2024/25 WHL Season thread

[dash_pinched]

Folks, a new WHL season is upon us and we have a WHL team at the top of the CHL pre-season rankings.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1836435118094684253

[Roof-Daddy]

Tigers not flying under the radar I guess.

Might get off to slower start than expected with all the bodies at NHL camps (12 guys gone right now), but hopefully be loaded back up sooner rather than later.

The Tigers have 6 NHL drafted guys plus Gavin McKenna, who is the favorite for 1st overall in 2026. They also have three overage forwards who could be point per game or better. On paper, their 9th forward on the depth chart had 28 goals last year (Shane Smith). It's an embarrassment of riches, and they still have to get games in for 16yo's like the Ruck twins, Schafer Gordon Caroll, and they also have 17yo's who played full time last year like McCann and Harsanyi.

Should mention that there are rumors Lindstrom won't be playing for a while as the Jackets want to ramp him up slowly after his back injury last season.

After last season ended the Tigers lost three OA dmen, so D was a question mark going into this season until they shrewdly added a couple 18yo Finn Dmen in the import draft who were both just drafted to the NHL. They were able to get both to come over too. They also added two more 18yo Dmen with a good amount of WHL experience by trading for Woo from Wenatchee and Pickford from Seattle. Was a tidy bit of business by Desjardins and now the D is not only set up to compete this year, but next year as well when they hope to be hosting the Memorial Cup.

When healthy:

McKenna (16) - Weisblatt (20) - Ritchie (18)(MIN)
Basha (18)(CGY) - Lindstrom (18)(CLB) - Boehm (20)
Smith (19) - St. Martin (19)(FLA) - Ward (20)
Harsanyi (17) - McCann (17) - Pacheco (19)
Ruck (16) - Ruck (16) - SGC (16)

Vaisanen (18)(UTA) - Van Mulligan (19)
Muhonen (18)(DAL) - Woo (18)
Corbet (18) - Pickford (18)
Paranych (17) - Kachkowski (17)

Zahara (19)
McCallum (18)
Switzer (17)

[Roof-Daddy]

The Hitmen just traded for 20yo Connor Hvidston from the Broncos. Gave up a 19 yo depth forward and a 2nd & 4th rounder in '26

IMO the Hitmen are clearly the 2nd best team in the Central and just got better, going to try to push the Tigers this season.

[Samonadreau]

Hopefully Lindstrom can stay healthy.

[Paulie Walnuts]

McKenna is a winger ? Or will switch to C?

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

McKenna is a winger ? Or will switch to C?

Speaking of McKenna, he's a game day decision for opening night on Saturday as I guess he took a knock during a pre-season game and they held him out as a precaution.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

McKenna is a winger ? Or will switch to C?

He's a winger

[dash_pinched]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1837612748194394488

[Roof-Daddy]

McKenna had 8 shots and a goal that was called back, but was unfortunately held off the score sheet in game 1. Despite that, and the Tigers missing 6 forwards and 4 defensemen to NHL camps, they still managed to pull off a 4-2 win in the season opener vs. the OK's.

Both Ruck twins and Gordon-Caroll all potted their first WHL goals in the victory. All 16 year olds. 17yo Matt Paranych also scored his first WHL goal.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

McKenna had 8 shots and a goal that was called back, but was unfortunately held off the score sheet in game 1. Despite that, and the Tigers missing 6 forwards and 4 defensemen to NHL camps, they still managed to pull off a 4-2 win in the season opener vs. the OK's.

Both Ruck twins and Gordon-Caroll all potted their first WHL goals in the victory. All 16 year olds. 17yo Matt Paranych also scored his first WHL goal.

There's a very good chance that both Basha and Lindstrom will be back in Medicine Hat. Just a wealth of talent that Willie D has at his disposal.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

There's a very good chance that both Basha and Lindstrom will be back in Medicine Hat. Just a wealth of talent that Willie D has at his disposal.

Yeah, Basha, Lindstrom, Ritchie, St. Martin, Smith, Weisblatt, Muhonen, Vesalainen, Van Mulligan were all at NHL camps still, and Woo was serving a 1 game suspension.

I'd say by the time the Tigers play again next weekend, they should have almost all of them back except for Lindstrom.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Yeah, Basha, Lindstrom, Ritchie, St. Martin, Smith, Weisblatt, Muhonen, Vesalainen, Van Mulligan were all at NHL camps still, and Woo was serving a 1 game suspension.

I'd say by the time the Tigers play again next weekend, they should have almost all of them back except for Lindstrom.

It has begun...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1837897217711215078

https://twitter.com/user/status/1837897509689077945

[dash_pinched]

Van Mulligan also released back to the Tigers by the Red Wings earlier today.

[dash_pinched]

I will be attending this one in person regardless of who wins it, but I hope it is Medicine Hat...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1838231746732548467

[brocoli]

Thanks Dash and Roof Daddy this is becoming quite the Tigers thread (and rightfully so as they will be good this year).

As for the other highway 3 team, Lethbridge started solid this weekend and should be a hardworking team. A lot of their games will come down to goaltending stealing games as I think they'll still have some trouble finding the back of the net.

I'd love for the Lethbridge to get the Mem Cup, but I think for team sake, it will probably head to Med Hat and I can't disagree with that. Would be nice to see that new arena full and bumping again like the old Arena

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by brocoli

Thanks Dash and Roof Daddy this is becoming quite the Tigers thread (and rightfully so as they will be good this year).

As for the other highway 3 team, Lethbridge started solid this weekend and should be a hardworking team. A lot of their games will come down to goaltending stealing games as I think they'll still have some trouble finding the back of the net.

I'd love for the Lethbridge to get the Mem Cup, but I think for team sake, it will probably head to Med Hat and I can't disagree with that. Would be nice to see that new arena full and bumping again like the old Arena

Yeah, I spent quite a bit of my youth at the old Arena in Medicine Hat and was spoiled by some very good Tigers team throughout the years. Not to say I'm an old man, but I saw both Lanny McDonald and Tom Lysiak when I was a young kid playing for the Tigers at the Arena.

Fast forward to today and I see there were a little over 4800 fans at Co-Op Place on Saturday night. That's a good crowd and if the team is as good as advertised, I wouldn't be surprised to see crowds in excess of 5K becoming commonplace.

[brocoli]

You and me both Dash. I remember the days of that place being louder than any place i'd been to. But I also remember choose your seat anywhere in the building because there is only 500 fans in attendance in the late 90s.

I'm happy for the city to be embracing this team, but I still hope they lose every game to the Canes

[dash_pinched]

I'm reading that the Capitals have returned Oasiz Wiesblatt to the Tigers. Andrew Basha will be sticking with the Flames for a little while longer, who knows, he might even see a few NHL games, but I'm thinking he will be returning to the Tigers in the next couple of weeks.

[Roof-Daddy]

Basha now returned.

That leaves just St. Martin, Vaisanen and Lindstrom still gone.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Basha now returned.

That leaves just St. Martin, Vaisanen and Lindstrom still gone.

Lindstrom looks like he'll be returned shortly as well.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1839325983893242016