The Brandon Wheat Kings have seen their Western Hockey League season get off to a flying start, and as a result, they’ve taken over top spot in the SportsCage WHL Power Rankings.
After sitting in second place for the first two weeks of the rankings, Brandon moved up a single spot into first place, while the leader in that same span -- the Medicine Hat Tigers -- fell two places to third overall. No team moved up or down more than two places as the rankings begin to lose their early-season volatility.
Each week, a group of contributors from both the East and West Divisions will rank the Conference’s 11 teams based on their performance throughout the season, with most recent results taking priority.
1) Brandon Wheat Kings (+1)
The Wheat Kings split their two games on the road this past weekend, winning 4-1 in Prince Albert and falling 4-3 to the Saskatoon Blades. Roger McQueen continued his fast start to the season and leads the WHL in scoring with six goals and nine points; netminder Ethan Eskit was recently named the WHL Goaltender of the Week.
This week: vs. Edmonton (Friday), vs. Swift Current (Saturday)
2) Lethbridge Hurricanes (+1)
Despite suffering their first loss on Sunday in Calgary, the Hurricanes moved up a spot in the rankings, in no small part due to their commanding win over Swift Current Friday. Brayden Edwards had a goal and four points in the penalty-filled 6-3 win over the Broncos and leads the team with five points in two games.
This week: vs Moose Jaw (Friday)
3) Medicine Hat Tigers (-2)
The Tigers dropped both ends of a home-and-home series with Red Deer, but with both games being relatively close, their fall in the Power Rankings wasn’t too precipitous. Offence has been a little difficult to come by in the early going -- rookie Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll leads the team in scoring with three points -- but with their talent, things should improve quickly.
This week: at Red Deer (Friday), vs Moose Jaw (Saturday)
4) Saskatoon Blades (-)
If things keep going as well as they have for Saskatoon, they’ll be cracking the top three in the very near future. The Blades’ win over Brandon leaves them as the lone undefeated team in the Eastern Conference, in no small part due to the play of Tyler Parr (1-6-7) and Ben Riche (4-2-6), both of whom are in the top 10 in WHL scoring
This week: at Calgary (Wednesday), at Swift Current (Friday), vs. Everett (Saturday)
5) Red Deer Rebels (+1)
Back-to-back wins over Medicine Hat pushed the Rebels into the top five in the power rankings. Red Deer has yet to lose in regulation this season and have shown a penchant for winning close games, with a balanced offence putting up enough points to get the job done in the early part of the season.
This week: vs Medicine Hat (Friday), vs. Calgary (Saturday)
6. Prince Albert Raiders (-1)
The Raiders lost both games this past weekend, including a one-goal loss to the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday. Aiden Oiring had a goal and three points in that contest and leads Prince Albert with five points in four games. A total of 17 players have hit the scoresheet for Prince Albert already this season.
This week: vs. Everett (Friday)
7. Moose Jaw Warriors (-)
The defending WHL champions took three of four points off the Regina Pats in a home and home set over the weekend, winning a home Friday and falling in OT in Regina Saturday. Lynden Lakovic leads the team with six points in four games, but that could change soon as Brayden Yager recently returned from NHL camp.
This week: at Lethbridge (Friday), at Medicine Hat (Saturday)
8. Regina Pats (-)
The Pats continue their decent start to the season despite splitting their two games with Moose Jaw this past weekend. Zackary Shantz had a solid showing in Saturday’s contest with a goal and three points, and he currently sits tied for fifth in WHL scoring. Overage defenceman John Babcock also had a good game Saturday with three assists.
This week: vs. Edmonton (Saturday)
9. Edmonton Oil Kings (-)
It was a quiet week for Edmonton with a single game, but their win over Calgary was enough to hold their position in the Power Rankings. Alex Worthington had a solid showing in goal in the 4-1 win, while Gavin Hodnett had a goal and two points and leads the Oil Kings in scoring with five points in three games.
This week: at Brandon (Friday), at Regina (Saturday)
10. Calgary Hitmen (-)
Calgary split their first two games of the season with their loss in Edmonton before rebounding with a win over the Hurricanes. Offence has been a bit tough to come by in the earliest of early goings, with no player having more than two points, but that could change quickly with three games this week.
This week: vs. Saskatoon (Wednesday), at Red Deer (Saturday), vs. Vancouver (Sunday)
11. Swift Current Broncos (-)
The Broncos have had a tough time keeping the puck out of their own net in the first couple weeks of the season, but that didn’t keep them from finding their first win on Saturday against the Raiders. Brady Birnie and Luke Mistelbacher lead Swift Current in scoring with two goals and five points in four games each.
This week: vs. Saskatoon (Friday), at Brandon (Saturday)
