NetFront Sports

Artem Katsuro is making some noise in scouting circles, just in case you haven't seen it, I covered Katsuro early in September stating that he was going to fly up draft boards. Article: netfrontsports.com/artem-kat… Youtube Video: youtube.com/watch?v=ekhL0cxX… @TheWHL #WHL @WHLHitmen

Who improved enough to make a run in the NLL this season? We’re looking west as @VanWarriors, @SaskRushLAX and @MammothLax aim to build on strong campaigns, while @NLLRoughnecks, @SealsLax and @VegasDesertDogs bring intriguing changes into training camp. Our 2026–27 preview breaks down the offseason moves, biggest questions and players to watch for all six clubs. For Alberta fans, Calgary’s story includes a familiar name behind the bench: John Lintz. The four-time NLL champion and former Edmonton Miners Junior A head coach brings plenty of experience as the Roughnecks work toward their next chapter. Established contenders, new faces and plenty to prove before opening night on November 27. Read the full preview: netfrontsports.com/the-nlls-… Which western team had the best offseason? #NLL #BoxLacrosse @NetFront_Sports

Personally very excited about @Paul_Figler joining the @NetFront_Sports team, Paul back in the day ran the DUBNetwork which is mainly where our WHL vision has come from, he's a legend in the WHL space and is going to be a huge part of our project.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Saturday, October 3 in @TheWHL Two hat tricks, two unbeaten teams staying perfect, an overtime rivalry finish and a shootout in Everett. Here’s your Saturday recap. FINAL SCORES @WHLHitmen 7 – @WHLHurricanes 4 @Rebelshockey 5 – @MJWARRIORS 2 @TigersHockey 4 – @PARaidersHockey 2 @SpokaneChiefs 3 – @PDXWinterhawks 1 @Kelowna_Rockets 4 – @BlazerHockey 3 (OT) @WHLwild_ 3 – @WHLSilvertips 2 (SO) @PentictonVees 4 – @TCAmericans 2 @SCBroncos 5 – @WHLGiants 1. SANDERSON’S NIGHT, CALGARY’S PERFECT START Carter Sanderson recorded his first career WHL hat trick and added an assist as @WHLHitmen improved to 4-0. Calgary didn’t take its first lead until the third period, then finished the job in Lethbridge. It’s the Hitmen’s first 4-0 start since 2009-10. ANDERSEN PUTS RED DEER OVER THE TOP Poul Andersen supplied a hat trick for @Rebelshockey, breaking a second-period tie with a power-play goal before striking again minutes later. Nathan Salisbury stopped 36 of 38 shots as Red Deer closed its Saskatchewan trip with consecutive wins. SPOKANE KEEPS ROLLING @SpokaneChiefs are also 4-0. Brody Gillespie scored twice, while Bryce Francisco made 29 saves to win his WHL debut. Spokane took both games of its weekend visit to Portland and has allowed just six goals through four games. HENDERSON ENDS IT EARLY IN OT Jacob Henderson needed just 34 seconds of overtime to give @Kelowna_Rockets a split of their home-and-home with @BlazerHockey. Madden Daneault finished with a goal and two assists, Drew Larioza scored his first WHL goal, and Kelowna piled up 49 shots. WILD FIND A WAY Despite being outshot 50-29, @WHLwild_ left Everett with their second win of the weekend. Rui Han supplied the shootout winner after the teams traded third-period goals. @SCBroncos also picked up a road victory, bouncing back from Friday’s loss in Victoria with a convincing finish in Langley. JONES DELIVERS ANOTHER TWO-GOAL NIGHT Graham Jones scored twice for @PentictonVees for the second straight night. Penticton swept its weekend homestand and held Tri-City to just 14 shots. Meanwhile, Markus Ruck’s two goals and an assist helped @TigersHockey improve to 4-1 in their Eastern Conference Championship rematch with Prince Albert. Who gets your Saturday player of the night: Sanderson, Andersen, Gillespie or Jones? #WHL #NetFrontSports – at Leduc, Alberta

