Jovorock
09-22-2005, 01:36 PM
Coped from the Kelowna Capital News, I don't know about the Giants in fourth?
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Rockets tough to top in WHL B.C. division
Sep 21 2005
The Kelowna Rockets launch into the 2005-06 season as the defending Western Hockey League champs and the team to beat in the B.C. division. Kamloops, Kootenay, Vancouver and Prince George will provide the opposition in pursuit of the division banner.
Here's a look at each of the five B.C. teams and their projected order of finish.
Kelowna Rockets (04-05 record: 45-13-12-2)
With as many as eleven 19-year-olds on the roster this season, experience will be the Rockets' biggest asset.
Team leader Tyler Spurgeon will start the campaign on the injured list, but with a solid supporting cast which includes Justin Keller, Chris Ray and Blake Comeau, the club is expected to do plenty of scoring in 2005-06.
The club loses Shea Weber and Brett Palin from the defensive corps and has to hope the likes of veterans Mike Card and Kyle Cumiskey, Swede Alex Edler and sophomore Colin Joe will help fill the void. A trade for a veteran defenceman to add some blue line depth could be imminent.
With Derek Yeomans, 19, and Kris Westblom, 18, as the last line of defense, the Rockets arguably have the WHL's top goaltending duo.
2005-06 forecast: Expect another defensively disciplined, yet high energy style to be the trademarks of Rockets hockey once again. Head coach Jeff Truitt and first assistant Ryan Huska were successful in their debuts at their respective jobs last season leading the club to its third straight Memorial Cup appearance, and should prosper again in 2005-06.
Look for the Rockets to break the 45-win plateau for the fourth straight season, win the B.C. division and at least challenge for, if not capture, first place overall.
Kamloops Blazers (04-05 record: 26-37-7-2)
Mark Ferner, in his first full season as head coach, will look to 6-foot-6 goaltender Devan Dubnyk to backstop a young team with lots of potential.
European Roman Tesliuk, in his third WHL season, and Victor Bartley will anchor the defense along with newly acquired Brennan Chapman, a 20-year-old from the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Offensively skilled forward Kris Versteeg also came to Kamloops in the deal which saw forward Kris Hogg and blue liner Kelvin Sagert head east.
Centre Reid Jorgenson is coming off his best WHL season, while Ray Macias, one of the league's best skaters and the Blazers top point-getter last season (47), should have a bigger impact in his third year in the league.
Bruising forward Matt Kassian, Moises Gutierrez and overager Marc Connors help give the Blazers decent depth up front.
2005-06 forecast: The Blazers dipped below the 30-win mark last season for the first time since 1997. A year older, wiser and a little more skilled, expect the Blazers to win 35 to 38 games and finally make some noise in the playoffs.
Kootenay Ice (04-05 record: 47-15-7-3)
The Ice will lose scoring machine Nigel Dawes and possibly goaltender Jeff Glass to the pro ranks this season seasons, while defenceman Roman Polak signed a contract in his home country of the Czech Republic and will not return. Five-year man and captain Adam Taylor graduated along with defenceman James Cherewyk and forward Martin Sagat.
The losses are considerable, but with 20-year -old centre Dale Mahovsky expected back, and right winger Adam Cracknell and centre Ryan Russell in the mix, the Ice will still possess a potentially explosive offensive team. Mike Busto will lead a relatively inexperienced crew along with blue line. Centre Marek Curilla and defenceman Lukas Bohunicky, both WHL rookies, will fill the European slots.
2005-06 forecast: Cory Clouston's Ice caught many by surprise by winning the WHL's overall title last season and hope to perform some magic again in 05-06. While more than 40 wins is unlikely, a playoff spot is not. Look for a third-place finish.
Vancouver Giants (04-05 record: 34-30-4-4)
Head coach Don Hay, in his third season at the helm, will have to do without the likes of goaltender Marek Schwarz, who returned to the Czech Republic, defenceman Andrej Meszaros who will play pro, and defenceman Conlan Seder (University of Calgary).
Among the key veterans are 87-point man and Gilbert Brule (pending his return from Columbus Blue Jackets camp), defencemen Mark Fistric, Brett Festerling, and 18-year-old Cody Franson, and forwards Mitch Bartley, J.D. Watt and Tim Kraus.
2005-06 forecast: With many new faces in the lineup, the Giants are in small-scale rebuilding mode and should make the playoffs with fourth place being their final destination.
Prince George Cougars (04-05 record 26-41-3-2)
Mike Vandekamp, the former bench boss of the BCHL's Vernon Vipers, gets his first shot at coaching in the Western Hockey League.
The Cougars won't have their best player in defenceman Dustin Byfuglien back, and will look to the likes of overage forward Colin Patterson, sixth-round NHL draft pick Nick Drazenovic, center Eric Hunter and 19-year-old defenceman Andy Rogers to carry much of the load.
There's potential in the team's European talent with Swede Fred Wikner and Russian Alexandre Alexandrov both showing some offensive skill.
Goaltending should be competent with Scott Bowles and Real Cyr likely splitting the duties between the pipes.
2005-06 forecast: The Cougars missed the playoffs in each of the last two years, and on paper, don't appear to be dramatically better than last season. However, if Vandekamp can carry over his solid track record from the junior A level, look for the Cougars to latch on to the fourth and final playoff berth. If not, last place beckons once again.
