Introducing the 2017-18 Weyburn Red Wings

Hailing from Gray (or is it Grey), Maine, Ben MacLennan could be mistaken for his older brother Jake if you didn't know the differences. He has spent the past two seasons playing in New England, where he skated with the Boston Jr. Bruins last year. He is aggressive, likes to make a big hit, and can move back to the blue line if needed. B-Mac has the potential to have a breakout year as an 18-year-old as he makes the transition to the junior level.

When Derick Smith signed with the Red Wings, many hadn’t heard the name before, but he could become a household name in the Opportunity City if he continues to generate offense like he did in the VIJHL last season. The Dexter, Michigan native scored 61 points in 33 games, leading the Comox Valley Glacier Kings in scoring, and finishing fourth in the league overall. The 19-year-old had impressive seasons in the USP3HL as well and should be able to continue his strong play here in the SJHL.

Tyran Brown is a true dual threat athlete. He comes into the 2017-18 season fresh off winning a junior provincial baseball title and is hungry to add more gold to his walls at home with an SJHL title. The Weyburn native enters his third season with the Red Wings, where he looks to continue to improve over the previous years. He notched 15 goals in 57 games last year and should be able to eclipse that number easily.

Hailing from Joliet, Illinois, Jeremy Velazquez has developed a reputation for grinding out in the corners, and w king to generate opportunities. He played last season in The Battlefords and La Ronge, where he combined for seven points in 39 games. Those numbers aren’t completely indicative of what he can bring to the table, though, as he averaged just under .70 points per game in the CSSHL prior to coming up to the SJHL.

Coming to the team from the PIJHL, Austin Cook has shown size and poise in the preseason. Standing 6’5”, he could have the potential to replace Ian Parker as a big man who is hard to move and creates traffic in front of the net. His 19 points last season in 43 games show he does have soft hands, and he could see those numbers improve throughout this season.

Dawson Atamanchuk was acquired from the Humboldt Broncos in the off-season, and the 20-year-old will be looked at to help provide some firepower in the offense this season. He lit things up in the PJHL, where he played with the Delisle Chiefs. He totaled 84 points in 44 games in two seasons. While with the Broncos, in limited action he had 14 points in 37 games last season. In the preseason he had chemistry with players such as Tyran Brown and Jeremy Velazquez and has demonstrated an ability to find the twine.

One of the returning veterans from last year’s squad, Noah Wozney is entering his third season of junior hockey. He came to the Red Wings last season, and his spirited play sparked the team on many occasions. Not afraid to muck it up in the corners, he added 54 penalty minutes to his 15 points. He showed some extra speed in the preseason, which is always a welcome sight for any coach.

An 18-year-old from Port Coquitlam, Jessie Young has a lot of potential, which he demonstrated in his final year with the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs last season. He notched 35 points in 39 games, with 14 goals. In the preseason, he found himself frequently on a line with Kowalski and Smith, and the three clicked. Young himself had four assists in the preseason.

Coming to Weyburn from Regina, Jordan Kazymyra has shown an uncanny ability to find the back of the net, going all the way back to his bantam days. Last year, with the Regina Pat Canadians, he had 37 points in 43 games on a talent laden team. He demonstrated speed and agility, as well as a deft hockey IQ, during training camp.

Coming from the La Ronge Ice Wolves by way of the Maritimes in an offseason trade, Shae Kiryk had the misfortune last year of being on a team which finished nearly dead last in every statistical category. He will be looking to make a fresh start wearing the Winged Wheel this year, and in the preseason, he showed the offensive prowess which attracted the attention of SJHL scouts when he was with the Beardy’s Blackhawks in Midget.

So far in his time with the Weyburn Red Wings, Cole Woodliffe has picked up a Gordie Howe hat trick, scored the goal to end the longest shootout in league history, has picked up numerous game winning goals, and has been an all-around strong player for the team. The only thing missing from the 20-year-old’s resume is a Canalta Cup title, which he will be looking to help the team win this season.

As a 17-year-old rookie last season, Ben Hiltz was making the adjustment from the midget game to the junior game. He started the year out with the Red Deer Rebels, before he was sent to Weyburn early in the year. In 43 games, he picked up four goals and four assists. While the numbers aren’t big, his contributions on the ice in terms of sparking the offense were huge. With a year of junior hockey under his belt, he should have a strong season.

Calder Newson spent the past three seasons playing with the Valley West Hawks in the BCMHL, and after honing his skills at the midget level, he is now making the jump to the junior level. He is an aggressive player, as his 67 penalty minutes in t38 games can attest, and he is also capable of generating offense, with 23 points in those games.

Coming into his second full season with the Red Wings, Landon Walters brings a veteran presence to a young cadre of forwards. He had picked up 20 points in 52 games at the Junior A level, but has a scoring touch he has demonstrated in the preseason, including a beautiful breakaway goal on the penalty kill. He has a lot of speed, and isn’t afraid to get into the corners to get the puck free.

