After six months of regular season contests, the real fun is about to begin in the Western Hockey League as 16 teams look to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup and earn a spot at this year’s Memorial Cup in Halifax.
Ahead of Friday’s curtain-raisers (or Saturday in the case of the Medicine Hat and Edmonton series) here is a breakdown of each matchup and some sure to be wrong picks by yours truly.
East Division
Prince Albert Raiders vs. Red Deer Rebels
Last Playoff Meeting: 2013 First Round (Red Deer Won 4-0 – Only Playoff Meeting to Date – Also met in a tiebreaker game in 2014 that Prince Albert won 5-3)
Season Series: Prince Albert 3-1 (Prince Albert outscored Red Deer 11-9)
Season Series Scoring Leader
Prince Albert – Brett Leason – 6 points (Noah Gregor and Sergei Sapego each had 4 points)
Red Deer – Brandon Hagel and Chris Douglas – 3 points (Austin Schelleberg had 3 points in two games prior to being traded to Kootenay)
Season Series Goaltending Leader
Prince Albert – Ian Scott – 3-1 record with a 2.22 goals against average and a .914 save percentage
Red Deer – Ethan Anders – 1-2 record with a 2.79 goals against average and a .930 save percentage (Byron Fancy had an 0-1 record with a 1.23 goals against average and a .944 save percentage)
Prediction: Prince Albert in five
I originally had this series going six games, but with Washington Capitals prospect Alexander Alexeyev not expected to be on the Rebels blueline due to a knee injury, that changes things quite a bit. With that said, I expect this series to be a close one. Of the teams that the Raiders could have faced in the opening round, the Rebels present the toughest test.
Saskatoon Blades vs. Moose Jaw Warriors
Last Playoff Meeting: 2003 First Round (Moose Jaw won 4-2 – Only Playoff Meeting to Date – Also Met in a East First Round Round-Robin Format in 1986)
Season Series: Saskatoon 5-1 (Saskatoon outscored Moose Jaw 27-14)
Season Series Scoring Leader
Moose Jaw – Tristin Langan – 9 points (Justin Almeida had 7 points)
Saskatoon – Max Gerlach – 8 points (Gary Haden and Kirby Dach each had 7 points)
Season Series Goaltending Leader
Saskatoon – Nolan Maier – 3-1 record with a 2.26 goals against average and a .907 save percentage (Dorrin Luding had a 2-0 record with a .912 save percentage)
Moose Jaw – Brodan Salmond – 1-4 record with a 4.30 goals against average and a .883 save percentage (Adam Evanoff had a 0-1 record with a 4.06 goals against average and a .900 save percentage)
Prediction: Saskatoon in six
I was actually leaning towards Moose Jaw with how well they’ve played against the Raiders this year, but I changed my mind once I saw how the season series went.
At any rate, this should be a close matchup. The Warriors top line of Justin Almeida, Tristin Langan and Brayden Tracey is impressive, as are their top two blueliners in Josh Brook and Jett Woo. The Blades have more depth, but how they handle the post-season is the biggest question mark as the team hasn’t been there since 2013.
Central Division
Edmonton Oil Kings vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Last Playoff Meeting: 2014 Semi-Final (Edmonton won 4-1 – Edmonton also won their other playoff meeting 4-0 in the 2013 Quarter-Final – They also met in a tiebreaker game in 2016 that Edmonton won 6-4)
Season Series: Edmonton 5-1 (Edmonton outscored Medicine Hat 21-12)
Season Series Scoring Leader
Edmonton – Trey Fix-Wolansky and Vince Loschiavo – 6 Points (Vladimir Alistrov and Ethan Cap had 5 points each – Brett Kemp had 5 points in two games before being traded to Medicine Hat)
Medicine Hat – Ryan Chyzowski – 5 Points (James Hamblin and Linus Nassen had four points each)
Season Series Goaltending Leader
Edmonton – Dylan Myskiw – 5-1 record with a 1.79 GAA and a .940 save percentage
Medicine Hat – Mads Sogaard – 0-4 record with a 3.47 GAA and a .909 save percentage (Jordan Hollett had a 1-1 record with a 2.71 GAA and a .913 save percentage)
Prediction: Edmonton in four
Medicine Hat has some weapons but it’s hard to see them on the same level as the Oil Kings, especially with the fact that Edmonton has won their last 11 games. Mads Sogaard might steal a game though.
Lethbridge Hurricanes vs. Calgary Hitmen
Last Playoff Meeting: 2009 Quarter-Final (Calgary won 4-0 – Lethbridge last defeated Calgary 4-0 in the 2008 Semi-Final)
Season Series: Lethbridge 5-1 (Lethbridge outscored Calgary 35- 24)
Season Series Scoring Leader
Lethbridge – Jordy Bellerive – 13 points (Jake Elmer had 10 points)
Calgary – Mark Kastelic – 9 points (Kaden Elder, Jake Kryski and Vladislav Yeryomenko had 6 points each)
Season Series Goaltending Leader
Lethbridge – Carl Tetachuk – 3-1 record with a 3.66 GAA and a .887 save percentage (Reece Klassen had a 2-0 record with a 4.64 GAA and a .867 save percentage before being traded to Spokane)
Calgary – Jack McNaughton – 1-2 record with a 5.16 GAA and a .838 save percentage (Carl Stankowski was 0-3 with a 7.10 GAA and a .756 save percentage)
Prediction: Lethbridge in five
The Hitmen aren’t a bad team but the firepower that the Hurricanes have is scary. The tide may turn in goal with two rookie netminders, but I’ve really liked what I’ve seen out of Tetachuk so far this season. This will be a great learning lesson for Calgary though, as they should be one of the teams to watch come next season.