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | @TheWHL Friday, October 2, 2026 Kayden Stroeder scored three, Spokane won the battle of unbeaten teams, and Wenatchee ended Seattle’s perfect start. Here’s what happened Friday across the WHL. FRIDAY’S SCORES @EdmOilKings 5, @WHLPats 1 @WHLHurricanes 3, @PARaidersHockey 1 @Rebelshockey 4, @BladesHockey 2 @SpokaneChiefs 6, @PDXWinterhawks 1 @PGCougars 3, @BDNWheatKings 1 @BlazerHockey 5, @Kelowna_Rockets 2 @PentictonVees 3, @WHLGiants 2 (OT) @WHLwild_ 3, @SeattleTBirds 1 @VictoriaRoyals 5, @SCBroncos 4 STROEDER LEADS EDMONTON’S RESPONSE Kayden Stroeder’s hat trick helped the @EdmOilKings earn their first home victory of the season. Parker Snell stopped 29 shots against the @WHLPats, while Edmonton’s power play converted three of seven opportunities. Luke Melnik also made an immediate contribution. Claimed off waivers from the @SeattleTBirds on Wednesday, the new Oil Kings forward scored on the power play as Edmonton improved to 2–2–1–0. SPOKANE MAKES AN EARLY STATEMENT The @SpokaneChiefs and @PDXWinterhawks entered Friday with matching 2–0 records, but Spokane controlled the matchup. Six different Chiefs scored, Tyus Sparks recorded a goal and two assists, and Carter Esler stopped 26 of 27 shots. Spokane outshot Portland 41–27 and scored the game’s first six goals. The Chiefs remain unbeaten, and Portland gets an immediate opportunity to respond when the teams meet again Saturday. WENATCHEE ENDS SEATTLE’S PERFECT START The @WHLwild_ earned their first victory while handing the @SeattleTBirds their first loss. Seattle’s season-opening shutout streak reached a franchise-record 152:28 before Wenatchee broke through in the second period. The Wild then scored the winning goal on a third-period power play before adding an empty-netter. Seattle’s own power play remains a concern. The Thunderbirds went 0-for-5 Friday and are now 0-for-13 through three games. JONES BRINGS PENTICTON BACK Graham Jones scored the third-period equalizer and overtime winner for the @PentictonVees after the @WHLGiants entered the final frame with the lead. The new “no-return” overtime rule factored into the finish. Vancouver was forced back out to centre, prompting a stoppage, and Jones scored off the ensuing defensive-zone faceoff. Penticton moved above .500, while Vancouver left with a point. EARLY TRENDS TO WATCH The @VictoriaRoyals joined Spokane at 3–0, while the @WHLHurricanes finally got into the win column. The @PGCougars stopped a three-game slide, and the @Rebelshockey responded to Wednesday’s loss in Prince Albert. For the @BlazerHockey and @Kelowna_Rockets, Friday was only the opening half of their weekend matchup. The rivalry shifts to Kamloops Saturday. TRANSACTION WATCH FRIDAY: @BladesHockey signed 2007-born forward Konstantin Hutzinger to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Hutzinger recorded four points in four preseason games and had already appeared in Saskatoon’s first four regular-season contests. His dual Austrian–Canadian citizenship means he does not occupy an import roster spot. EARLIER THIS WEEK: The @BDNWheatKings acquired defenceman Cole Slobodian from the @PDXWinterhawks on Thursday. Portland received a conditional fifth-round pick in 2028 and a third-round pick in 2030. Which team or performance caught your attention Friday? #WHL #NetFrontSports – at Leduc, Alberta

