2024/25 WHL Season thread

[speede5]

Imo Yager won't be back next year, he has nothing left to prove at the jr level. I think Lakovic might be stuck in MJ, we need some leadership going forward.

[brocoli]

As good as Yager is, the bigger piece for the Canes was getting Unger. They needed to improve their goaltending and that should hopefully pay some dividends. Also having Ward move on is good for the Canes. Hopefully he can find something in MJ that was missing

[dash_pinched]

I'm all in for a playoff series between Medicine Hat and Lethbridge if it does indeed come to pass. 2017 was a pretty epic series between these two rivals.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

I'm all in for a playoff series between Medicine Hat and Lethbridge if it does indeed come to pass. 2017 was a pretty epic series between these two rivals.

It sure was.

My son and I were seated behind the Tiger net in game 7 OT when Wong stole the puck while shorthanded came all the way down the ice and buried it top corner to end the series.

That was such an upset. The Tigers were deeeep that year, but the Canes had Skinner and Wong and a 15 year old Cozens who showed up just in time to bury the game tying goal in game 7 with the Canes goalie pulled in the final minute or so.

[Paulie Walnuts]

How likely is it for the Hitmen to host the memorial cup in our new building ? I know these teams go through cycles so probably hard to predict how good they are.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by speede5

Imo Yager won't be back next year, he has nothing left to prove at the jr level. I think Lakovic might be stuck in MJ, we need some leadership going forward.

Yeah I doubt Yager would be back.

The thing about winning it all is you can really go scorched earth for a rebuild without much blow back from the fans, and I wonder if Lakovic even wants to stick around. Going to be tough to continue putting up big offensive numbers and this is his draft year. By the time they are on the upswing again, he's probably long gone anyways.

And MJ emptied the cupboards last year to win it all, they might be well served going scorched earth.

My bet is he finishes the year in MJ and then ends up in Kelowna next year for their Memorial Cup team.

[Roof-Daddy]

I also doubt Anholt is done yet. I can see him upgrading the overage situation by swapping out Pakkala plus futures for a forward with more offensive punch.

They have been a one line team, adding Yager will help that but they could use another higher end scoring forward IMO

Someone like Chyzowski out of Portland or Van Olm from Spokane if those teams sell.

Isoga from Wenatchee is another guy who is likely to be moved.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

How likely is it for the Hitmen to host the memorial cup in our new building ? I know these teams go through cycles so probably hard to predict how good they are.

Have they hosted it before?

After being fortunate enough to attend the Memorial Cup in Kamloops 2 seasons ago, I can't say enough about how great of an event it was/is.

Already planning for Kelowna in '26.

[dash_pinched]

Tigers come back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Broncos 4-3 in Swift Current earlier tonight. Liam Ruck with two goals and Gavin McKenna scored the GWG with 16 seconds left.

[dash_pinched]

It's pretty ridiculous for a kid who turns 17 later this month...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1864534747722207391

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Ughhhhh....

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/so...-north-america




I didn't even think of this, and what a blow it would be to lose the probable NHL 1st OA prospect to a US college in his draft year.

Originally Posted by speede5

That is exactly what I was thinking could happen once these guys are done high school. What incentive is there to stay in the chl?

It's a significant concern to the CHL, or it should be. One only has to look at college football to see where this could go. Just instead of the transfer portal it's top end players transferring from the CHL to NCAA when they graduate high school. If the universities can put together any kind of NIL packages for these kids it will make the allure that much larger.

[dash_pinched]

Yeesh, Tigers drop both games on the weekend. It's going to be a struggle for the next while with McKenna off to the World Juniors shortly.

[Roof-Daddy]

Tigers only have the 6th best point % in the conference and while they're 6 points up on 9th place PA, the Raiders have 5 games in hand.

I still think that if they get healthy they will go on a run, but this next stretch without McKenna is going to be crucial. They might also lose one or both Finn Dmen to the WJC and they've missed their #1Dman Pickford for the last two games.

[dash_pinched]

First win in five years (to the day) over the Blades.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1866731256454713829

[Roof-Daddy]

The Hitmen post an 8-5 win tonight going into the xmas break. 4th in a row and 8-2 in their last 10 and they are rolling.

They are one point back of first place in the eastern conference, but they have lots of games in hand. They currently have the best goal differential in the east, and the best points percentage.

[dash_pinched]

The entire Central Division is tight with only six points currently separating first place from last place.

[Junglist]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

The Hitmen post an 8-5 win tonight going into the xmas break. 4th in a row and 8-2 in their last 10 and they are rolling.

They are one point back of first place in the eastern conference, but they have lots of games in hand. They currently have the best goal differential in the east, and the best points percentage.

I know they have mortgaged some future with some trades, but it’s great to see them competitive again.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I also doubt Anholt is done yet. I can see him upgrading the overage situation by swapping out Pakkala plus futures for a forward with more offensive punch.

They have been a one line team, adding Yager will help that but they could use another higher end scoring forward IMO

Someone like Chyzowski out of Portland or Van Olm from Spokane if those teams sell.

Isoga from Wenatchee is another guy who is likely to be moved.

And there it is as predicted. Canes send Pakkala plus three picks to Seattle for Gustafsson. Upgraded one 20yo slot with yet another player with championship pedigree.

[Flickered Flame]

The Hitmen have picked up Lukas Hansen from the Blades.

Sent from my SM-S911W using Tapatalk

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

And there it is as predicted. Canes send Pakkala plus three picks to Seattle for Gustafsson. Upgraded one 20yo slot with yet another player with championship pedigree.

I still think there will be another trade for Lethbridge but I don't know how big it will be. Maybe just depth on D? Peter Arnholt seems motivated to make something happen in the Sportsplex (I refuse to use the new arena name) this April.