B.C. Division
Vancouver Giants vs. Seattle Thunderbirds
Last Playoff Meeting: 2007 Quarter-Final (Vancouver won 4-1 – Only Playoff Meeting to Date)
Season Series: Tied 2-2 (Both teams scored 11 goals)
Season Series Scoring Leader
Vancouver – Davis Koch – 5 points (Lukas Svejkovsky had 4 points)
Seattle – Matthew Wedman, Dillon Hamaliuk and Nolan Volcan – 4 points (Jake Lee had 3 points)
Season Series Goaltending Leader
Vancouver – David Tendeck – 1-2 record with a 2.90 GAA and a .910 save percentage (Trent Miner had a 1-0 record with a 1.92 GAA and a .919 save percentage)
Seattle – Roddy Ross – 0-1 record with a 7.37 GAA and a .706 save percentage in 40 minutes of work (Cole Schwebius had a 0.00 GAA and a 1.000 save percentage in 20 minutes of work – Liam Hughes was 2-1 with a 2.03 GAA and a .948 save percentage before being traded to Lethbridge)
Prediction: Vancouver in five
Seattle has done a great job to reach this point and Roddy Ross’ play since coming over the AJHL has been nothing short of fantastic. However, the Giants have seemingly been getting stronger as the year has gone on and should continue that upward trajectory in the playoffs.
The biggest question for Vancouver might be if they continue split time with David Tendeck and Trent Miner or if they lean on just one netminder as the playoffs get rolling.
Victoria Royals vs. Kamloops Blazers
Last Playoff Meeting: 2013 First Round (Kamloops 4-2 – Kamloops also won their other playoff meeting 4-0 in the 2012 First Round)
Season Series: Victoria 5-4 (Kamloops outscored Victoria 30-25)
Season Series Scoring Leader
Victoria – Scott Walford – 9 points (Igor Martynov had 7 points)
Kamloops – Jermaine Loewen – 11 points (Connor Zary and Orrin Centazzo had 8 points)
Season Series Goaltending Leader
Victoria – Griffin Outhouse – 5-0 record with a 2.10 GAA and a .936 save percentage (Brock Gould was 0-4 with a 5.09 GAA and a .838 save percentage)
Kamloops – Dylan Ferguson – 2-4 record with a 3.35 GAA and a .901 save percentage (Dylan Garand was 2-1 with a 1.34 GAA and a .938 save percentage)
Prediction: Kamloops in six
The last two games between the two teams saw the Blazers pick up 6-1 and 8-0 victories, but the rest of the matchups were far closer. The Royals do have Griffin Outhouse in goal, who can single handily steal a series, but the Blazers are coming in white hot and probably have more weapons on their roster. It’s hard to bet against them after they caught the Kelowna Rockets and won the tiebreaker game Tuesday.
U.S. Division
Everett Silvertips vs. Tri-City Americans
Last Playoff Meeting: 2018 Semi-Final (Everett won 4-2 – Tri-City last defeated Everett 4-0 in the 2011 First Round)
Season Series: Everett 5-3 (Everett outscored Tri-City 21-15)
Season Series Scoring Leader
Everett – Connor Dewar – 10 points (Bryce Kindopp had 8 points)
Season Series Goaltending Leader
Tri-City – Parker AuCoin and Nolan Yaremko – 6 points (Sasha Mutala and Kyle Olson each had 5 points)
Everett – Dustin Wolf – 5-3 record with a 1.78 GAA and a .930 save percentage (Max Palaga played a whole five minutes)
Tri-City – Beck Warm – 3-5 record with a 2.41 GAA and a .941 save percentage
Prediction: Everett in five
Beck Warm has a chance to help his team get a win or two with how he’s played in net this season, but the Silvertips are just too strong at the moment. This one could end quickly if Everett’s firing on all cylinders, especially if Riley Sutter ends up back in the lineup along the way.
Spokane Chiefs vs. Portland Winterhawks
Last Playoff Meeting: 2018 First Round (Portland won 4-3 – Spokane last defeated Portland 4-3 in the 2003 First Round)
Season Series: Tied 3-3 (Spokane outscored Portland 29-27)
Season Series Scoring Leader
Portland – Joachim Blichfeld – 12 points (Reece Newkirk had 7 points – Cody Glass had 3 points in two games)
Spokane – Riley Woods – 14 points (Adam Beckman, Filip Kral, Jake McGrew and Nolan Reid had 7 points each)
Season Series Goaltending Leader
Portland – Joel Hofer – 1-2 with a 5.57 GAA and a .857 save percentage (Shane Farkas was 1-0 with a 4.56 GAA and a .833 save percentage)
Spokane – Bailey Brkin – 3-1 with a 3.94 GAA and a .900 save percentage
Prediction: Portland in seven
This is without a doubt the best first round matchup in the Canadian Hockey League and easily the toughest one to pick out of the eight series in the WHL. Each team has a number of great players and I expect this series to go down to the wire. In the end, the news that Cody Glass could return on a full-time basis to the Winterhawks lineup has me picking Portland, even though I had Spokane as one of my league finalists.
Granted, I didn’t have these two squaring off in their first playoff series, but such is the wacky world of junior hockey.