Entering his first year with the Red Wings, Cade Kowalski is originally from Morden, Manitoba. He played Midget AAA hockey with the Pembina Valley Hawks, where he put up astronomical numbers. In total, he notched 313 points at the midget level while adding another 110 in high school competition over the past three seasons. While big numbers in midget don’t always translate to a strong career in junior, even if he generates a third of what he did in midget, he will provide a lot of offense to the Red Wings lineup.

Matthew Jones is coming to the Red Wings from the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL, where he played last season. Originally from Dinsmore, SK, the forward has what has been described as a gritty style, and he isn’t afraid to go into the corners to get the puck.

Devon Becker has a unique claim to fame, which no other player in the SJHL can claim. He is a gold medallist for Team Canada in international competition. This off-season, he skated with Team Canada at the Maccabiah Games, where he helped guide Canada to a gold medal. This was coming off a strong first season with the Red Wings, where he had 17 points in 49 games. While he missed the tail end of the season with an injury, he is hungry to get back on the ice, and continue to show why he is one of the best in the league.

Entering his fourth full season with the Red Wings, Mike Eskra has been a stalwart along the blueline. Wearing the C for the squad last season, he is a strong leader, who knows how to help generate offense (he was leading the team in scoring at one point last season), and knows when to step in to protect his teammates. Eskra will have a number of scouts watching his this season, and he could be a huge difference maker to the Wings lineup as the season goes on.

Despite seeing limited action last season, Carson Scheschuk impressed when he was on the ice. As one of the 17-year-old rookies on the blue line last year, he was a standout, making smart plays, and having a vision to help generate offensive rushes when needed. With three more seasons of eligibility left, he will more than likely make as big a name for himself as his brother Shane, if not bigger, by the time he finishes his junior career.

McCabe was on many occasions mistake for a 20-year-old when on the ice last season, as the 17-year-old rookie carried himself like a seasoned veteran when patrolling the blue lines for the Red Wings. He isn't known for necessarily putting up a ton of offensive numbers, but he is very quick, can read the play well, and carries himself well on the ice. He is also disciplined, taking very few penalty minutes last season, considering the number of games played.

“Chevy”, as his teammates call him, saw limited action in the postseason and regular season last year as a 16-year-old callup. Spending most of his time with the Swift Current Legionnaires last year in the SMHL, Jevon Schwean looked like a veteran when in the lineup last season, many observers saying he was the best blueliner on the ice during the playoffs. He has a lot of potential, and will help the Red Wings continue to have a strong presence along the blue line for years to come.

Coming into his first full season with the Red Wings, Wyatt Arndt is coming back home to the Opportunity City where he will once again be skating at Crescent Point Place. He played with the Prince Albert Mintos in the past two seasons, where he demonstrated a strong level of play, which drew the eyes of many. He is aggressive, made a number of big hits in the preseason, and has a hard shot. His rookie year could be a great year to watch the young defenseman.

A mid-season acquisition for the Red Wings last year, Erik Olson has a strong presence along the blue line. He played 29 games last season, picking up 13 points, seven of those goals. He was paired up often with Devon Becker, reuniting the two players who patrolled the blue lines of the Abbotsford Pilots together just two years ago. The two have a chemistry which works well together, and Olson will more than likely continue to show his skill, and discipline, throughout the season. He also has the reputation of having the hardest shot on the team.

A big body along the blueline, Garrett Szeremley played with the Pembina Valley Hawks last year, a teammate of Cade Kowalski’s. He picked up 52 points in Midget AAA over three seasons, and showed he was an aggressive and tough player, with 232 penalty minutes over the same time frame. Coming in as an 18-year-old rookie, he could make a huge impact, and help bolster what is already considered to be the best blue line in the SJHL.

Picked up in an offseason trade with the Red Wings, there is a lot of talk about Arik Weersink around the rink so far this season. The 20-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Grande Prairie Storm of the AJHL. Playing behind what many considered to be a lacklustre defence, he faced a lot of shots over the past two years. While his numbers may seem inflated from last season are inflated, this is a result of the team he was playing with, not his actual skill. He was the top goaltender in Alberta Midget AAA in 2015, and will be a strong addition to the Red Wings lineup.

Standing 6’8”, Jake MacLennan is the tallest player in the SJHL this season (last year he was second tallest, behind teammate Ian Parker). He saw limited action last year with the Red Wings, coming up third on the depth chart with the Red Wings. His friendly demeanour, willingness to learn, and his ability to step in under pressure were demonstrated in spades last year. In the preseason, he demonstrated the work he did to prepare for the coming season, and he could very well be the goaltender of the future for the Red Wings.

Carter Phair has spent the past two seasons with the Red Wings, but his ice time was limited last year. He is one of the top goaltenders in the league, and has the ability to change the game based on a save. His status in the WHL, though, could factor into how many minutes he plays this year, as the Kamloops Blazers own the 19-year-old goalie’s rights. Phair has the skill, and mindset to succeed at this level and beyond. Fun fact about the netminder: he was included in the rosters of NHL 17, as a member of the Blazers.