Thursday, 13 May 2021

Unique WHL season put to bed

Developmental campaign allowed games to return

Connor Zary had 24 points for the Blazers.
There were some bumps, but the WHL’s developmental regular season for 2020-21 accomplished its goal.

The major junior circuit, which plays under the CHL umbrella, was looking to get a shortened regular season in for the 2020-21 campaign for developmental purposes. With the world stuck in the grips of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the WHL faced a huge challenge trying to get games back on the ice with its member clubs located across four Canadian provinces and two states in the United States.

The WHL put in constant work dealing with four different provincial governments and four different provincial health authorities and long with two state governments and two state health departments trying to get back on the ice.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHL wasn’t able to complete its 2019-20 campaign with the regular season getting paused on March 12, 2020 before the rest of that campaign was ultimately cancelled.

As the months of September to December in 2020 came and went with no game action, one had to wonder if the WHL would take the ice at all. The OHL, which also plays under the CHL umbrella, never had a season of any kind in 2020-21.

From late January through February to March 2 of this year, the WHL succeed in getting return to play plans approved. Originally, each of the 22 member teams were scheduled to play 24 regular season games each.

Teams would only play against their division rivals, and no spectators were allowed to attend games.

The circuit experienced come hiccups with positive COVID-19 tests. Last Friday, the WHL announced it had conducted 9,735 tests for COVID-19 from February 12 to last Friday and only 14 results came back positive.

Still, the WHL regular season came to a successful end Wednesday, when the Kamloops Blazers blanked the Prince George Cougars 4-0 in Kamloops and the Kelowna Rockets slipped past the Victoria Royals 3-2 in Kelowna.

The WHL crowned champions for each of its four divisions and nine out of the 22 teams successfully played a 24-game regular season schedule.

The East Division contained all five of the WHL’s teams based in Saskatchewan and the two clubs located in Manitoba. Those seven clubs got all their regular season games in playing in a true bubble environment at the Brandt Centre in Regina.

When those seven clubs weren’t playing games, the players and staff all lived in the dorms at the University of Regina and Luther College, which is on the grounds of the U of R.

The East Division had the tightest divisional race, so in might have been huge all clubs in the division completed the entirety of their schedules.

The Brandon Wheat Kings topped the division with an 18-4-2 record edging out the Winnipeg Ice (18-5-1) by one standings point and the Saskatoon Blades (16-5-2-1) by three standings points. For their efforts, the Wheat Kings captured the Subway Cup.

Left-winger Ben McCartney led the Wheat Kings in scoring with 13 goals and 24 assists, while posting a plus-18 rating in the plus-minus department playing in all of Brandon’s 24 games.

Ice star centre Peyton Krebs led the entire WHL in scoring with 13 goals and 30 assists for 43 points in all of Winnipeg’s 24 games.

Jake Neighbours led the Oil Kings with 33 points.
Of course, 15-year-old phenom centre Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats gained most of the attention. He recorded 12 goals, 16 assists and a plus-nine rating in 15 games. The North Vancouver, B.C., product left the Pats early to help Canada win gold at the under-18 world hockey champions, which ran in late April and earlier this month in Frisco and Plano, Texas.

In the Central Division, the Lethbridge Hurricanes were able to play all of their 24 regular season games.

Positive COVID-19 test troubles with the Calgary Hitmen impacted the schedules of all the other teams. Still, the Hitmen played 21 regular season games, while Edmonton Oil Kings, Medicine Hat Tigers and Red Deer Rebels each played 23 regular season games.

The Oil Kings were the class of the division finishing first with a 20-2-0-1 record. Edmonton actually collected enough points in the standings to lock up top spot overall in the WHL even if every other team completed their originally scheduled 24-game regular seasons.

Star Oil Kings left-winger Jake Neighbours topped all Central Division players in scoring collecting nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points in 19 games played to go with a plus-29 rating.

In the U.S. Division, the Portland Winterhawks successfully completed their 24-game regular season. Positive COVID-19 test troubles involving the Tri-City Americans caused some cancellations in the U.S. Division schedule.

The Americans themselves still played 19 regular season games.

The Everett Silvertips topped the division with a 19-4 record. The Silvertips had enough points in the standings that they would have still finished first even if all the scheduled games in the U.S. Division were successfully completed.

Star netminder Dustin Wolf had an outstanding season with the Silvertips posting an 18-3 record, a 1.80 goals against average, a .940 save percentage and four shutouts.

Both the Central and U.S. Divisions played with teams playing out of their home rinks and players staying with their billet families.

