The WHL’s regular season has reached its final week, and although much has already been decided with regards to the standings, there is still much left to decide.
The question about which team would take home the Scotty Munro Trophy for finishing with the league’s best record has already been determined. The Saskatoon Blades clinched the trophy when they won 5-3 in Brandon last Wednesday. It was the fourth time in franchise history the Blades finished with the league’s best record, the last time coming in 1987-88.
The Blades are also one of two teams that have already clinched division titles. Saskatoon was the runaway winner in the East Division as the Blades currently lead second-place Moose Jaw by a whopping 26 points. The other division that’s already crowned a champion is the B.C. Division as Kelowna has pulled away from Vancouver.
In the Eastern Conference, seven of the eight playoff participants have been determined. Saskatoon, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Kootenay, Moose Jaw, Brandon and Edmonton have already clinched postseason berths, with Red Deer and Medicine Hat still in contention for the Central Division title. The last spot will go to either Prince Albert or Lethbridge, with Regina still having a mathematical chance of forcing a playoff for the eighth spot.
Less is settled in the Western Conference. Six teams have secured their spots in the playoffs: Portland, Kelowna, Spokane, Tri-City, Vancouver and Chilliwack. However, the battle for the conference’s top spot is still alive and well as Portland leads Spokane by just one point with both teams having four games remaining — including a head-to-head match-up in Portland on the season’s final day Sunday.
There’s also a furious battle taking place for the final two playoff spots as none of the remaining four teams have been eliminated. Prince George (66 points) and Everett (65 points) currently occupy the final two spots. But Kamloops (63 points) and Seattle (61 points) still are within striking distance. Prince George and Kamloops both have two games remaining — a home-and-home set against one another this weekend — while Everett and Seattle both have four games remaining.
Around the WHL
Chilliwack Bruins minority owner Moray Keith told the Chilliwack Times he is taking steps to try and keep the Bruins in Chilliwack. Rumors surfaced two weeks ago that the Bruins were on the brink of being sold and relocated to Victoria. … Kamloops leading scorer Brendan Ranford was suspended indefinitely by the league. During Friday’s 5-1 home loss to Kelowna, Ranford was given a game misconduct for physical abuse of an official when he cross checked linesman Kris Hartley while being escorted to the penalty box. … Two coaches were given one-game suspensions by the league. Lethbridge’s Rich Preston was suspended for a tirade that included tossing water bottles onto the ice at Kelowna on Mar. 5. Vancouver’s Don Hay was suspended after the Giants were involved in their third line brawl of the season last Wednesday against Chilliwack. … Red Deer’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was named the WHL Player of the Week. The 17-year-old center had five goals and seven assists as the Rebels went 3-0-1-0.
League leaders
Points — Linden Vey (Medicine Hat) 114; goals — Tyler Johnson (Spokane) 51; assists — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer) 74; penalty minutes — Darren Kramer (Spokane) 297; wins — Darcy Kuemper (Red Deer) 43; goals against average — Kuemper 1.85; save percentage — Kuemper .933.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.
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