WHL Power Rankings: Week Six
Six teams increased their ranking in Week Six of the WHL Power Rankings, but things could get a shakeup as 15 talented youngsters leave their squads to represent Canada at the 2024 U17 World Challenge, which starts this weekend in Sarnia, Ont.
1. Everett Silvertips
1st U.S.- 12-2-0-0
It’s Week Six and the league-leading Silvertips just so happen to be on a six-game heater!
With 16 points in 14 games, Landon DuPont leads all rookies in points and sits third among blueliners (Anaheim Ducks prospect Tarin Smith is still first with 18 points).
Jesse Sanche is the WHL Goaltender of the Month with a near-perfect 9-2-0-0 start to the season and three wins in three nights over the weekend and a three-goal, four-assist week from first-year Silvertip Tyler MacKenzie has him tied for the league lead in goals (12) and tied for second in points (22).
And that’s just scratching the surface for a team that is firing on all fronts.
2. Saskatoon Blades
1st East- 10-2-1-0
The Blades have a spoil of Riche-s on their hands!
Veteran Ben Riche scored twice- including the overtime winner- and had an assist in Saskatoon’s lone match of the week, a 4-3 decision against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Riche is riding a six-game point streak that’s seen him string together five goals and six assists for 11 points to help keep Saskatoon atop the Eastern Conference.
Now, the Blades will head west for a five-game swing through the B.C. Division, starting with the Vancouver Giants on Friday night.
3. Prince George Cougars
1st B.C.- 8-4-2-2
The Cougars picked up three of a possible four points against Victoria and thumped the Moose Jaw Warriors to jump the Royals in the Power Rankings and the B.C. Division Standings.
Captain and Minnesota Wild prospect Riley Heidt had three goals and four assists (as did Washington Capitals prospect Terik Parascak) on the week to hit 300 career points with the Cougars- plus, he’s just seven away from 100 career goals.
Heidt will try to inch closer to that milestone as the Cougars visit the Kamloops Blazers on Friday.
4. Victoria Royals
2nd B.C.- 8-3-1-1
After getting doubled up 6-3 by the Cougars, the Royals salvaged their weekend with a 4-3 shootout win against the league’s northernmost squad.
Utah Hockey Club prospect and Royals captain Justin Kipkie led the way with a pair of goals and assists.
The Royals will continue to jockey with the Cougars for the division lead when they host the struggling Warriors on Friday to kick off a four-game homestand at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arean.
5. Tri-City Americans
3rd U.S.- 8-3-1-0
As impressive as Everett has been, another U.S. Division squad currently holds the hottest winning streak in the WHL.
Tri-City’s overtime win against the Edmonton Oil Kings extended the Americans’ run to seven games an the second-best win percentage in the Western Conference.
Colorado Avalanche prospect Max Curran paced the team with a goal and five assists in wins over the Oil Kings and Spokane Chiefs, while recently-signed Utah prospect Terrell Goldsmith buried the overtime winner for his first goal in an Ams uniform.
In fact, Tri-City could jump Spokane in the U.S. Division standings with a win when the Chiefs and Americans tee off on Saturday.
6. Lethbridge Hurricanes
1st Central- 8-3-1-0
The Hurricanes scored three unanswered goals to seal a 5-3 comeback win against the Red Deer Rebels on the night the team honoured 50 years of the Lethbridge Sportsplex and WHL hockey.
You can bet they made the dozens of Hurricanes and Lethbridge Broncos alumni who traveled from across North America to attend proud with the performance.
The Canes also got some revenge against Swift Current, beating the Broncos 3-1 after losing to the Saskatchewan squad earlier in the week. Lethbridge hasn’t lost in regulation time at home yet this season.
Plus, Nashville Predators prospect Miguel Marques is heating up with four goals and two assists in his last three games.
7. Spokane Chiefs
2nd U.S.- 9-6-0-0
Shea Van Olm scored twice and Rasmus Ekstrom played overtime hero as Spokane picked up its lone win of the week in a 4-3 decision against the visiting Vancouver Giants.
The Chiefs got dished a pair of losses against Tri-City (5-2) and Edmonton (6-3) to close out the week but peppered their opponents with 71 shots on net over two games.
Spokane looks to get back in the win column against a sliding Portland on Friday before seeking revenge against Tri-City on Saturday.
8. Medicine Hat Tigers
2nd Central- 8-6-0-0
The tide could truly be turning for the Tigers, who now have wins in seven of their last 10 games.
Despite getting doubled up by Red Deer (sometimes a certain team just has your number), Medicine Hat got right back up with a 5-1 win over Regina and narrow shootout victory against the Calgary Hitmen.
