Western Hockey League Playoff Predictions: Round 1
By Ryan Ritchie
Western Hockey League Playoff Predictions: Round 1
Junior hockey is beginning to wrap-up around North America. The Canadian Hockey League is set to start its playoffs shortly, while the NCAA bracket was recently determined – which will lead to the Frozen Four in Tampa Bay, Florida in April.
Winners from each CHL league (OHL, QMJHL, WHL) will compete in the Memorial Cup with host Red Deer Rebels (WHL) on May 19th to 29th.
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In a four-part series dedicated to Junior Hockey’s postseason, we move on to the Western Hockey League playoff predictions.
*Notable players from each team (plus goaltenders) are included with their season point total and NHL status is brackets – NHL team or year of eligibility.
Western Hockey League Playoff Predictions: Round 1
1 Brandon Wheat Kings
WC Edmonton Oil Kings
Notable Players:
Jayce Hawryluk, Brandon – 106pts (FLA)
Nolan Patrick, Brandon – 102pts (2017 Draft)
Brett Pollock, Edmonton – 78pts (CGY)
John Quenneville, Brandon – 73pts (NJ)
Ivan Provorov (D), Brandon – 73pts (PHI)
Reid Duke, Brandon – 62pts (MIN)
Dysin Mayo (D), Edmonton – 43pts (ARZ)
Kale Clague (D), Brandon – 43pts (2016 Draft)
Aaron Irving (D), Edmonton – 40pts (NSH)
Brandon Baddock, Edmonton – 35pts (NJ)
Tanner Kaspick, Brandon – 31pts (2016 Draft)
More puck prose: Top 50 Defensemen Under 25 Years Old
Goalies:
Jordan Papirny, Brandon – 31-17-6 2.61GAA .910 sv pct
Logan Thompson, Brandon – 17-1-0 2.63GAA .898 sv pct
Patrick Dea, Edmonton – 18-19-4 3.01GAA .895 sv pct
Payton Lee, Edmonton – 12-20-4 3.36GAA .886 sv pct
Result Prediction:
Brandon wins series 4-1
1 Lethbridge Hurricanes
WC Regina Pats
Notable Players:
Brayden Burke, Lethbridge – 109pts (undrafted in 2015)
Giorgio Estephan, Lethbridge – 74pts (BUF)
Andrew Nielsen (D), Lethbridge – 70pts (TOR)
Sam Steel, Regina – 70pts (2016 Draft)
Egor Babenko, Lethbridge – 69pts (2016 Draft)
Austin Wagner, Regina – 62pts (LA)
Connor Hobbs (D), Regina – 41pts (WSH)
Sergey Zborovskiy (D), Regina – 25pts (NYR)
Colby Williams (D), Regina – 12pts (WSH)
Goalies:
Stuart Skinner, Lethbridge – 27-10-1 2.73GAA .920 sv pct
Jayden Sittler, Lethbridge – 19-14-1 2.94GAA .905 sv pct
Tyler Brown, Regina – 21-19-6 3.15GAA .909 sv pct
Jordan Hollett, Regina – 10-6-1 3.67GAA .887 sv pct
Result Prediction:
Lethbridge wins series 4-3
2 Prince Albert Raiders
3 Moose Jaw Warriors
Notable Players:
Reid Gardiner, Prince Albert- 92pts (undrafted in 2014 and 2015)
Brayden Point, Moose Jaw – 88pts (TB)
Noah Gregor, Moose Jaw – 73pts (2016 Draft)
Brett Howden, Moose Jaw – 64pts (2016 Draft)
Simon Stransky, Prince Albert – 62pts (2016 Draft)
Brandon Guhle (D), Prince Albert -28pts (BUF)
Vojtech Budik (D), Prince Albert – 16pts (2016 Draft)
More puck prose: Which NHL Bubble Teams Make the Playoffs?