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Rockets tough to top in WHL B.C. division
Sep 21 2005
The Kelowna Rockets launch into the 2005-06 season as the defending Western Hockey League champs and the team to beat in the B.C. division. Kamloops, Kootenay, Vancouver and Prince George will provide the opposition in pursuit of the division banner.
Here's a look at each of the five B.C. teams and their projected order of finish.
Kelowna Rockets (04-05 record: 45-13-12-2)
With as many as eleven 19-year-olds on the roster this season, experience will be the Rockets' biggest asset.
Team leader Tyler Spurgeon will start the campaign on the injured list, but with a solid supporting cast which includes Justin Keller, Chris Ray and Blake Comeau, the club is expected to do plenty of scoring in 2005-06.
The club loses Shea Weber and Brett Palin from the defensive corps and has to hope the likes of veterans Mike Card and Kyle Cumiskey, Swede Alex Edler and sophomore Colin Joe will help fill the void. A trade for a veteran defenceman to add some blue line depth could be imminent.
With Derek Yeomans, 19, and Kris Westblom, 18, as the last line of defense, the Rockets arguably have the WHL's top goaltending duo.
2005-06 forecast: Expect another defensively disciplined, yet high energy style to be the trademarks of Rockets hockey once again. Head coach Jeff Truitt and first assistant Ryan Huska were successful in their debuts at their respective jobs last season leading the club to its third straight Memorial Cup appearance, and should prosper again in 2005-06.
Look for the Rockets to break the 45-win plateau for the fourth straight season, win the B.C. division and at least challenge for, if not capture, first place overall.
Kamloops Blazers (04-05 record: 26-37-7-2)
Mark Ferner, in his first full season as head coach, will look to 6-foot-6 goaltender Devan Dubnyk to backstop a young team with lots of potential.
European Roman Tesliuk, in his third WHL season, and Victor Bartley will anchor the defense along with newly acquired Brennan Chapman, a 20-year-old from the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Offensively skilled forward Kris Versteeg also came to Kamloops in the deal which saw forward Kris Hogg and blue liner Kelvin Sagert head east.
Centre Reid Jorgenson is coming off his best WHL season, while Ray Macias, one of the league's best skaters and the Blazers top point-getter last season (47), should have a bigger impact in his third year in the league.
Bruising forward Matt Kassian, Moises Gutierrez and overager Marc Connors help give the Blazers decent depth up front.
2005-06 forecast: The Blazers dipped below the 30-win mark last season for the first time since 1997. A year older, wiser and a little more skilled, expect the Blazers to win 35 to 38 games and finally make some noise in the playoffs.
Kootenay Ice (04-05 record: 47-15-7-3)
The Ice will lose scoring machine Nigel Dawes and possibly goaltender Jeff Glass to the pro ranks this season seasons, while defenceman Roman Polak signed a contract in his home country of the Czech Republic and will not return. Five-year man and captain Adam Taylor graduated along with defenceman James Cherewyk and forward Martin Sagat.
The losses are considerable, but with 20-year -old centre Dale Mahovsky expected back, and right winger Adam Cracknell and centre Ryan Russell in the mix, the Ice will still possess a potentially explosive offensive team. Mike Busto will lead a relatively inexperienced crew along with blue line. Centre Marek Curilla and defenceman Lukas Bohunicky, both WHL rookies, will fill the European slots.
2005-06 forecast: Cory Clouston's Ice caught many by surprise by winning the WHL's overall title last season and hope to perform some magic again in 05-06. While more than 40 wins is unlikely, a playoff spot is not. Look for a third-place finish.
Vancouver Giants (04-05 record: 34-30-4-4)
Head coach Don Hay, in his third season at the helm, will have to do without the likes of goaltender Marek Schwarz, who returned to the Czech Republic, defenceman Andrej Meszaros who will play pro, and defenceman Conlan Seder (University of Calgary).
Among the key veterans are 87-point man and Gilbert Brule (pending his return from Columbus Blue Jackets camp), defencemen Mark Fistric, Brett Festerling, and 18-year-old Cody Franson, and forwards Mitch Bartley, J.D. Watt and Tim Kraus.
2005-06 forecast: With many new faces in the lineup, the Giants are in small-scale rebuilding mode and should make the playoffs with fourth place being their final destination.
Prince George Cougars (04-05 record 26-41-3-2)
Mike Vandekamp, the former bench boss of the BCHL's Vernon Vipers, gets his first shot at coaching in the Western Hockey League.
The Cougars won't have their best player in defenceman Dustin Byfuglien back, and will look to the likes of overage forward Colin Patterson, sixth-round NHL draft pick Nick Drazenovic, center Eric Hunter and 19-year-old defenceman Andy Rogers to carry much of the load.
There's potential in the team's European talent with Swede Fred Wikner and Russian Alexandre Alexandrov both showing some offensive skill.
Goaltending should be competent with Scott Bowles and Real Cyr likely splitting the duties between the pipes.
2005-06 forecast: The Cougars missed the playoffs in each of the last two years, and on paper, don't appear to be dramatically better than last season. However, if Vandekamp can carry over his solid track record from the junior A level, look for the Cougars to latch on to the fourth and final playoff berth. If not, last place beckons once again.