REGINA -- There’s plenty of buzz around the Edmonton Oil Kings heading into the 2025-26 Western Hockey League season, and they lived up to the hype with a pair of wins on opening weekend.
As a result, the Oil Kings are the top-ranked team in the first edition of the SportsCage WHL Eastern Conference Power Rankings.
The rankings are voted on each week by a panel of long-time WHL observers, taking into consideration recent play and trends as well as how teams are performing in the standings.
Edmonton defeated the Red Deer Rebels 4-2 on Friday and then followed up with a 4-1 win over the Rebels in their home opener on Saturday. Rookie Dylan Dean and Luke Powell each had a goal and two assists over the two games.
The defending WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers slot in at number two after taking a 5-2 win over the Regina Pats in their lone opening weekend game. Captain Bryce Pickford had two goals and three points to lead the Tigers to the victory in their home opener.
The Moose Jaw Warriors are a surprise at number three, in no small part due to scoring 15 goals in a pair of wins over the Brandon Wheat Kings, including a 6-4 win in Brandon on Friday and 9-7 come-from-behind win in their home opener Saturday. Ethan Semeniuk -- the first WHL Player of the Week for 2025-26 -- joins Landen McFadden, Pavel McKenzie and Colt Carter in all having two goals and five points to sit tied for second in WHL scoring.
The Prince Albert Raiders come in at number four after defeating the Saskatoon Blades 4-2 on Friday in P.A. before falling 3-2 in overtime in the rematch in Saskatoon.
The Blades -- who join Edmonton as one of the conference’s pre-season favourites -- come in at number five.
You can check out where the remainder of the Eastern Conference teams come in in the graphic above!
