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Price: $10.00 Newsletter which is available every second week. Includes, Top 210 for 98's, Top 130 for 99's. NEW ADDED TOP 40 western American players. interviews, previews and profiles. NOTE: NEWSLETTERS ARE SENT TO EMAIL THROUGH PDF FILE.NOTE: The January 24, 2013 newsletter is ready to be sent.

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Friday, February 1, 2013

Dallas Super 98 Series Underway



LA Jr. Kings 0 - Dallas Stars Elite 2 FINAL

This weekend will give scouts a chance to view many of the top western USA players as the 98 Super Series heats up once again in Dallas.  This weekend's series will have two pools of four teams in each with many of the top squads taking part.  We will have some updates here throughout the weekend.










Pool A
St. Louis Blues
Dallas Stars Elite
Rocky Mountain Roughriders
LA Jr. Kings

Pool B
Colorado Thunderbirds
Anaheim Jr. Ducks
Russell Stover
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite

Many of the top prospects in the WEHP Top 40 rankings appear on the LA Jr. Kings, Colorado Thunderbirds and Dallas Stars Elite.  It should be a good weekend of hockey.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Western Elite Hockey Prospects Release Top 10 Player Rankings

January Top 10 Player Rankings
1.   Tyler Benson - Edmonton SSAC Lions (AMBHL)
2.   Kale Clague - Lloydminster Heat (AMBHL)
3.   Brett Howden - Eastman Selects (MBAAAMIDG)
4.   Nolan Patrick - Winnipeg Hawks (WPGAAA)
5.   Dante Fabbro - BWC Bruins (PCBHL)
6.   Sam Steel - Sherwood Park Flyers (AMBHL)
7.   Beck Malenstyn - OHA (IND)
8.   Matt Barberis - BWC Bruins (PCBHL)
9.   David Quenneville - SSAC Southgate Lions (AMBHL)
10. Tyson Jost - POE (OMAHA)

Monday, January 28, 2013

WEHP Releases Top Ten Team Rankings



* Rankings reflect many factors and are not just subject to league or tournament play in determining position.  Strength of opponent is also a factor.

Top 10 Team Rankings for January 28, 2013
1.   North Shore Winter Club (21-2-2 142-26)
2.   SSAC Southgate Lions (26-0-3  219-60) 
3.   Burnaby Winter Club (21-2-2  127-16)
4.   Calgary Bisons (23-2-2  164-65) 
5.   Lloydminster Heat (19-4-6  163-83) 
6.   Notre Dame  Hounds (15-2-6  106-55)
7.   POE (12-1-2  103-27)
8.   Winnipeg Hawks (20-3-1  143-41) 
9.   Calgary Northstar Sabres (21-6-1  148-65) 
10.  MLAC Scott Pump (17-6-4  140-85)

Honorable Mention
Sherwood Park Flyers (14-7-6  140-93), Winnipeg Sharks (18-6-0  117-62), Winnipeg Monarchs (22-2-1 129-49), OHA  (36-7-3 181-88) -Tournament Play/Not part of league, Southeast Hockey Hounds (17-10-2 156-112)

Top 5 Saskatchewan AA Bantam
1.  North East Wolfpack (17-3-2  106-45)
2.  Regina Pat Blues (18-4-1  124-55)
3.  West Central Wheat Kings (18-3-2  115-54)
4.  Swift Current Kabos Raiders (12-7-4  107-83)
5.  Balgonie Prairie Storm (11-10-0  94-67)

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Tyler Benson scores 4 goals on Sunday

Alberta
They are now 1-25-3 after defeating Grand Prairie this afternoon 3-2.  The Grand Prairie Golden Arrow Storm are now at 3-23-3 and are allowing over 7 goals per game and average just 2 goals per game scored with 60 in the 29 games.....Jordan Taupert scores his second consecutive 2-goal game and added an assist in the Southeast 7-3 win this afternoon over Red Deer White.  Taupert leads the Hounds in scoring this season with 20-47-67 in 29 games, good enough for a tie for 6th in league scoring.  Michael Clarke added 3 more assists, as he did yesterday to give him 57 points, good enough for 18th in league scoring.  For Red Deer, Tyler Steenbergen scored 2 more goals, giving him 34 and a tie for 8th in goals.  The next best for goals scored on Red Deer White has just 11 this season....In Edmonton, Tyler Benson extended his lead atop the AMBHL scoring race with another huge game vs. Leduce.  Benson scored 4 goals and 1 assist and now has a staggering 53-84-137 with 4 games to play in the season.  D - David Quennville chipped in with 4 assists, giving him 64 points to sit just 4 back of Dman scoring leader Kale Clague.  Leduc F - Noah Gregor scored all 3 goals in the 7-3 loss.  Gregor leads Leduc with 39-22-61.....