WHL LOOK AHEAD | @TheWHL Saturday, October 3, 2026 Eight games tonight, including a chance for Portland to answer Spokane, a rivalry rematch in Kamloops, and Calgary putting its perfect start on the line. TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE All times Mountain. 6:00 PM @WHLHitmen at @WHLHurricanes @Rebelshockey at @MJWARRIORS 7:00 PM @PARaidersHockey at @TigersHockey @SpokaneChiefs at @PDXWinterhawks @Kelowna_Rockets at @BlazerHockey 7:05 PM @WHLwild_ at @WHLSilvertips @TCAmericans at @PentictonVees 8:00 PM @SCBroncos at @WHLGiants PORTLAND’S CHANCE TO RESPOND The @PDXWinterhawks get an immediate rematch after Spokane handed them their first loss Friday. The @SpokaneChiefs had six different goal scorers and outshot Portland 41–27. For the Winterhawks, the question is whether they can disrupt Spokane’s attack and spend more time generating their own chances. The Chiefs are chasing a fourth consecutive win to open the season. CALGARY’S PERFECT START MEETS A LETHBRIDGE TEAM COMING OFF ITS FIRST WIN The @WHLHitmen enter 3–0, while the @WHLHurricanes finally broke through Friday against Prince Albert. Can Lethbridge build on that result against an unbeaten divisional opponent? Calgary has had a week between games; the Hurricanes turn around after playing last night. CAN WENATCHEE BUILD ON ITS BREAKTHROUGH? The @WHLwild_ earned their first win Friday by ending Seattle’s perfect start. Tonight brings another difficult road assignment against the @WHLSilvertips. Everett has already beaten Wenatchee twice this season, with both games decided by one goal. The Wild now have a chance to turn Friday’s breakthrough into consecutive victories. THE RIVALRY SHIFTS TO KAMLOOPS The @Kelowna_Rockets visit the @BlazerHockey for the second half of their home-and-home after Kamloops won Friday’s opener. Kelowna generated 41 shots but scored only twice. Turning that pressure into goals is the next challenge as the Blazers look for a weekend sweep. OTHER MATCHUPS TO WATCH @PARaidersHockey seeks its first road win against a @TigersHockey team entering at 3–1. @Rebelshockey looks to build on Friday’s rebound in Saskatoon against the @MJWARRIORS. @TCAmericans is still searching for its first victory. The @PentictonVees are coming off Graham Jones’s overtime heroics. @SCBroncos and @WHLGiants both seek a response after Friday defeats, with Vancouver returning home after earning a point in Penticton. Which matchup are you watching tonight? #WHL #NetFrontSports #JuniorHockey – at Beaumont, Alberta

WHAT TO WATCH TONIGHT | WHL Friday, October 2, 2026 Nine games on the schedule, unbeaten starts on the line, and some early opportunities to turn things around. Here’s what we’re watching across the WHL tonight. SPOKANE AT PORTLAND Both teams enter at 2–0, making this our matchup of the night. It’s the first of consecutive meetings in Portland, so whoever takes tonight’s game will have to back it up against the same opponent tomorrow. An early chance for two U.S. Division rivals to establish themselves. WENATCHEE AT SEATTLE Seattle has yet to allow a goal through two games. Wenatchee is still searching for its first win and has scored just three times through three outings. Can the Wild break through against a Thunderbirds team that has been perfect defensively? REGINA AT EDMONTON The Oil Kings need a response after allowing 11 goals in their last two games against Calgary and Medicine Hat. Cleaning up defensively is the priority tonight at Rogers Place. There’s also a new name to watch for on the lineup sheet: Luke Melnik, claimed off waivers from Seattle on Wednesday. His Edmonton debut hasn’t been confirmed, but his arrival adds another angle to tonight’s matchup. PRINCE ALBERT AT LETHBRIDGE The Hurricanes are looking to get into the win column after an 0–3 start. Prince Albert comes in off Wednesday’s 4–1 victory over Red Deer. Can Lethbridge stop the slide, or will the Raiders build on that result? RED DEER AT SASKATOON How do the Rebels respond after their loss in Prince Albert? Saskatoon has earned points in three straight games, giving Red Deer another challenging road assignment. ELSEWHERE TONIGHT Brandon visits Prince George, where the Cougars are trying to end a three-game losing streak. Kamloops and Kelowna open a home-and-home that shifts to Kamloops tomorrow. Vancouver looks for consecutive wins against a Penticton team trying to climb above .500. Victoria puts its 2–0 start on the line against Swift Current, which is looking for its first road win. TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE All times Mountain. 7:00 PM Regina at Edmonton Prince Albert at Lethbridge Red Deer at Saskatoon 8:00 PM Spokane at Portland Brandon at Prince George 8:05 PM Kamloops at Kelowna Vancouver at Penticton Wenatchee at Seattle Swift Current at Victoria Which game are you watching tonight, and who are you picking? 👇 #WHL #NetFrontSports @NetFront_Sports – at Beaumont, Alberta

TODAY IN THE WHL | SEPTEMBER 30 7:00 PM MT @Rebelshockey at @PARaidersHockey Tonight’s lone @TheWHL matchup is a rematch of last season’s opening playoff round, when Prince Albert swept Red Deer. The Rebels enter at 2-1-0-1 after knocking off the highly ranked Medicine Hat Tigers, while the 1-3-0-0 Raiders look to defend home ice and end a three-game slide. Can Red Deer keep building momentum, or will Prince Albert get back on track at the Art Hauser Centre?

