WHL Power Rankings – Week 19: Loads of Talent in Top 10


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The last two weeks in the WHL have been interesting. I think it separated the teams into a clearer picture of who has a chance to win the title. I believe any team in the top 10 on these rankings has the talent to win it all. The teams at 11-15 are the teams looking for an invite to the party. They have shown signs but cannot get over that hump. I will not give the teams at 16-22 more than two sentences of respect. These teams are not very good, and when I see them on the Winterhawks schedule, I assume it is going to be a win.

The Winterhawks are playing superb hockey right now. They have won five in a row and eight of their last ten. Adin Hill is still tending goal better than anyone in the league. Just imagine if he had been playing all season. Portland has an extremely favorable schedule coming up with only two of the next ten games coming against team in the top ten.

These rankings are so jam packed at the top, it is going to be hard to crack the top three but that doesn’t mean that Portland is any worse than those teams.

Checkout where the Winterhawks fell in Week 19’s WHL Power Rankings:

[table colwidth=”8%|18%|8%|8%|8%|50%” colalign=”center|center|center|center|center|left” rowlalign=”center”]
RANK,TEAM,REC,TREND,PREV,COMMENTS

1,Brandon Wheat Kings,35-9-4,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +3,4,”Brandon Wheat Kings~~The Wheat Kings are one of the hottest teams in the league. Winners of six in a row, they are firmly atop the rankings this week. They have earned at least a point in 80% of their games, which is absolutely incredible. ”
2,Medicine Hat Tigers,33-12-2,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,1,”Medicine Hat Tigers~~The Tigers are also clicking on all cylinders right now. They have won four straight games in which they scored at least five goals in each of them. Next Wednesday they have a huge matchup against the one team ahead of them in these rankings.”
3,Kelowna Rockets,36-8-3,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,2,”Kelowna Rockets~~The Rockets currently own the best record in the entire WHL. So don’t fret about them being at #3, they just aren’t currently playing as well as the Tigers and Wheat Kings. Kelowna is still one of the best teams in the league and will undoubtedly be in the conversation come playoff time. ”
4,Red Deer Rebels,27-14-6,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +1,5,”Red Deer Rebels~~Out of all the teams that are currently playing great, the Rebels are THE hottest team in the WHL right now. They have not had a regulation loss in eight games. Other than a matchup against the Rockets this week, the schedule is quite favorable for the rebels for the near future. ”
5,Portland Winter Hawks,28-19-3,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +1,6,”Portland Winterhawks~~Portland is playing some of the best hockey in the league right now. They have won five straight and firmly planted themselves into the top three of the Western Conference. It will be a challenge, but they can catch Everett within the next two week if they keep it up.”
6,Everett Silvertips,30-14-4,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -3,3,”Everett Silvertips~~It was a reality check for the Silvertips last weekend. With two road games against the Rockets, they proved they aren’t ready to hang with the big dogs. They gave up 14 goals in the two games and looked completely outmatched. I will take this with a grain of salt as they were on the road, but Silvertip fans should be wary. ”
7,Calgary Hitmen,27-17-5,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +1,8,”Calgary Hitmen~~The Hitmen followed up a three game slump like any good team does. They won their next four games by a combined 25-4 score. That could be the best four game stretch a team has had this season.”
8,Victoria Royals,26-19-4,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +1,9,”Victoria Royals~~The Royals are also establishing themselves as a player in this league. Having not been beaten in regulation in seven games, they have climbed the standings and shown they have the ability to compete with the best. We all hope that this seven game streak comes to an end this week in Portland. ”
9,Regina Pats,26-17-5,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -2,7,”Regina Pats~~It has been a rough eight days for the Pats. They had five games in that eight-day stretch, and didn’t win one of them. This included absolute drubbings by Edmonton, Calgary, and Brandon. Regina is slowly slipping out of the WHL contender conversation with their recent play.”