Saskatchewan
In Prince Albert, it was the Regina Pat Blues increasing their lead atop the South Division of the SBAAHL to 11 points over Swift Current with an easy 7-0 win.  Turner Ripplinger scored twice to give him 8 goals on the season while JC Dubecky added 3 points to pace the attack. Zach Johnson picked up the goose egg for Regina.

Reported Weekend Results

British Columbia
Friday Action
NSWC 3 - Abbotsford 0
NSWC out-shoot Abbotsford 28-10 and get 2 goals from Quinn Benjafield in the win.  Dante Hannoun was in on all 3 goals for NSWC.  Cole Demers stopped 10 shots for the shut-out.  NSWC remains undefeated heading in to Saturday's showdown with also undefeated BWC.

 Vancouver 2 - South Delta 2 
The TBirds out-shoot South Delta 42-19 and have two goals disallowed in this one. Nick Wicks with a highlight reel goal in this game.

Kamloops 6 at POE 6

Saturday Action
NSWC 2 - BWC 0

Prince George 1 at POE 12

Sunday Action
South Delta at Coquitlam
POE at Kelowna
Prince George at Kamloops

Alberta
Friday Action
Edmonton CAC 4 - Lloydminster 4
'99 born D - Troy Dudley picks up 1-2-3 and Bronson Littlechilds with 1-1-2 for CAC in a 4-4 tie against heavily favored Lloydminster.  Kale Clague put up 1-2-3 for Lloydminster and broke Dion Phaneuf's AMBHL scoring record for a defenceman in the process.  Brayden Goulet scored a hat-trick for Lloydminster, giving him 20 goals.  Lloydminster out-shot CAC 42-19.

Calgary Royals 7 - Lethbridge 6
The Royals get 2-1-3 from Connor Kendall and 1-2-3 from Bryce Richmond in the victory.  Lethbridge got 1-3-4 from Tyler Anderson who is 2nd in team scoring with 33 points.  Team scoring leader Grayson Constable picked up 2 goals, giving him 18 goals.  The Royals held a 42-29 shots advantage.

Edmonton SSAC 15 - Camrose 0
Tyler Benson breaks the AMBHL scoring record by recording 10 points, giving him 132.  One more point than Ty Rattie had back in the 07-08 season.  '99 born Josh Paterson continues his stellar rookie season with 2-3-5 and  now has 67 points which places him 2nd in team scoring - 65 points back of Tyler Benson.  David Quenneville had a huge game with 3-3-6, giving him 30-30-60 this season.  The Vikings remain winless at 0-25-3 while SSAC is at 25-0-3.  In four games against Camrose and Grand Prairie, SSAC have outscored them 64-2!  Tyler Benson has 36 points in those 4 games against those teams.

St. Albert 6 - Edmonton KC 3
D - Dylan  Huot scored his 5th and 6th of the season and Zach Sherburne added 3 assists in pacing the St. Albert win.  KC team scoring leader Alex Rotundo picked up 2 goals and 1 assist and now has 39 goals with 4 games remaining.  KC held a 47-40 shot advantage.

Saturday Action
Calgary Flames 4 - Red Deer White 4
Tyler Steenbergen picked up 2 goals and 1 assist for Red Deer, giving him 32-21-53 in 26 games.  That is 33 more than the next highest scorer on the team, who has just 20 points.  Nathan Paramchuk paced the Calgary attack with 1-1-2.  Paramchuk has 15 points now this season.  '99 born G - Dawson Weatherill stopped 48/52 shots for Red Deer.