The B.C. Division operated in a modified bubble playing games in Kamloops and Kelowna. The Royals, Prince George Cougars and Vancouver Giants all stayed in hotels, while the Blazers and Rockets stayed will billet families.

A major COVID-19 outbreak on the Rockets dented the B.C. Division’s schedule. The Rockets played the fewest games out of any WHL team at 16, and the other four B.C. Division teams each got 22 games in.

The Blazers topped the division with an 18-4 record allowing them to capture the RE/MAX Cup. Kamloops was the only repeat division winner from a year ago.

The Rockets only had a 10-lateral, 99-yard touchdown play chance of ending up with more standings points than the Blazers, if both teams made it to 24 games played.

The Rockets would have had to win all of their last eight games and hope the Blazers were limited to just picking up one point in the standings over their final two games.

Kelowna was awarded second place in the division due to its winning percentage coming from a 10-5-1 record.

Centre Josh Pillar topped the Blazers in scoring collecting 11 goals and 18 assists to go with a plus-11 rating playing in all of his team’s 22 games.

The Blazers ended the campaign winning six straight and were missing star captain Connor Zary for the last seven of their contests. He was injured on April 28 after taking a high hit from Cougars left-winger Jonny Hooker in a game the Cougars won 5-1 in Kamloops.

Hooker served a four game suspension for that hit.

Peyton Krebs led the WHL with 43 points this season.
Zary had six goals, 18 assists and a plus-nine rating in the 15 games he played for the Blazers.

For about three months from February 26 to this past Wednesday, WHL fans were able to enjoy following their team’s exploits, which may have included watching games online.

The fact the circuit got the games in it did is a major accomplishment.

Now league followers have to wait and see what an upcoming 2021-22 campaign will look like. At the moment, the start date is still foggy, but it could still potentially be in September or October.

The WHL will try to conduct as season that is as normal as possible, but in these COVID-19 times even with vaccines rolling out, there are still no guarantees.

Chinn named Huskies chief athletics officer

The Shannon Chinn era is beginning for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

On Tuesday, the University of Saskatchewan and Huskie Athletics announced Chinn as the incoming chief athletics officer. She will begin her new position on June 15.

Chinn replaces outgoing chief athletics officer Dave Hardy, who is retiring. Hardy joined the Huskies in August of 2019 for what was originally set to be a two-year interim basis.

Born and raised in Regina, Chinn has most recently been working as the director of Look Sports, which is the Ontario-based Look Company. That company is responsible for the signing and branding at many large stadiums and sporting events in Canada.

In Saskatchewan, Chinn became well connected after holding the role of manager of corporate partnerships and game day operations with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2006 to 2010, which included their Grey Cup championship year in 2007.

Chinn, 45, is an elected Football Canada board member, on the business development committee, the female development committee and co-chair of the diversity task force.

She has also worked for the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and TSN.

Before embarking on her sports administration career, Chinn was a player with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees women’s basketball team and played for Saskatchewan’s women’s provincial team program. She has a bachelor’s degree in human kinetics from the University of Ottawa.

“I am appreciative of all of the previous leaders, coaches and athletes who have laid the strong and successful foundation here,” said Chinn in a release. “I look forward to building on their hard work to improve the student-athlete experience, amplify the high-performance culture, and raise the pride and profile through student and community engagement to take Huskie Athletics to the next level.”

Hulak returns to Huskies as assistant coach, other notes

Derek Hulak is coming home.

On Thursday, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies announced Hulak will be joining the men’s hockey team as an assistant coach. Hulak is popular in the Saskatoon and area hockey community, and he has a long history of being a skilled forward for many programs.

From 2004 to 2006, Hulak played two seasons for the Saskatoon Contacts male under-18 AAA team appearing 76 regular season games piling up 34 goals and 53 assists.

The Saskatoon product started his WHL career with the Regina Pats playing one game as an associate player call up in 2005-06 and 19 games to start the 2006-07 campaign with the Regina Pats. In his 20 games with the Pats, Hulak had six goals and four assists.

He was traded to his hometown Saskatoon Blades and remained with the Blades through the end of the 2009-10 campaign. Hulak was the Blades captain in his final season with the team.

In 247 career regular season games with the Blades, Hulak recorded 89 goals, 143 assists and a plus-23 rating in the plus-minus department.

Following his time with the Blades, Hulak started the 2010-11 season with the Tulsa Oilers in the Central Hockey League before joining the Huskies halfway through that campaign.