Gavin McKenna’s two-goal, three-assist week has him leading all skaters in points (23) and snagged the reigning WHL Rookie of the Year Player of the Month honours for September/October.
Oh yeah, he scored the shootout winner against Calgary, too.
9. Brandon Wheat Kings
3rd East- 7-4-1-1
Brandon is a case where the team may not have done anything to merit a drop in the rankings, per se, they just got jumped by higher-performing teams.
Still, the Wheaties had a great with Jaxon Jacobson picking up WHL Rookie of the Week after scoring twice in an overtime loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Blades and Marcus Nguyen potting the overtime winner to defeat the visiting Calgary Hitmen.
Brandon looks to close out a five-game homestand with at least a point in each game when it hosts Medicine Hat on Saturday.
10. Vancouver Giants
3rd B.C.- 7-4-2-0
Vancouver may have suffered back-to-back overtime losses to Wenatchee and Spokane on the road, but hey, points are points.
The Giants’ big guns were out in full force to close the week with a 3-1 win over Kamloops, with Montreal Canadiens prospect Tyler Thorpe scoring twice and San Jose Sharks prospect Colton Roberts and alternate captain Ty Halaburda adding two assists each.
Calgary Flames prospect Jaden Lipinski is also in fine form with four assists in his last three games with the Giants after a stint with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.
Vancouver faces a tough task with the Saskatoon Blades in Langley on Friday.
11. Swift Current Broncos
2nd East- 8-6-0-0
Back-to-back first-star performances from Brady Birnie powered Swift Current to wins over Lethbridge and Seattle before Lethbridge downed the Broncos to snap their four-game win streak.
Birnie had a goal and an assist in a four-goal comeback against the Canes on October 25 before erupting for his first WHL hat trick against the Thunderbirds.
Swift Current now has wins in seven of its last ten games, continuing their rise from the bottom of the standings to second in the East Division.
12. Edmonton Oil Kings
4th Central- 6-5-1-1
Edmonton got a cruel awakening in a 7-2 loss to the Everett Silvertips to start a U.S. Division road trip, but rebounded with wins over Portland (7-1) and Spokane (6-3) while also picking up a single point against Tri-City in an overtime loss.
Roan Woodward earned his first WHL hat trick versus Portland and Florida Panthers prospect Gracyn Sawchyn continues to carry the torch for the club with three goals and five assists this week.
Edmonton closes its road trip with matches against Seattle and Wenatchee this weekend.
13. Red Deer Rebels
3rd Central- 7-5-1-0
Rebels/Tigers has turned into a must-watch matchup this season, with Red Deer emerging victorious once again.
The Rebels are 4-1-0-0 against the Tabbies in 2024-25, with Carson Birnie falling a goal and an assist and Minnesota Wild prospect Chase Wutzke turning aside 40 shots in last week’s 4-2 win.
The Hurricanes pulled off a comeback win against Red Deer to close out the week, but the Rebels look to turn the tables with a rematch this weekend. Red Deer has only lost in regulation at home twice this year, while Lethbridge has just one road win.
14. Calgary Hitmen
5th Central- 5-5-2-1
Ben. Freaking. Kindel.
The top 2025 NHL Draft prospect scored twice, including the game-winner, in a 3-1 win over Regina before putting forward a two-goal, one-assist effort in an overtime loss to Brandon and one assist in a shootout L versus Medicine Hat.
Kindel now has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points on a seven-game point streak.
Calgary will try to slap the Hurricanes with their first home regulation loss of the season on Friday.
15. Kelowna Rockets
5th B.C.- 5-6-0-1
Kelowna only played one game his week, which doesn’t do much to carry a team up the rankings, but it was a great showing for an improving squad.
Utah prospect Tij Iginla scored his second hat trick of the season (and had a helper) while Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall chipped in a goal and three assists in a 6-0 rout of the Warriors.
Cristall is averaging a league-leading 2.67 points per game with 16 points in six matches. Four games have seen him pot three or more points so far.
Jake Pilon also turned aside all 17 shots he faced for his first career shutout.
Next up, Iggy and fellow 2024 Top-10 pick Berkly Catton will go head-to-head in Spokane on Tuesday, November 5.
16. Kamloops Blazers
4th B.C.- 6-7-1-1
WHL Player of the Week Nathan Behm followed up his insane six-point night with another four-point tilt in a 6-4 win over the Warriors.
Behm scored a goal and set up John Szabo three times for the new Blazers’ first hat trick.
Vancouver slapped the Blazers with a 3-1 loss afterward, but Kamloops is still rolling.
Behm is tied for the league lead in goals with his 12th and sits second in points with 22.
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