Goalies:
Rylan Parenteau, Prince Albert – 25-17-6 2.82GAA .913 sv pct
Ian Scott, Prince Albert – 13-9-2 3.24GAA .892 sv pct
Zach Sawchenko, Moose Jaw – 28-16-6 3.04GAA .916 sv pct (2016 Draft)
Brody Willms, Moose Jaw – 8-11-3 3.34GAA .906 sv pct (2016 Draft)
Result Prediction:
Moose Jaw wins series 4-3
3 Calgary Hitmen
2 Red Deer Rebels
Notable Players:
Adam Helewka, Red Deer – 74pts (SJ)
Radel Fazleev, Calgary – 71pts (PHI)
Travis Sanheim (D), Calgary – 68pts (PHI)
Jake DeBrusk, Red Deer – 65pts (BOS)
Jake Bean (D), Calgary – 64pts (2016 Draft)
Jakob Stukel, Calgary – 60pts (undrafted in 2015)
Michael Spacek, Red Deer – 54pts (WPG)
Jordy Stallard, Calgary – 49pts (2016 Draft)
Brandon Hagel, Red Deer – 47pts (2016 Draft)
Conner Bleackley, Red Deer – 46pts (ARZ)
Adam Musil, Red Deer – 43pts (STL)
Haydn Fleury (D), Red Deer – 41pts (CAR)
Grayson Pawlenchuk, Red Deer – 38pts (undrafted in 2015)
Jeff de Wit, Red Deer – 22pts (2016 Draft)
Nelson Nogier (D), Red Deer – 21pts (WPG)
Keegan Kanzig (D), Calgary – 20pts (CGY)
Goalies:
Cody Porter, Calgary – 25-11-2 3.04GAA .885 sv pct (2016 Draft)
Nik Amundrud, Calgary – 13-12-1 3.17GAA .887 sv pct
Rylan Toth, Red Deer – 26-15-1 2.67GAA .912 sv pct
Trevor Martin, Red Deer – 18-8-2 2.63GAA .911 sv pct
Result Prediction:
Calgary wins series 4-2
1 Victoria Royals
WC Spokane Chiefs
Notable Players:
Matthew Phillips, Victoria – 76pts (2016 Draft)
Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane – 71pts (2017 Draft)
Joe Hicketts (D), Victoria – 61pts (DET)
Hudson Elynuik, Spokane – 44pts (2016 Draft)
Chaz Reddekopp (D), Victoria – 30pts (LA)
Nik Andersen, Spokane – 18pts (2016 Draft)
Goalies:
Coleman Vollrath, Victoria – 32-13-2 2.40GAA .912 sv pct
Griffen Outhouse, Victoria – 18-3-4 1.82GAA .937 sv pct
Tyson Verheist, Spokane – 23-22-5 3.16GAA .892 sv pct
Lasse Petersen, Spokane – 12-7-1 2.99GAA .891 sv pct
Result Prediction:
Victoria wins series 4-1
2 Kelowna Rockets
3 Kamloops Blazers
Notable Players:
Justin Kirkland, Kelowna – 67pts (NSH)
Dillon Dube, Kelowna – 66pts (2016 Draft)
Deven Sideroff, Kamloops – 59pts (ANA)
Lucas Johansen (D), Kelowna – 49pts (2016 Draft)
Nick Merkley, Kelowna – 48pts (ARZ)
Garrett Pilon, Kamloops – 47pts (2016 Draft)
Rourke Chartier, Kelowna – 46pts (SJ)
Calvin Thurkauf, Kelowna – 45pts (undrafted in 2015)
Jake Kryski, Kamloops – 39pts (2016 Draft)
Ryan Rehill (D), Kamloops – 39pts (NJ)
Devante Stephens (D), Kelowna – 11pts (BUF)
More puck prose: NHL Mock Draft 3.0: Rounds 1-7
Goalies:
Michael Herringer, Kelowna – 26-12-2 3.18GAA .900 sv pct
Jackson Whistle, Kelowna – 19-6-2 2.54GAA .920 sv pct
Connor Ingram, Kamloops – 34-15-9 2.61GAA .922 sv pct (2016 Draft)
Dylan Ferguson, Kamloops – 4-10-0 4.13GAA .875 sv pct
Result Prediction:
Kelowna wins series 4-3
1 Seattle Thunderbirds
WC Prince George Cougars
Notable Players:
Mathew Barzal, Seattle – 88pts (NYI)
Jesse Gabrielle, Prince George – 75pts (BOS)
Ryan Gropp, Seattle – 70pts (NYR)
Ethan Bear (D), Seattle – 65pts (EDM)
Brad Morrison, Prince George – 62pts (NYR)
Keegan Kolesar, Seattle – 61pts (CLB)
Jansen Harkins, Prince George – 57pts (WPG)
Brogan O’Brien, Prince George – 56pts (2016 Draft)
Tate Olsen (D), Prince George – 47pts (VAN)
Scott Eansor, Seattle – 42pts (undrafted in 2014 and 2015)
Alexander True, Seattle – 32pts (undrafted in 2015)
Sam Ruopp, Prince George – 25pts (CLB)
More puck prose: QMJHL Playoffs: Round 1 Preview, Predictions
Goalies:
Landon Bow, Seattle – 25-20-4 2.49GAA .923 sv pct
Logan Flodell, Seattle – 22-13-4 2.68GAA .904 sv pct
Ty Edmonds, Prince George – 21-17-3 2.75GAA .913 sv pct (2016 Draft)
Nick McBride, Prince George – 12-11-2 3.03GAA .904 sv pct (2016 Draft)
Result Prediction:
Seattle wins series 4-3
3 Portland Winterhawks
2 Everett Silvertips
Notable Players:
Dominic Turgeon, Portland – 70pts (DET)
Alex Schoenborn, Portland – 57pts (SJ)
Caleb Jones (D), Portland – 55pts (EDM)
Jack Dougherty (D), Portland – 52pts (NSH)
Patrick Bajkov, Everett – 46pts (2016 Draft)
Brycen Martin (D), Everett – 37pts (BUF)
Keegan Iverson, Portland – 29pts (NYR)
Noah Juulsen (D), Everett – 28pts (MON)
Paul Bittner, Portland – 21pts (CLB)
Next: OHL Playoffs: Round 1 Preview, Predictions
Goalies:
Adin Hill, Portland – 32-27-6 2.96GAA .917 sv pct (ARZ)
Michael Buillion, Portland – 2-4-1 4.08GAA .867 sv pct
Carter Hart, Everett – 35-23-4 2.14GAA .918 sv pct (2016 Draft)
Mario Petit, Everett – 3-3-4 2.80GAA .883 sv pct
Result Prediction:
Everett wins series 4-2