Derek Hulak pictured in 2015.
Hulak remained with the Huskies through the end of the 2013-14 campaign appearing in 87 career regular season games recording 34 goals, 89 assists and a plus-29 rating.

He was the Canada West Conference scoring champion during the 2011-12 campaign, when the Huskies won the conference title, and in his final season in 2013-14. Hulak was named the MVP of the Canada West Conference in his final season with the Huskies and the MVP of the U Sports championship tournament that was hosted in Saskatoon where the Huskies fell in the final to their “forever rivals” the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

On top of playing for the Huskies, Hulak moved back to the professional ranks in 2013-14 joining the Texas Stars of the AHL, and he helped them win the Calder Cup as league champions.

Hulak would play seven more seasons professionally before finishing with HC Thurgau this past season in Switzerland. The 31-year-old Hulak has kept strong with the former programs he played for in Saskatoon.

Hulak’s addition to the coaching staff of the Huskies men’s hockey team under the direction of head coach Mike Babcock will be popular in Saskatoon and area.

  • I created a couple of new posts that went live on Sunday for the Howe Happenings blog, which supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. The first piece was an enjoyable one to write on Derek Rope, who is one of the newest Board of Directors members for the Friends of the Bowl. Rope is a long time coach and administrator in track and field, where he has had a focus on indigenous athletes. He was once a member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s track and field team too. The story on Rope can be found by clicking right here. I also put together another photo round of happenings at the Complex. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
  • On Tuesday, the Western Canadian Softball Association cancelled all its western championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. WCSA stated it ultimately felt the championships were no longer viable while ensuring the health and well-being of all athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators.
  • Tickets are on sale for the May jackpot for the Saskatchewan Amateur Football Mega 50/50 lottery. The funds from this 50/50 lottery will go to support the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Thunder and the WWCFL’s Saskatoon Valkyries and Regina Riot. The draw date will be May 31. Tickets can be purchased by clicking right here, and purchasers must be in Saskatchewan in order to buy tickets.
  • On Wednesday, five members from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team and three members of the University of Regina Rams were given roster recognition for the U Sports East-West Bowl. The Huskies named to the roster included defensive lineman Nathan Cherry, running back Adam Machart, defensive back Charlie Ringland, kicker David Solie and offensive lineman Noah Zerr. The Rams named to the roster included defensive back Jaxon Ford, receiver Bennett Stusek and linebacker Ryder Varga. The U Sports East-West Bowl won’t be played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • On Wednesday, power forward Parker Kelly, who is an alumnus of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, made his NHL debut for the Ottawa Senators. He scored the Senators third goal in their 4-3 overtime victory on home ice at the Canadian Tire Centre against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kelly played four seasons for the Raiders from 2015 to 2019 appearing in 273 career regular season games posting 93 goals, 95 assists and a plus-50 rating. He helped the Raiders win the WHL title in 2018-19. The Senators finished the 2020-21 regular season with a 23-28-5 record.
  • On Thursday, organizers of the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo in Calgary, Alta., are postponing this year’s event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The expo was planned tentatively to run July 30 to August 2. No new dates for the expo were announced.
  • On Thursday, the WHL announced it raised $19,455 for the Canadian Mental Health Association in Western Canada through the Goals for Mental Health campaign presented by RE/MAX. RE/Max donated $15 for every goal scored by the 17 WHL clubs in Western Canadian markets this past season.
  • On Thursday, the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts signed University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team defensive back Josh Hagerty. The Argonauts selected the U Sports standout in the sixth round and 47th overall in the CFL Draft on May 4.
  • Two years ago today, the Prince Albert Raiders won the WHL Championship  in an epic Game 7 league title clash against the visiting Vancouver Giants at the Art Hauser Centre. Dante Hannoun scored the winner in overtime to give the Raiders a 3-2 victory. I was in the building live that night, and my blog post about that came can be found by clicking right here.
  • Taking a cue from sites and platforms that cover and comment on sports entertainment’s professional wrestling, please feel free to like and share this blog post on social media. It does help this blog.
  • Speaking of professional wrestling, there is no question that Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada’s own Chris Jericho has reached legend status in that industry. At age 50, he still performs at a high level. Jericho will always be remembered as one of the greatest on the microphone. At AEW shows, the fans show respect for Jericho by singing his theme song “Judas,” when he comes out for matches. Jericho’s rock band, Fozzy, created that theme song. It is a moment that gives you chills. You can see that moment on the AEW Dynamite show on May 5, when he headed to the ring with his Inner Circle stable for a War Games style “Blood and Guts” match. That entrance is shown in the tweet below.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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