2025/26 WHL Season thread

[Roof-Daddy]

Gross. Tigers had penalty trouble in the 3rd and gave up 3 goals losing 5-1 to PA

Tigers have 22 games left and 14 of them are against Red Deer, Lethbridge, Regina and Swift Current.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Gross. Tigers had penalty trouble in the 3rd and gave up 3 goals losing 5-1 to PA

Tigers have 22 games left and 14 of them are against Red Deer, Lethbridge, Regina and Swift Current.

I get a feeling these two teams haven't seen the last of each other this year.

[Flickered Flame]

I would be very surprised if MH vs PA wasn't the eastern final this year.

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[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah it certainly looks like a 3 horse race with Edmonton in there too in the east.

Nice to see Penticton bitch slap the rockets on home ice last night too.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Nice to see Penticton bitch slap the rockets on home ice last night too.

I think this is flying under the radar, the Vees have won 13 games in a row.

[Matty81]

The Rockets are terrible... they have put together a group of almost 9 PPG forwards but they just look completely disjointed. I really don't see them past the 2nd round of the playoffs or being anything other than cannon fodder in the mem cup. I don't think they have much hope of winning anything this year. Still think celebrating how terrible they are is a super lame reach, like what you're dunking on a bunch of 12 year olds in kelowna which is basically the rockets fan base because you're mad at the league for giving them the memorial cup? Honestly is the most bland sad sack team to ever be a heel that I've ever seen. No fighters no passion and not much talent as of right now.

As to Penticton they have done really well making the jump but boy are they hard to watch, they are like the 90s devils or the 00s wild. They line 4 guys up between center and their own blueline have one forechecker and force the other team to dump and chase, it's very close to watching paint dry and I feel a bit bad for their season ticket holders watching that style of hockey 30 plus times a year.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Matty81

The Rockets are terrible... they have put together a group of almost 9 PPG forwards but they just look completely disjointed. I really don't see them past the 2nd round of the playoffs or being anything other than cannon fodder in the mem cup. I don't think they have much hope of winning anything this year. Still think celebrating how terrible they are is a super lame reach, like what you're dunking on a bunch of 12 year olds in kelowna which is basically the rockets fan base because you're mad at the league for giving them the memorial cup? Honestly is the most bland sad sack team to ever be a heel that I've ever seen. No fighters no passion and not much talent as of right now.

As to Penticton they have done really well making the jump but boy are they hard to watch, they are like the 90s devils or the 00s wild. They line 4 guys up between center and their own blueline have one forechecker and force the other team to dump and chase, it's very close to watching paint dry and I feel a bit bad for their season ticket holders watching that style of hockey 30 plus times a year.

Enjoying them falling on their faces (so far) because of their owner pulling strings to get his ####ty team another memorial cup bid instead of the team that rightfully deserved it much more IMO, and who has never hosted despite being one of the most historic franchises in the league.

Also looks good on the bonehead CHL for making that stupid decision, that cost them the 2026 1st overall pick in the NHL draft. Instead of McKenna leading the WHL's best team and selling out barns everywhere he went, they pushed him through the open door into the NCAA. Brilliant stuff.

Nothing against the fans or players

[dash_pinched]

i really don't think anybody is dunking on the players or fans of Kelowna, I mean, just look how many Flames fans want Conroy to go after Tij Iginla? I think all fans just want to see the best teams compete at the Memorial Cup and you just said it above, you don't think Kelowna is a very good team. They were certainly a very bad team last season so it makes the decision for the CHL to award Kelowna the 2026 Memorial Cup all the more baffling.

As for McKenna remaining in Medicine Hat, I have my doubts, 700K is tough to turn down, but it certainly gives him more food for thought if he knows he will be in the Memorial Cup for a second straight year.

[dash_pinched]

Speaking of Kelowna...

https://twitter.com/user/status/2015850270920425720

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https://twitter.com/user/status/2015883842041872651

[Matty81]

Fair enough... I just don't think unfortunately it's likely that any of the small prairie WHL cities will get a chance to host. It's not really fair but the strength of the team is just one factor, the size of the city, hotel space, climate and attractiveness, transportation links, etc are all massive. I could be wrong but I really only remember one smaller city hosting the memorial cup in the WHL in like 40 or 50 years being Brandon. Its the same for Kelowna, if Portland, Vancouver, Edmonton etc make a strong pitch it won't be here either.

I don't think Bruce Hamilton pulled any dirty tricks to get it, I just think he convinced the league he could be competitive, the city is appealing from a travel perspective and they had lost their 2nd chance to host during covid.

But I do agree that the team looks terrible, am not a big homer Rockets fan, I just take my kids who love going but they are really not looking great. That said they've built what should be a good roster on paper so I feel like he held up that part of the bargain, but it is just not working out.

Pekar leaving isn't a huge surprise he has 8pts in 32 games and has been squeezed out by the new additions. Too bad for them it was after the deadline as I bet they could have gotten another high pick to come over given they are hosting.

[Roof-Daddy]

No Pickford again for the Tigers and Woo left the game after taking a hit.

Tigers win though, 4-1