Leduc 6 - Lloydminster 3
Lane Zablocki scored twice and team scoring leader Noah Gregor had 3 points in doubling up Lloydminster 6-3.  Leduc with the win move to 14-10-4 and held a 55-39 shot advantage over Lloydminster.  The Heat got a goal from Cole Johnson, his team leading 34th of the season.  Johnson leads the entire AMBHL in PIMS with 164.

Southest 6 - Red Deer Black 5
Southeast got two goals each from Jordan Taupert and Michael Doneff and line-mate Michael Clarke chipped in with 3 assists in the win.  Top defenceman Tash Bowles sat this one out.  The line of Taupert/Doneff and Clarke all have over 54 points with Taupert a team leading 64 so far.  Red Deer Black got 1-1-2 each from Luke Coleman and '99 born Jeremy Klessens.  Red Deer out-shot Southeast 42-31.

Lethbridge 11 - Okotoks 2
Jed Horvath scored a hat-trick, giving him a team leading 21 goals on the season.  Daylan Marchi also scored 3 times, giving him 10 goals and team scoring leader Grayson Constable had 5 points in the lopsided win.  For Okotoks, it was '99 born Dylan Prpich with 1-1-2.  Prpich now has 10 points in his rookie bantam season.

Calgary Bisons 5 - Airdrie 1
Jake Ashton scored twice, giving him 25 goals and 52 points and Dylan Williamson added 1-1-2 in the win.  The Bisons are a south division best 23-2-2 and sit 2nd overall in the AMBHL standings behind SSAC.  Jordan McConnell scored the lone marker for Airdrie, he now has 28 goals. Bisons out-shot Aidrie 38-34.

Grand Prairie 4 - Edmonton KC 3
The win for Grand Prairie was just their 2nd of the season.

Fort Saskatchewan 3 - Spruce Grove 2

Sunday Action
Grand Prairie at Camrose 
- perhaps as good of a chance Camrose will have at the first win of the season.

Southeast at Red Deer White

Lloydminster at Sherwood Park

Airdrie at Lethbridge

Calgary Royals at Calgary Northstar Sabres

Red Deer Black at Okotoks

Leduc at Edmonton SSAC

Saskatchewan
Friday Action
Humboldt 3 - Estevan 2
Humboldt pick up their 2nd win of the season despite being out-shot 50-27 by Estevan.  Braxton Stenson stopped 48/50 shots for Humboldt in the win.  Reagan Poncelet scored twice, giving him 8 goals this season.  For Estevan, Peyton Stevenson had 1-1-2, giving him 23 points in 22 games now this season.  The Bruins drop to 7-11-3 with the loss.

Regina Silver Foxes 2 - Balgonie Prairie Storm 1
In Balgonie, it was the Silver Foxes moving to 10-7-5 while dropping the Prairie Storm to 11-10-0.

Weyburn 2 - Moose Jaw 2
In Moose Jaw, Kyle Arndt scored both goals for the Warriors, he now has 9-17-26 and 124 PIMS. Blake Dempsey replied with his 10th of the season for Weyburn.

Saturday Action
Northeast Wolfpack 4 - Regina Pat Blues 2
In battle between two of the top teams in the SBAAHL, it was Northeast getting goals from four different players which included '99 born Connor Tuffs scoring his 10th of the season.  The Pat Blues got 1-1-2 from team scoring leader Riley Woods.  Woods has 20-30-50 in 22 games so far this season.  Curtis Meger was out-dueled by '99 born top goalie Hunter Arps.  The 5'10 Arps is a perfect 13-0-0 with a 1.77 GAA.

Swift Current 5 - Weyburn 3
The Kabos Raiders continue their surge up the standings and are now 12-7-4 after a 5-3 win on Saturday.  Kole Lind paced the attack with 3-1-4, giving him 34 points in just 16 games.  D - Cody Spagrud picked up a pair of goals.  Spagrud is one of the highest scoring d-men in the SBAAHL with 24 pts in 23 games.  Weyburn sit last in the SBAAHL south with a 3-14-4 record.

Yorkton 6 - Regina Silver Foxes 4
The Terriers are now 9-8-4 after defeating the now 10-8-5 Silver Foxes on Saturday.  Brennan Watson led the way for Yorkton with 2 goals and 1 assists.  Watson has 18 goals in 21 games.  Brayden Miller also scored twice for Yorkton, giving him 10-7-17 in 17 games.  Mostyn Findlay and Dryden Kaczmar each had 2 point games.  Silver Foxes out-shot Yorkton 32-19.

