Finally, everyone can awake from their hockey hibernation. With the ice laid down and frozen in arenas across the Western Hockey League, it signals both the end of summer and the start of a brand new season on the horizon. When it’s said that this could be one of the most talented seasons in recent league memory, it’s truly meant.
This past NHL Draft showed that the league’s growth in recent years has been exponential, as 34 total players selected was the highest among all developmental leagues worldwide. So, ahead of what’s sure to be a thrilling season, there are plenty of new and exciting things to check out.
Here’s what’s in store for the 2024-25 season.
1. Everett and Spokane games now have major Kraken implications
The Everett Silvertips and Spokane Chiefs will likely have the most eyes on them (at least regionally speaking) for the entire season, as matchups between them will feature three highly touted Seattle Kraken prospects.
In Everett, defenseman Kaden Hammell and forward Julius Miettinen will be right in the Kraken’s backyard for whenever fans want to see them, and it will be fun to see how exceptional-status defenseman Landon DuPont performs in his first season in the WHL.
But of course, the main event will be when Spokane comes to town with Kraken first-round pick, Berkly Catton. The Chiefs will visit Everett on three occasions this upcoming season, with the first contest scheduled for Nov. 22, followed by Jan. 10, and Feb. 1.
Meanwhile, the Tips have three trips of their own to Spokane, all in the second half of the season.
The Chiefs’ promotional staff had a smart idea with Catton becoming a Kraken, as they are selling a special ticket package for games featuring other prospects for the team.
2. All eyes on Berkly Catton this season
The No. 8 overall selection in this past draft didn’t have to wait long to become a fan favorite, at least among the Spokane faithful. Many were already familiar with Catton before he was selected and signed to an entry-level contract during Kraken Development Camp.
There’s sure to be far more regional attention paid to him now, as he arguably became the top prospect in the organization after the selection. For this WHL season, the Chiefs will go as Catton goes, and fortunately for them, he’s all but certain to break out even further into the star playmaker he’s projected to be at the NHL level.
He’s bound to surpass the 60-goal mark, too, having topped out at 54 in 68 games last season. Heck, it’s not outlandish to think 65-70 could be a possibility if he stays healthy, as he possesses a natural offensive talent that will be hard for any defense to deny. More on him later this week.
3. How Seattle and Tri-City plan to bounce back
The two teams that missed out on the playoffs last season are vying to make their way back in. And while they aren’t expected to go far, there are pieces there that could be interesting to watch develop.
Seattle fell short of defending its league title from the season before, but they did build momentum down the stretch of last season. Even without making the playoffs, there were moments where the youth began to emerge and win some games here and there. Developing and gaining experience for the younger players might continue to be the name of the game for the Thunderbirds this season as well.
Meanwhile, the Tri-City Americans will look to recover from falling out of the playoff spot they held for about two-thirds of the season. They’ve made some much-needed moves to put themselves in a better position to compete this season.
The Americans retooled a bit this summer, trading Kraken prospect Lukas Dragicevic to the Prince Albert Raiders, a trade request made by the player. They received a myriad of assets in return, including D Terrell Goldsmith, F Grady Martin, and G Nathan Preston.
It’ll be interesting to see how F Jordan Gavin develops going into his draft year, as he’s currently projected to go somewhere near the end of the first round or in the early second round on some draft boards.
4. Which new head coach will have the most impact?
Four new head coaches arrived in the U.S. Division for the four teams that ironically qualified for the playoffs last season. All four are WHL veteran coaches in their own right.
Everett’s Steve Hamilton, Spokane’s Brad Lauer, and Wenatchee’s Don Nachbaur have all combined for over 30 years of head coaching experience. Meanwhile, the successor to long-time coach Mike Johnston in Portland, Kyle Gustafson, has been under his and the Winterhawks’ tutelage for two decades.
It was discussed earlier this offseason, but most of these coaches are coming into good situations already. So, it’s going to come down to how much they can make the most of their rosters to see who goes the farthest.
5. Central Division teams coming to town
One of the few downsides of the WHL is only getting to see Eastern Conference foes make their journeys and play in the region once every two seasons. But the good news is that a really good batch of teams from the Central Division is set to make their way through.
Last season, Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus and his Moose Jaw Warriors of the Eastern Division stole the show during “Circus Week in the PNW,” which allowed many fans to see one of the Kraken’s marquee prospects in person for the very first time.
This season, in a similar fashion to Firkus, recent Kraken fourth-rounder Ollie Josephson and the Red Deer Rebels will make their way to town between Nov. 8 and 16.
We’ll have to find another clever nickname for that trip too, especially if Josephson gets out to a hot start to his season. How does “The Ollie Rollie” sound? We can workshop it.
It will also be quite fun when the Medicine Hat Tigers swing through between Jan. 24 and Feb. 1. With Andrew Basha, Cayden Lindstrom, and the recently acquired Ryder Ritchie all being selected in the first two rounds of last summer’s NHL Draft, this team is already stacked with NHL prospects. And that’s not even to mention the likes of Gavin McKenna, who could be the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
During his exceptional-status 15/16-year-old season, McKenna erupted for 97 points in 61 games, and he’s projected to have even more outstanding and absurd numbers this season.
Barring anything drastic, when the Tigers face the Silvertips in Everett on Wednesday, Jan. 29, it will mark just the second time in league history that two exceptional-status players (McKenna and DuPont) will share the ice as opponents in the same game.
So, circle the calendars for what might be the only few times to see McKenna play live before he and the rest of his teammates turn pro within the next few years.
Welcome back to hockey, everyone. Predictions for the upcoming campaign will be coming soon.
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