(Vancouver)
Coach of the year:Matt O'Dette(Seattle)
Rookie of the Year:Logan Stankoven(Kamloops)

 

[wetcoast]

2019-2020 Western Hockey League Prognostications:
*denotes top record in conference

East:
1.Saskatoon Blades
2.Brandon Wheat Kings
3.Prince Albert Raiders
4.Winnipeg Ice(wc1)
5.Moose Jaw Warriors
6.Regina Pats

Central:
1.Calgary Hitmen*
2.Edmonton Oil Kings
3.Medicine Hat Tigers
4.Lethbridge Hurricanes(wc2)
5.Red Deer Rebels
6.Swift Current Broncos

B.C:
1.Kamloops Blazers*
2.Kelowna Rockets
3.Vancouver Giants
4.Prince George Cougars(WC1)
5.Victoria Royals

U.S:
1.Portland Winterhawks
2.Seattle Thunderbirds
3.Everett Silvertips
4.Spokane Chiefs(wc2)
5.Tri-City Americans

Playoffs:

First round:

Calgary Hitmen v Lethbridge Hurricanes=Hitmen in five
Edmonton Oil Kings v Medicine Hat Tigers=Oil Kings in six
Saskatoon Blades v Winnipeg Ice=Blades in four
Brandon Wheat Kings v Prince Albert Raiders=Wheat Kings in four
Kamloops Blazers v Spokane Chiefs=Blazers in four
Kelowa Rockets v Vancouver Giants=Rockets in six
Portland Winterhawks v Prince George Cougars=Cougars in six
Seattle Thunderbirds v Everett Silvertips=Thunderbirds in seven

Second Round:

Calgary Hitmen v Edmonton Oil Kings=Oil Kings in seven
Saskatoon Blades v Brandon Wheat Kings=Wheat Kings in six
Kamloops Blazers v Kelowna Rockets=Blazers in five
Seattle Thunderbirds v Prince George Cougars=Thunderbirds in seven

Conference Finals:

Brandon Wheat Kings v Edmonton Oil Kings=Oil Kings in six
Kamloops Blazers v Seattle Thunderbirds=Blazers in seven

WHL Finals:

Edmonton Oil Kings v Kamloops Blazers=Oil Kings in six



MVP:Mark Kastelic(Calgary)
Top Defenceman:Bowen Byram(Vancouver)
Coach of the year:Matt O'Dette(Seattle)
Rookie of the Year:Logan Stankoven(Kamloops)

If Byram plays enough this year to win the top Dman award, the giants will be the class of the league and will be first in their division.

Heck even without Bryam they are the best bet to win their division.

Just a lot of depth and the coach to bring out more than the sum of their parts.

On most nights the Giants are going to control play and win the SOG contest but even when other teams outshot and outplay them they will have to deal with Tendeck and Miner.

 

[PG Canuck]

And another 6-1 loss in Dawson Creek last night to Edmonton. Currently being outscored 25-5 in four games.

Remember when the new owners promised it would all be better? Seems to the same to me. They’re trying to rebuild in the WHL...good luck because by the time these scouts get their head out of their ass their best players will be long gone. And I would use the term “best players” very lightly for this team.

Get promised the same things every season - the prospects are coming! We have draft picks! Just be patient! It’s clear these scouts have no idea how to do their job.

 

[PG Canuck]

2019-2020 Western Hockey League Prognostications:
*denotes top record in conference

East:
1.Saskatoon Blades
2.Brandon Wheat Kings
3.Prince Albert Raiders
4.Winnipeg Ice(wc1)
5.Moose Jaw Warriors
6.Regina Pats

Central:
1.Calgary Hitmen*
2.Edmonton Oil Kings
3.Medicine Hat Tigers
4.Lethbridge Hurricanes(wc2)
5.Red Deer Rebels
6.Swift Current Broncos

B.C:
1.Kamloops Blazers*
2.Kelowna Rockets
3.Vancouver Giants
4.Prince George Cougars(WC1)
5.Victoria Royals

U.S:
1.Portland Winterhawks
2.Seattle Thunderbirds
3.Everett Silvertips
4.Spokane Chiefs(wc2)
5.Tri-City Americans

Playoffs:

First round:

Calgary Hitmen v Lethbridge Hurricanes=Hitmen in five
Edmonton Oil Kings v Medicine Hat Tigers=Oil Kings in six
Saskatoon Blades v Winnipeg Ice=Blades in four
Brandon Wheat Kings v Prince Albert Raiders=Wheat Kings in four
Kamloops Blazers v Spokane Chiefs=Blazers in four
Kelowa Rockets v Vancouver Giants=Rockets in six
Portland Winterhawks v Prince George Cougars=Cougars in six
Seattle Thunderbirds v Everett Silvertips=Thunderbirds in seven

Second Round:

Calgary Hitmen v Edmonton Oil Kings=Oil Kings in seven
Saskatoon Blades v Brandon Wheat Kings=Wheat Kings in six
Kamloops Blazers v Kelowna Rockets=Blazers in five
Seattle Thunderbirds v Prince George Cougars=Thunderbirds in seven

Conference Finals:

Brandon Wheat Kings v Edmonton Oil Kings=Oil Kings in six
Kamloops Blazers v Seattle Thunderbirds=Blazers in seven

WHL Finals:

Edmonton Oil Kings v Kamloops Blazers=Oil Kings in six



MVP:Mark Kastelic(Calgary)
Top Defenceman:Bowen Byram(Vancouver)
Coach of the year:Matt O'Dette(Seattle)
Rookie of the Year:Logan Stankoven(Kamloops)

PG won’t even sniff the playoffs let alone win a game in the playoffs let alone win a round.

I’d bet everything I own on that too.

 

[wetcoast]

With the Giants getting Bryam back they have to be the favorites in the WHL right?

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

With the Giants getting Bryam back they have to be the favorites in the WHL right?

I would say so. With Miner and Tendeck in goal? Yikes, good luck everyone else.

 

[wetcoast]

I would say so. With Miner and Tendeck in goal? Yikes, good luck everyone else.

I wonder if they get a really good offer for Tedneck if they take it just to keep the giants future bright.

 

[canucklax]

Really surprised by the 3-0 start by Portland, off to a hot start on what was expected to be a transition year after losing Glass and Blichfeld.

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

Kamloops picked Miner apart tonight. Vancouver is going to have to worry about the Blazers.

 

[canucklax]

Not good news for the rest of the US division

 

[wetcoast]

Kamloops picked Miner apart tonight. Vancouver is going to have to worry about the Blazers.

One game doesn't make a season, the Giants came back to shut out Kelowna at home in convincing fashion 4-0.

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

One game doesn't make a season, the Giants came back to shut out Kelowna at home in convincing fashion 4-0.

Thanks, but I stated a factual thing for that 1 game.

 

[wetcoast]

Thanks, but I stated a factual thing for that 1 game.

Sure to the first part but I don't think that the Giants are "worried" about Kamloops.

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

Sure to the first part but I don't think that the Giants are "worried" about Kamloops.

Yeah, because the Giants were world beaters until last season. Simmer down. I meant that they aren't going to be an easy lay, like they were last year.