Six WHL championships. Two Memorial Cups. Six appearances on junior hockey’s biggest stage. Now, 10 NHL Draft selections across the last three years. From Lanny McDonald and Tom Lysiak to Trevor Linden, Gavin McKenna and the Ruck twins, the @tigershockey pipeline has continued producing elite talent across generations. We look back at how Medicine Hat became one of the most enduring organizations in @TheWHL, and why another wave of talent may already be emerging. 🐯 FULL STORY: netfrontsports.com/more-than…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT IN @TheWHL | SEPTEMBER 27 Three games closed out the weekend across the WHL. @WHLPats 6, @SCBroncos 2 Parker Trottier scored twice as Regina delivered a convincing victory in its home opener. The Pats handed Swift Current its first loss of the season and earned their first win of the campaign. @tigershockey 5, @EdmOilKings 2 Yaroslav Bryzgalov scored twice, including a power-play goal that put the game away in the third period. Medicine Hat answered Edmonton’s first goal just 28 seconds later and never surrendered the lead. Aaron Obobaifo recorded a goal and an assist for the Oil Kings, but the Tigers improved to 3-1-0-0 with the road victory. @WHLGiants 4, @PGCougars 2 Crosby Mateychuk and Ephram Emesibe scored their first WHL goals, while Burke Hood stopped 32 of 34 shots to secure Vancouver’s second win of the season. Ben Foster scored both Prince George goals, but the Cougars were unable to complete the comeback and dropped their third consecutive game. Which performance stood out to you the most?

The @EdmOilKings remained within one goal of the CHL’s fifth-ranked team through 40 minutes, but the @tigershockey power play took over late in a 5-2 Medicine Hat victory. Aaron Obobaifo scored for the second consecutive game, Olli Wahlroos recorded his first WHL goal and the Oil Kings produced a much stronger performance than Friday’s final in Calgary. Our post-game recap from Rogers Place: 🔗 netfrontsports.com/tigers-de…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | SEPTEMBER 25 & 26 Missed the @TheWHL action this weekend? Here is your two-night catch-up. FRIDAY • Brandon 3, Regina 2 (SO) Ryley Budd stopped 40 shots before Ahmad Fayad ended a nine-round shootout. • Saskatoon 3, Prince Albert 2 The Blades secured the first half of a home-and-home sweep. • Swift Current 4, Moose Jaw 2 • Calgary 6, Edmonton 1 Artem Katsuro scored twice as the Hitmen improved to 3-0. Calgary converted on three of seven power plays. • Red Deer 4, Lethbridge 3 Beckett Hamilton opened his season with a hat trick, completing it with a shorthanded game-winner. • Penticton 4, Kelowna 2 The Vees scored twice in the third period to take the opening half of their home-and-home series. • Kamloops 2, Tri-City 1 • Everett 3, Wenatchee 2 The Silvertips fired 51 shots and held on for the win. SATURDAY • Moose Jaw 3, Brandon 1 • Red Deer 3, Medicine Hat 1 Hamilton scored again, giving him four goals across his first two games. • Saskatoon 5, Prince Albert 2 The Blades completed a weekend sweep of the defending Eastern Conference champions. • Portland 5, Kamloops 3 Reed Brown recorded a hat trick in the Winterhawks’ home opener. • Everett 2, Wenatchee 1 The Silvertips completed their own weekend sweep. • Kelowna 3, Penticton 1 The Rockets answered Friday’s loss and earned a split of the home-and-home series. • Victoria 4, Vancouver 1 • Seattle 8, Prince George 0 Grayson Malinoski recorded his second consecutive shutout as the Thunderbirds overwhelmed the Cougars in their home opener. • Spokane 3, Tri-City 2 New Chiefs captain Chase Harrington celebrated with a Gordie Howe hat trick. BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS Beckett Hamilton scored four times as Red Deer swept its weekend. Grayson Malinoski has opened the season with back-to-back shutouts. Calgary remains perfect after another dominant performance. Saskatoon and Everett both completed weekend sweeps. Hamilton and Brown delivered hat tricks, while Harrington completed the Gordie Howe variety. What was the biggest WHL performance of the weekend? – at Edmonton, Alberta

Ethan Simcoe draws into the cage for this afternoons game as the @EdmOilKings host the @CHLHockey 5th ranked @tigershockey, puck drop at 4PM and updates to follow in this thread. Oil Kings looking to get back on track after losing to Hitmen 6-1 Friday. – at Edmonton, Alberta