Battlefords 1 - Humboldt 1
The game featured just 2 goals despite the shots being 42-39 Battlefords.  Braxton Stenson once again was a story of the game stopping 41/42 meaning he turned aside 89/92 shots over the weekend.  Dax Desmarais stopped 38/39 for the Battlefords.  Shane Sherban for Humboldt and Brandon Lesko for Battlefords scored in the 2nd period.

Sask Valley 3 - Estevan 0
The Vipers allowed just 11 shots in out-shooting the Bruins 32-11 in the game.  Carson Allbrecht, Clayton Mckenzie and Dayton Brown all had 2 point games for Sask Valley who moved to 11-9-3 with the win and sit 3rd in the AMBHL North.

Prince Albert 6 - Melville 5
In Prince Albert, Braden Isbister scored a hat-trick and Drew Warkentine added 1-3-4 in the VH Raiders 6-5 win on Saturday.  Isbister has 31 points now in 18 games while Warkentine has a team leading 27-15-42 in 22 games.  '99 born Riley Sawchuk picked up two points to give him 30 points in 22 games.


Sunday Action
Melville at Battlefords

Estevan at Northeast

Regina Pat Blues at Prince Albert

Manitoba
Friday Action
Winnipeg Sharks 8 - Yellowhead 4
D - Garrett Kuklica scored 2 goals, giving him 10 on the season and Jordan Young also scored twice, giving him a team leading 19 goals.  Morgan Geekie scored twice for Yellowhead and he now has 15 goals.

Saturday Action
Winnipeg Monarchs 4 - Central Plains 2

Winnipeg Hawks 6 - Southwest 1

Winnipeg Warriors 4 - Interlake 3

Brandon 3 - Pembina Valley 1
'99 born Connor Gutenberg had 1-1-2 in moving Brandon to 8-15-2.  Pembina Valley drop down to 12-9-0 with the loss.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Kale Clague and Tyler Benson break AMBHL Records on the same night




Western Elite Hockey Prospects would like to congratulate both Tyler Benson from Edmonton SSAC and Kale Clague from the Lloydminster Heat on breaking the AMBHL scoring records for defenceman and overall points in a season.  Ty Rattie held the previous record of 131 points which Tyler Benson broke tonight with an 11 point game.  While Dion Phaneuf held the previous mark by a defenceman with 65.  WEHP has Tyler Benson and Kale Clague as the top two rated prospects for the WHL Bantam Draft in May.

Interview - WEHP with Yahoo Sports

There has been no shortage of 15-year-old hockey superstars turning heads in Western Canada this year.



