The 2021 Western Hockey League season has been advertised as a “developmental” campaign.
For the teams, the pro scouts and university recruiters, that means a chance to see the young men between the ages of 15 and 21 strut their stuff for 24 games. Most of the seven teams in the East Division “Dubble” in Regina have taken the word “development” seriously and have given their young prospects plenty of ice time and opportunity to do just that…develop.
For the most part, those teams have to like what they’re seeing!
All seven teams in Regina have their 2019 first round Bantam Draft picks on their rosters and all of them, except Brandon, have their 2020 first round Bantam choices suiting up for games. The adage that you build from the Draft has never been more evident than from seeing what the young guys have done thus far.
For the Saskatoon Blades, Brandon Lisowsky (pictured) is playing second line with captain Chase Wouters and fellow overager Caiden Daley. The 2004-born Lisowsky, the ninth overall selection in 2019, has seven points in eight games…tied for fourth amongst East Division rookies. The Port Coquitlam, B-C, product is on the Bridge City Bunch’s second power play unit and doesn’t look out of place at all! The same goes for the fifth overall pick in the 2020 Bantam Draft by the Blue and Gold. While defenceman Tanner Molendyk (pictured below) is being eased into the action by head coach Mitch Love, the now 16-year-old pride of McBride, B-C, has rated serious consideration to be an every game player…maybe the best of the freshmen blue-liners already, even though he’s younger than all of them!
But, Molendyk isn’t the only 2005-born sensation here in Regina! Not even close!!
Of course, there’s Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats…the “holy child” as he has been dubbed by media nickname machine Rod Pedersen on Access 7 telecasts of Pats’ games in the Regina area. Bedard has a point in all eight games he has played in and trails only Winnipeg’s Peyton Krebs for the East Division scoring lead with his 13 points, including six goals. He has superstar written all over him!
So, too, for that matter does Saskatoon product Brayden Yager. Unlike Bedard, Yager wasn’t afforded “Exceptional Status” by Hockey Canada, but the COVID-19 pandemic put them at the same level, development-wise. The 2005-born Yager, the third overall choice in the 2020 Bantam Draft, hasn’t disappointed the Moose Jaw Warriors, skating on their second line and seeing time on the first power play unit! He has six points in nine games, two of them goals…three of the points coming on the power play, including a man-advantage snipe!
And, so on, and so forth it goes for all seven teams!
The Warriors are thrilled with 2019 first rounder Denton Mateychuk on defence, already seeing second pairing minutes. Swift Current forward Matthew Ward may be looking for his first W-H-L goal…but he has 10 assists to be among the Division leaders in that stat. He was the 14th overall selection in the 2019 Draft by the Broncos. Winnipeg is utilizing 15-year-old Zachary Benson and 16-year-old Connor Geekie as every game players and they’ve produced. Benson was the ICE’s 2020 first round pick, Geekie the second overall choice behind future team-mate Matthew Savoie in the 2019 Draft. The Prince Albert Raiders are playing 2019 first round selection Niall Crocker on a regular basis while Brandon has all three of their 2019 first round picks on their roster with Nate Danielson seeing power play time in addition to a regular shift!
They all may be young enough to still play Under-18 AAA in their respective home towns and provinces, but those days are behind them. They are in the W-H-L now and for as long as their development is required!!
