The WHL schedule makers made up for a week without hockey with a full schedule this past weekend that saw several star players to return from NHL camps and back to their junior teams.
Here are this week’s WHL musings:
Red Deer makes an early statement
The Memorial Cup host Red Deep Rebeles welcomed the Kelowna Rockets to town Saturday night in an early measuring-stick type of game. The Rebels exploded for four goals in the second period and blew out the defending champs 7-4. Red Deer picked up markers from six different players and While it’s early, the win has to be encouraging for Brent Sutter’s Rebels as they took out a WHL powerhouse.
Despite the seven goals, their strength is in grinding out wins so don’t be surprised if they look to make a splashy move in order to bring in a dynamic offensive player. There are already rumors that they may be looking at the Swift Current Broncos‘ Jake DeBrusk. If the Moose Jaw Warriors were to make Brayden Point available, you can bet Red Deer will be calling.
Break up the Royals
The general feeling before the season started was that the Victoria Royals were going to be fighting it out just to make the playoffs. It seems nobody told them, as they have burst out of the gates winning their first four games to make the best start in team history. But that could be misleading—they have only played Portland Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers, who have a combined to go 0-7-0-0.
Alex Forsberg is off to a great start for Victoria. The 20-year-old is closing out his up-and-down career and is leading the Royals with nine points in four games.
Rockets back end a problem?
The defending champion Kelowna Rockets are still a WHL power, but they may have one weakness this season: their blueline. The Rockets have talent on the back end, but it’s young and inexperienced. They could get better as the year progresses, but so far Kelowna is giving up four goals per game.
By comparison they only averaged 2.54 goals-allowed per contest last year with a more veteran group led by guys like Madison Bowey and Josh Morrissey. In the Rockets defence, they have had a tough schedule to start, already playing two three-in-three weekends which may have an effect. If the trend continues will Kelowna look to acquire a D-man?
Player of the week
Jayce Hawryluk, Brandon Wheat Kings
Can you win player of the week when you only score in one game? You can when you pick up a natural hat trick in the first period and go onto a four-goal, five-point night. Hawryluk erupted for the Wheat Kings Saturday night during a 6-0 whitewash of the Regina Pats. With Tim McGauley out with an early injury, Hawryluk will have to pick up some of the scoring for Brandon.
Draft Eligible Spotlight
Jake Bean, Calgary Hitmen
The Hitmen defenceman was so impressive last year, playing with the calmness and ease of a player much older than his 16 years. The Calgary native is off to a good start with a goal and four assists in the first five games of the season. Bean also found his name on the NHL Central Scouting September watch list as a B prospect. Can a big year vault him into first round consideration?