WHL Power Rankings: Week Two
‘Put some respect on my name’
-the Saskatoon Blades (probably)
1. Saskatoon Blades
1st East- 4-0-0-0
A lot of people thought Saskatoon would be in for some growing pains with a pile of star players from their historic 2023-24 season moving on to the professional ranks and university. Apparently, someone forgot to tell the players that because the Blades are the lone undefeated team in the WHL and our new Power Rankings leader.
Saskatoon is one of only five teams across the CHL that hasn’t been dished a loss yet and they’ve played the most games of that group.
Rowan Calvert scored twice to down the powerful Wheat Kings in a 4-3 victory, and Hudson Kibblewhite had the audacity to do this to the Calgary Hitmen:
Hudson Kibblewhite goes through the legs for his first goal of the year 🙀🙀🙀 pic.twitter.com/57qMmqOtbl
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) October 3, 2024
2. Prince George Cougars
2nd B.C.- 3-1-1-0
The cats are still hot.
Wenatchee dished Prince George its lone loss of the week, but the Cougars managed to double up the Vancouver Giants (6-3) and cruise to a 5-2 victory against Kelowna (5-2).
2025 NHL Draft-eligible forward Jett Lajoie has quietly had one of the best starts to the season of any WHL skater, piling up four goals and four assists in five games to sit second in the league in points.
Oh yeah, NHL prospects Riley Heidt (Minnesota Wild) and Terik Parascak (Washington Capitals) have picked right up where they left off from last season after returning from their NHL sojourn:
🎥HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT🎥
The boys are SO back!@PGCougars | @Capitals | @mnwild | #WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/OVDvo0MeaV
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 3, 2024
3. Spokane Chiefs
1st U.S.- 3-1-0-0
Spokane tackled its U.S. opposition with wins over Wenatchee (6-3) and Tri-City (4-1) to climb atop the division standings early.
2022 WHL Champion Shea Van Olm went off for three goals and two assists across the matches, surpassing 100 career points in major junior.
The veteran forward will suit up for his 200th WHL game on Friday night when the Chiefs host a Kelowna squad desperate for a win.
4. Brandon Wheat Kings
2nd East- 3-1-0-0
The Wheaties have continued their strong start with a 4-1 road win against Prince Albert but faltered in a tough 4-3 decision against the streaking Blades.
Top NHL prospect Roger McQueen picked up another two goals and a helper to lead the league with nine points, but offseason acquisition Marcus Nguyen has also been fitting in nicely, leading Brandon this week with three goals and an assist.
Stick taps are also in order for Ethan Eskit, who earned WHL Goaltender of the Week honours after posting 32 saves and a .970 save percentage against the Raiders.
5. Victoria Royals
1st B.C.- 3-0-1-0
The Royals are also making a strong case for the Power Rankings crown.
Victoria jumped eight spots this week after taking down Kelowna (2-1) and Kamloops (5-2).
The B.C. Division leaders have yet to lose in regulation time.
Winnipeg Jets prospect Markus Loponen snagged his first WHL goal this week, while Cole Reschny- another prime 2025 NHL Draft prospect- picked up a goal and two apples against Kamloops.
Next up, Victoria has a shot at revenge against the team that swept them in the 2024 WHL Playoffs when they face the Winterhawks in Portland on Friday.
6. Everett Silvertips
2rd U.S.- 2-1-0-0
Frankly, the Everett Silvertips made it look easy this week.
With a contingent of NHL prospects back on the roster, the Tips demolished Portland (8-2) and Kelowna (6-3) for their first wins of the young season.
Ducks prospect Tarin Smith registered a goal and four assists across his first two contests of the season, while fellow blueliner Landon DuPont was named WHL Rookie of the Week for his three assists.
Everett will look to continue the momentum on a six-game East Division road trip starting Friday in Prince Albert.
7. Red Deer Rebels
2nd Central- 2-0-1-0
The playoff rivalry between Red Deer and Medicine Hat has been renewed- and just like in the spring, the Rebels have come out on top.
Red Deer won tight back-to-back tilts against the highly-touted Tigers and knocked Medicine Hat out of first place in our rankings.
Eight different Rebels skaters found the back of the net in the games- including the squad’s newest captain and Seattle Kraken draft pick Ollie Josephson.
