WHL Power Rankings: Preseason Edition
We’re so back.
Ahead of the 2024-25 WHL season kickoff on Friday, September 20, WHL staff voted on who could clinch the Scotty Munro Trophy as the league’s regular-season champion.
On paper, it looks like this campaign could turn into a battle of the big cats.
1. Medicine Hat Tigers
Last season: 4th East (37-23-6-2)
This one was unanimous.
Teeming with elite talent like 2024 WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year Gavin McKenna, NHL prospects like Cayden Lindstrom (Columbus Blue Jackets), Andrew Basha (Calgary Flames) and new acquisition Ryder Ritchie (Minnesota Wild), the Tigers are out for blood- and their first WHL Championship since 2007. If that wasn’t enough, Medicine Hat has also brought in top imports in Finnish defencemen Niilopekka Muhonen (Dallas Stars) and Veeti Vaisanen (Utah Hockey Club). Returning players haven’t forgotten the sting of a first-round exit at the hands of Red Deer in the spring and plan to come back firing- especially since they’ll be getting their opponent’s best effort night after night. The CHL has also clocked the Tigers as the best major junior club across Canada and the United States in its preseason poll.
2. Prince George Cougars
Last season: 1st West (49-15-4-1)
Coming off the best season the Cougars have seen since moving to Prince George in 1994, the Cats look to continue their dominance after coming just short of the WHL Championship Series. Hat trick machine Zac Funk (Washington Capitals) may have graduated from the league, but 2024 Rookie of the Year nominee and Washington Capitals prospect Terik Parascak will look to grow from super rookie to super sophomore. Minnesota Wild prospect Riley Heidt remains one of the top scoring threats in the Western Conference, and all eyes will be on 2025 NHL Draft-eligible netminder Joshua Ravensbergen, who posted a record-tying six shutouts in his rookie WHL season. TSN’s pre-draft rankings have Ravensbergen slated as a potential first-round pick- an increasing rarity for netminders.
3. Kelowna Rockets
Last season: 5th West (33-30-4-1)
Could the Kelowna Rockets get some playoff revenge on the Cougars and push for the top of the conference? With two 40-plus goal scorers in Utah’s first-ever draft selection Tij Iginla and Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall, the Rockets have plenty of fuel in the tank to get it done. Nashville Predators prospect Hiroki Gojsic looks to continue his monster second half of the 2023-24 season, while his younger brother, Kanjyu, will further reinforce the balanced Kelowna offense. To put it simply, Lake Okanagan may have a maximum depth of 232 metres, but Kelowna’s roster might just be deeper.
4. Everett Silvertips
Last season: 3rd West (45-18-2-3)
Despite losing co-captains Ben Hemmerling (Vegas Golden Knights) and Austin Roest (Nashville Predators), the Silvertips boast plenty of elite young talent- including the first defenceman to receive exceptional status to play in the WHL, Landon DuPont. The ‘Tips developed a trio of the WHL’s top rookies in 2024 who will look to take further strides this campaign- netfront monster Julius Miettinen (Seattle Kraken), calm defender Tarin Smith (Anaheim Ducks) and 2025 NHL Draft-eligible Carter Bear.
5. Prince Albert Raiders
Last season: 8th East (31-32-2-3)
The Raiders have made the biggest jump of any team from the 2023-24 season to our preseason rankings. Prince Albert made an offseason splash by acquiring NHL prospects like Lukas Dragicevic (Seattle Kraken) and Tomas Mrsic (St. Louis Blues), but they’ll also reap draft rewards with 2023 first-overall pick Daxon Rudolph, second overall pick Riley Boychuk and seventh overall pick Ty Meunier gunning for some WHL action. In net, Max Hildebrand will also try to build on a breakout season between the pipes.
6. Spokane Chiefs
Last season: 8th West (30-32-5-1)
Listen, the U.S. Division is a Kraken fan’s dream right now. Seattle’s 2024 eighth-overall pick and WHL Player of the Year nominee Berkly Catton is back to wreak havoc on the Western League after a 54-goal campaign that saw him snag a league-best seven shorthanded tallies. The D-corps is bolstered by veterans like Saige Weinstein (Colorado Avalanche), Nathan Mayes (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Will McIsaac (St. Louis Blues) while Dawson Cowan and Cooper Michaluk will form a solid goaltending tandem. Don’t sleep on 2023 U.S. Priority Draft first-overall pick and Washington product Brody Gillespie, either.
7. Calgary Hitmen
Last season: 9th East (28-31-8-1)
After coming an agonizing three points short of the 2024 WHL Playoffs, the Calgary Hitmen are locked and loaded. Can 2024 NHL seventh-overall pick Carter Yakemchuk (Ottawa Senators) top his astonishing 30-goal run as a defenceman from last season? We’ll just have to wait and see… But San Jose Sharks pick Carson Wetsch, import stud Robin Svancara and top 2025 NHL Draft-eligible Ben Kindel and Reese Hamilton are expected to provide plenty of run support of their own. Fans and scouts flocking to the Saddledome this season are sure to be entertained.
8. Moose Jaw Warriors
Last season: 3rd East (44-21-0-3)
Our ears are still ringing after the Warriors and their fans blew the roof off the Hangar as Moose Jaw claimed its first WHL Championship in May! But with a roster that stacked, several Warriors may be making the jump to the big show. Can returning leaders like Brayden Yager (Winnipeg Jets) and Kalem Parker (Minnesota Wild) and up-and-comers like Lynden Lakovic (2025 Draft-eligible) continue to ride the wave of victory?
