With the OHL covered, today will be a short post as there aren’t a lot of WHL prospects in the Leafs system.
I’m going to list the junior eligible prospects, whether they end up on the Leafs, Marlies, or Solar Bears or not. The ones that can move on to the pro’s I’ve marked with an asterisk*
Andrew Nielsen* - Lethbridge Hurricanes
15/16 Stats: 71GP - 18G - 52A - 70P
Nielsen has a contract with the Maple Leafs, so odds are very much against his return to the dub, but you never know, so he’s on the list. Nielsen had a very good season in Lethbridge, almost hitting a PPG and having a good season defensively. The Hurricanes post season was cut shorter than they would have liked, going out in the first round versus the lower seeded Regina Pats. If Nielsen makes the Marlies out of camp, he’ll be a good addition to a well stocked team.
Key Dates:
September 23: Versus Medicine Hat Tigers / Home & Season Opener
A good way to kick off the season is to beat your fiercest rival, and the Tigers will be that team.
October 15: Versus Regina Pats
The team that cut short the Hurricanes dreams is back in town. Regina ousted Lethbridge in 5 games in the first round last playoffs.
November 18: Visiting Seattle Thunderbirds
November 19: Visiting Everett Silvertips
November 20: Visiting Portland Winterhawks
The worst road trip of the year, heading down to the pacific northwest to take on the US teams.
January 11th: Visiting Edmonton Oil Kings / First game post trade deadline
Buyers? Sellers? Will the Hurricanes blow anyone away on deadline day?
January 31: Versus Brandon Wheat Kings
The WHL Champions make their first visit to Lethbridge for the season.
March 17: Versus Medicine Hat Tigers
March 18: Visiting Medicine Hat Tigers
The season ends with a home and home against Medicine Hat. The only thing that could make this better would be if a playoff spot was on the line.
Adam Brooks* - Regina Pats
15/16 Stats: 72GP - 38G - 82A - 120Pts
Brooks is another flashy, fast centreman for the Leafs prospect pool. Without a contract, I can see him heading back to the WHL with some hopes for a size increase and more physical play development.
Key Dates:
September 23/: Versus Prince Albert
The Pats open the season against the Prince Albert Raiders, looking to kick off the season well and go further than the second round in the 2017 playoffs.
October 2: Versus Red Deer
The Rebels eliminated the Pats in the second round of last years playoffs and the Pats are on the look out for revenge.
October 8: Versus Brandon Wheat Kings
The WHL Champs make their first visit to Regina and look to show off their status while the Pats want show up the WHL Kings.
November 16: Visiting Edmonton Oil Kings to
November 26: Visiting Kelowna Rockets
A big west coast trip, hopefully the boys aren’t dead tired by the end of it.
January 13: Versus Tri-City Americans
The first game post trade deadline.
March 17: Versus Brandon Wheat Kings
March 18: Visiting Brandon Wheat Kings
Ending the season with a home and home versus the defending champs is away for the Pats to put a mark on the season. Good or bad.
Vladimir Bobylev / Jack Walker* - Victoria Royals
15/16 Stats:
Bobylev: 72GP - 28G - 39A - 67Pts
Walker: 72GP - 36G - 48A - 84Pts
Key Dates:
September 23/24: Versus Prince George Cougars
The Season opens against Prince George and the Royals are looking this season to go father than their second round exit of the playoffs.
October 5: Visiting Vancouver to
October 14: Visiting Edmonton
A nine day road trip takes the Royals through their BC/US rivals and into Alberta.
November 20/22: Versus Kelowna Rockets
The Rockets knocked the Royals out of the playoffs in the second round, and they come to the island for the first time.
November 30: Versus Brandon Wheat Kings
Victoria hosts the Wheat Kings as they continue their celebratory tour of the WHL.
January 11/13: Versus Kelowna Rockets
Post-deadline means, well, the same thing I said for the 8 others teams I’ve written about.
March 17: Versus Everett Silvertips
March 18: Visiting Everett Silvertips
Farewell to another Royals season. Hello playoffs!
TL;DR - When do the prospects play each other?
At the moment I wouldn’t worry about it. There’s no guarantee we’ll see more than Bobylev in the WHL, so I would wait on deciding on what tickets to get as a Leafs fan.