10,Kootenay Ice,26-22-1,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +4,14,”Kootenay Ice~~I do not remember exactly what week it was, but this team was ten games under .500 at one point. I even declared the Ice would never climb out of the twenties on these rankings. Well I was way wrong; this team has completely turned it around. This next home stand will show whether they belong or not with games against Brandon, Kelowna, and Medicine Hat. ”
11,Seattle Thunderbirds,23-18-5,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +1,12,”Seattle Thunderbirds~~Seattle is climbing but still outside the top ten. They do not have the same talent that the teams above them have yet still win more than they lose. With an extremely favorable schedule upcoming, I expect them to keep winning but I do not think they belong in the same conversation as the teams in the top ten. ”
12,Edmonton Oil Kings,22-21-6,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,11,”Edmonton Oil Kings~~This team is still struggling to put a good stretch of games together. Though over the past two weeks they have managed to put a losing streak together. I honestly believe the defending champs will not be returning to glory this year. ”
13,Spokane Chiefs,23-20-4,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -3,10,”Spokane Chiefs~~Spokane has completely lots its mojo. In the last four games, they have scored one goal. I am sure it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know the outcomes of those games. If they want to salvage this season, they better start scoring a.s.a.p. ”
14,Swift Current Broncos,21-22-5,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,13,”Swift Current Broncos~~The Broncos biggest problem is the defensive side of the puck. The last three games, they have seen the puck go in their own net 17 times. They have only scored five in that period, so doing the math here, and that equals three losses. At one time I thought this team had a chance to compete with the big boys, but it is looking like the opposite now. ”
15,Tri-City Americans,24-23-2,—,15,”Tri-City Americans~~Tri-City has been struggling to put wins together. In fact, it has been almost three months since they were able put more than two wins together in a row. So it should be no surprise that they are hovering around the .500 mark. ”
16,Vancouver Giants,20-27-2,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +1,17,”Vancouver Giants~~The Giants are not a good hockey team. They have given up eight goals in a game twice over the last five days. I think 16 is the highest they will get on this rankings board the rest of the season.”
17,Moose Jaw Warriors,20-25-4,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +2,19,”Moose Jaw Warriors~~The Warriors fall into the category of consistently inconsistent. They are 5-5 in their last ten and don’t seem to have any interest of winning more games than losing. ”
18,Prince Albert Raiders,19-27-1,—,18,”Prince Albert Raiders~~The Raiders are solidifying themselves as one of the leagues worst teams. They are currently riding a four game losing streak where they got outscored 18-7. No team is favorable to them at this point.”
19,Kamloops Blazers,18-25-6,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +1,20,”Kamloops Blazers~~The Blazers are last place in the Western Conference and that’s even after winning four of their last five. If they want to make the playoffs, they will need to win out and have several teams drop out of the WHL entirely. ”
20,Saskatoon Blades,14-29-3,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +2,22,”Saskatoon Blades~~So the Blades jumped two spots this week. Does that mean you should jump on the bandwagon now? Probably not, this five game win streak is bound to come to an end and most likely turn into a five game losing streak.”
21,Prince George Cougars,20-29-2,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -5,16,”Prince George Cougars~~Officially the coldest team in the league right now. They have gone ten straight games without a win. As much as the odds say they will eventually win, I am not optimistic about it. ”
22,Lethbridge Hurricanes,11-28-6,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,21,”Lethbridge Hurricanes~~Just when I thought teams couldn’t be any worse than the Blazers, Blades, Cougars, and Raiders, along comes the Hurricanes. Only four teams in the league have less than 20 wins. The Hurricanes have 11. That is the only stat you need.”

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Ryan Boshoven
Ryan is a former Division 1 athlete now working in the world of sport marketing. He earned his Master's Degree in Sports Business. He likes to spend his free time playing golf and going to sporting events. Ryan also has two brothers that are the same age as him. "Being a triplet is pretty awesome!" he says.
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