The 2013 Western Hockey League bantam crop, however, doesn’t have a prospect that has clearly separated himself from the rest of the pack like last year with B. C. native Mathew Barzal, who was selected first overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds.
As it stands, it seems it is a two-horse race between Edmonton native Tyler Benson and Lloydminster native Kale Clague.
“I think it will come down to Benson or Clague for whoever has the No. 1 pick,” says a WHL scout, who asked to remain nameless. “Benson is a power forward that a team could build around, while Clague is a franchise defenceman. It’s a win-win situation at this point in terms of their potential.”
With Benson and Clague both being natives of Alberta, it seems the Oil-driven province has taken another step forward in separating themselves as the top spot in Western Canada for producing young hockey stars.
“It would be difficult to argue against Alberta being the province with the most talent, season after season,” says Tyler Boldt, manager of the WHL’s player development and recruitment. “This is shown by WHL Bantam Draft selections, as well as the number of Alberta players currently in the WHL. While each province produces excellent players every year, it seems that Alberta always has the best overall depth.”
Nearly every media outlet has put Benson on a pedestal as Western Canada’s up-and-coming power-forward sensation. Mark Spector of Sportsnet called him “the next big thing,” and NHL.com writer Ryan Dittrick described him as “the real deal.”
This high praise wasn’t freely given, though. Benson earned it with his outstanding second season with the SSAC Southgate Lions in the Alberta Minor Bantam Hockey League, tallying 47 goals and 122 points in just 27 games.
The 5-foot-11, 181-pound winger, who is the brother of Edmonton Oil Kings’ Cole Benson, has the potential to blossom into Western Canada’s poster-boy superstar. He is molding into a solid frame, knows how to use his size to his advantage, and possesses uncanny offensive skill and instincts.
“Tyler Benson is most definitely a player to watch,” says Tyler Neisz, director of scouting forWestern Elite Hockey Prospects scouting service. “Tyler has a good combination of size, skating, offensive awareness, and defensive play as well. At this point, it looks like Benson has limitless potential in terms of being a star down the road. His style is very much comparable to (Chicago Black Hawks first rounder and Prince Albert Raiders captain) Mark McNeill moving forward in my opinion and should have even a higher offensive upside as well. He is more of a pass first player, but at the bantam level can definitely score when he wants to at times.”
Despite some scouts leaning towards him as the No. 1 prospect of the draft, Clague has Defenceman Kale Claguebeen somewhat overshadowed by Benson.
Clague, who has scored 28 goals and 64 points in 26 games with the Lloydminster Heat in the AMBHL, is regarded as the complete package on the back end. The 5-foot-11, 150-pounder has the gritty and fearless attitude to be a shutdown defender and the impeccable offensive instincts and skating ability to be the anchor on a power play.
“Clague has it all,” says a WHL scout. "He is a great skater, has a good shot, strong offensive instincts, and uses his body. I think he is in the same calibre as Brycen Martin (Selected second-overall by the Swift Current Broncos in 2011). He is calm with the puck at either end of the ice. This makes him very valuable on the power play and he makes smart decisions with the puck in his own end. I don't know if he'll go No. 1, but he'll be right in the mix. It would be hard to pass him up."
Behind Benson and Clague, Jaeger White stands out as one of the next best options.
Scouts have been marveling over White since he broke Portland Winterhawks star Ty Rattie’s peewee record with 124 goals and 148 points in 30 games with the Medicine Hat Venom in the South Central Alberta Hockey League. It is safe to say White was in a couple of peewee goaltenders' nightmares in 2010-11.
The 5-foot-9, 150-pound centre, who is the brother of Moose Jaw Warriors forward Torrin White, suits up for the Burnaby Winter Club in his second year of bantam puck. The program doesn’t release their stats until the end of the season, but BTN has learned the Medicine Hat native’s point production is impressive enough to drop a jaw or two. After all, he did post a 15-point game in October.
One of the most appealing aspects about White is his character with his maturity being well beyond his years. It appears he has the perfect personality to lead a team with a letter on his chest.
“Jaeger White is one of the elite players of the draft,” says Neisz. “He is highly skilled player, perhaps the most skilled player in the draft. He doesn't have the edge to his game that his brother Torrin had at the same age, but his offensive skills are definitely at a high level. He is a very personable person and has a lot of character.”
Potent notables
Sam Steel, forward, Sherwood Park United Cycle Flyers (AMBHL) –The vast majority of scouts believe Steel will be a top-5 selection this April in Calgary.
The 5-foot-10, 155-pound centre is tearing up Alberta’s top bantam league, notching 40 goals and 79 points in 24 games with Sherwood Park.
Dante Fabbro, defence, Burnaby Winter Club – Some have regarded Fabbro as the top B. C. native of this year’s draft.
Fabbro has been a standout blueliner on BWC this year. He has showcased his phenomenal skating ability, puck-moving skills, offensive instincts, and a solid shot.
Brett Howden, forward, Eastman Selects (MMHL) – Howden is one of the few bantam-eligible players that made the jump to the AAA midget ranks this year.
He has showed his age-group bump was the right move for his development by being one of Eastman Selects' top players, scoring eight goals and 19 points in 25 contests.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound forward plays a very similar two-way style to his older brother, Florida Panthers first-rounder Quinton Howden.
Parker Aucoin, forward, Calgary Northstar Sabres (AMBHL) – Aucoin is a shoot-first player that has scouts drooling over his hard, accurate shot.
The 5-foot-10, 145-pound centre is the leading goal scorer in the AMBHL, notching 50 goals in 26 games, while adding 20 helpers for the Northstar Sabres.