8. Medicine Hat Tigers
3rd Central- 1-2-0-0
Listen, the games were tight.
Medicine Hat fell 4-2 in Red Deer and 4-3 on home ice. Not a blowout by any means.
These teams do not like each other, and you can bet the Tigers will throw everything but the kitchen sink at the Rebels net as they complete a three-game set against their Central Division Rivals on Friday night.
9. Vancouver Giants
3rd B.C.- 2-1-0-0
The Giants may have lost their lone match of the week in a 6-3 loss to Prince George, but the bright spots are there.
Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Cameron Schmidt lit the lamp twice against the Cougars to tie Roger McQueen for the league goals lead (six) while alternate captain Ty Halaburda potted a goal and an assist and sensational 16-year-old defenceman Ryan Lin added a pair of helpers.
Vancouver now heads west to face the Hitmen on Sunday- and potentially reunite with the former captain Sam Honzek, whose fantastic NHL preseason play could earn him a roster spot with the Calgary Flames.
10. Portland Winterhawks
4th East- 2-1-0-0
You win some, you lose some.
The Winterhawks lost a big one at the hands of Everett this week, with newly minted captain Kyle Chyzowski picking up the team’s two goals.
You never know, the rough outing could provide a little extra fuel for this weekend’s home opener, which sees Portland take on former playoff opponent Victoria before facing the Prince George Cougars for the first time since eliminating the cats in Game 6 of the 2024 WHL Western Conference Championship.
11. Lethbridge Hurricanes
1st Central- 3-1-0-0
Call it a comeback.
After trailing Swift Current 3-1, Lethbridge scored five unanswered goals in the third period to down the Broncos in their playoff rematch on September 27.
Nashville Predators prospect Miguel Marques fired home the game-winner (and added an assist) while veteran Brayden Edwards picked up first star with a goal and three assists.
However, the team had no such luck against the Hitmen later in the week, taking a 3-1 loss on the chin.
12. Wenatchee Wild
2nd U.S.- 2-1-1-0
One of each, please!
After losing 6-3, to Spokane, the Wild gained a single point in a 5-4 overtime loss to Seattle before seizing a 4-2 win over Prince George to cap off a three-in-three set.
A three-assist night against the Chiefs has Maddix McCagherty in the team scoring lead, with a one-goal advantage over star forward Kenta Isogai- who also put up two goals and two assists this week.
13. Kelowna Rockets
5th B.C.- 0-4-0-0
Oh-and-four. Not what you want.
But the Rockets have too much talent not to turn it around.
Tij Iginla’s first goal of the season in a losing effort against high-powered Prince George could be a sign of good things to come as the Rockets embark on a weekend swing through Washington.
14. Prince Albert Raiders
4th East- 1-2-1-0
Prince Albert slipped up with a pair of losses to Brandon (4-1) and Swift Current (5-4).
The bright side? St. Louis Blues prospect Tomas Mrsic and Kraken pick Lukas Dragicevic picked up their first points in Raider green with Mrsic adding a goal and assist versus the Broncos and Dragicevic nabbing a pair of apples.
Prince Albert looked to shake off a tough week when they welcome Everett to town on Friday.
15. Calgary Hitmen
5th Central- 1-2-0-0
After starting the season slightly later than other teams, Calgary has given us a taste of what the new-look Hitmen squad can do- sans star blueliner Carter Yakemchuk, who is still with the Ottawa Senators.
Carson Westch reminded fans why the San Jose Sharks gravitated towards his energetic, in-your-face play with the game-winning goal and an assist in Calgary’s home opener against Lethbridge, and new pickup Connor Hvidston led the team with three helpers in two games.
Still, it’s only amounted to one win so far with a tough task against the Giants coming up on Sunday.
16. Moose Jaw Warriors
5th East- 1-2-1-0
The reigning champs have returned to the top 16 after picking up three of a possible four points in a home-and-away set against the Regina Pats last weekend.
Moose Jaw flexed its depth with seven different players lighting the lamp in a 4-2 win and 4-3 overtime loss.
If that wasn’t enough, getting Brayden Yager back from the Winnipeg Jets and slapping a ‘C’ on his chest is enough to seriously increase the excitement around this team.
Yager is all set to make his season debut in Lethbridge on Friday.
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