9. Portland Winterhawks
Last season: 2nd West (48-15-4-1)
Further to our last point, can Portland harness the power of sweet revenge after falling to Moose Jaw in the 2024 WHL Championship Series? Nate Danielson (Detroit Red Wings), James Stefan (Edmonton Oilers), Luca Cagnoni (San Jose Sharks) and Gabe Klassen (Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins) may be moving on, but defensive juggernauts Tyson Jugnauth (Seattle Kraken) and Carter Sotheran (Philadelphia) can work the blue line and the net. Besides, if time has taught us anything, you can never count a Mike Johnston-coached team out of the running.
10. Vancouver Giants
Last season: 6th West (32-32-4-0)
There’s no easy way to replace WHL Goaltender of the Year Brett Mirwald or Calgary Flames prospect Samuel Honzek, but the Giants will see a large chunk of a very promising roster returning this season. Cameron Schmidt’s scoring prowess will have NHL scouts salivating, while a full season of Connor Levis (Winnipeg Jets) and healthy power forward Ty Thorpe (Montreal Canadiens) will keep fans on the edge of their seats. On defence, alternate captain Mazden Leslie and recent San Jose Sharks selection Colten Roberts will do their best to terrorize the opposition.
11. Brandon Wheat Kings
Last season: 6th East (33-28-6-1)
In TSN’s 2025 Pre-Draft Rankings, one NHL scout dished Wheat Kings standout Roger McQueen a first-overall vote, while others had him ranked anywhere from second to 10th. Basically, the 6-foot-5, 193-pound centre is primed and ready to do some damage this season. There’ plenty of size to be found elsewhere in Brandon’s lineup- including 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-shot defenceman Charlie Elick (Columbus Blue Jackets) and workhorse Philadelphia Flyers prospect (and World Juniors hopeful) Carson Bjarnason. Fans will also get to see what 2023 WHL fifth-overall pick Jaxon Jacobson can do in his first full season after potting four goals and two assists in seven games as a 15-year-old last campaign.
12. Victoria Royals
Last season: 7th West (29-30-5-4)
So long, rebuild. The Royals are back in the mix and ready to fight for a top spot in the conference after making a return to the WHL Playoffs in 2024. Draft-eligible forward Cole Reschny is headed back to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre with a fresh new gold medal from summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup and heightened expectations after a 21-goal rookie campaign. NHL prospects Nate Misskey (San Jose Sharks) and Justin Kipkie (Utah Hockey Club) will help mold up-and-coming defenceman and fourth-overall WHL pick Keaton Verhoeff (who happens to be a cousin of Kirby and Colton Dach).
13. Red Deer Rebels
Last season: 5th East (33-26-3-6)
Hard-nosed, grit and grind hockey will continue to be a part of the Red Deer’s style in 2024-25, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Rebels end up surpassing this initial ranking- after all, they did manage to take down the Tigers in the first round of the 2024 WHL Playoffs. There’s plenty of skill on the roster with Kalan Lind (Nashville Predators), Ollie Josephson (Seattle Kraken) and Chase Wutzke (Minnesota Wild) slated to return and 2022 WHL first-round pick Luke Vlooswyk and highly-anticipated import forward Kasper Pikkarainen joining the fray.
14. Lethbridge Hurricanes
Last season: 7th East (33-28-7-0)
Another group that could make a case to climb this list, Lethbridge has top talent at all positions and a lot of continuity from last season. Headlined by Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and WHL/CHL Scholastic Player of the Year Noah Chadwick, the Canes also have WHL Goaltender of the Year nominee Harrison Meneghin (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Nashville Predators prospect Miguel Marques on the roster. Will this group be the one to help Lethbridge break past the first round and gain some Memorial Cup buzz?
15. Edmonton Oil Kings
Last season: 10th East (27-37-3-1)
Welcome to the Power Rankings, Edmonton! The Oil Kings have gone through some growing pains since winning it all in 2022, but started trending up near the end of the 2023-24 regular season. There’s plenty of NHL pedigree in Florida Panthers prospect Gracyn Sawchyn and top European players Adam Jecho (St. Louis Blues) and rookie Miroslav Holinka (Toronto Maple Leafs). Plus, Joe Iginla is primed for his inaugural WHL campaign after putting up five points (three goals, two assists) in five games last season. He’s never faced his older brother, Tij, in competitive hockey, but it could happen for the first time from Kelowna visits Edmonton on March 7.
16. Saskatoon Blades
Last season: 1st East (50-13-2-3)
Finally, the 2024 Scotty Munro Trophy winners find themselves with a lot to prove. Fan favourites like Egor Sidorov (Anaheim Ducks), Fraser Minten (Toronto Maple Leafs), Charlie Wright (Coachella Valley) and Captain Trevor Wong (University of Saskatchewan) are moving on, while Tanner Molendyk (Nashville Predators) and Brandon Lisowsky (Toronto Maple Leafs) will try to keep the winning ways going. The Blades still boast stellar goaltending options in recent Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick and WHL Rookie and Humanitarian of the Year nominee Evan Gardner, Austin Elliott and 2023 WHL Prospect Draft pick Ryley Budd.
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