West Central Wheat Kings AA teams are currently looking at coaches for the upcoming year.

This past season was pretty much a lost one for all local AA players, and it was literally the case when it came to the youngest level of the program.

“Most of the kids hung on, the worst was for the U11’s.” said Wheat Kings President Mike Rublee, “They didn’t really have a league to play in as it worked out this year, so it really didn’t effect them that much.”

Rublee also mentioned that all levels were able to remain practicing (according to guidelines) together until the end of the season. The U13 and U18 teams only got 4 games in each, and the U15’s were able to play 6 of their games. In limited action the U13 team went 4-1, the U15’s were 2-4, while the U18’s did not win a game and lost once in overtime over their four match-ups.

When it comes to passing players on to junior, the Wheat Kings have been able to move multiple on throughout the years. They have been known to send players through the Sask First ranks, and had four former players on the gold medal winning Team Saskatchewan at the 2019 WHL Cup. Karson Blanchette from Unity was the most recent WHL draft pick, being selected 69th overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2020.

Rublee has seen lots of talent come and go throughout the years. Even Wheat Kings teams that aren’t around anymore were notable champions, as the west central area had something cooking this last decade when it came to girls hockey.

Rublee thinks that players coming out of west central, will always remember being a Wheat King. He said it’s nice to see that the program has built some recognition in the region, and he hopes that bond can continue to come full circle in developing talent.

“Talking about looking for coaches, hopefully at one point one of these kids will want (to coach).” said Rublee, “To have some of these kids who played AA hockey from a younger age, and be able to pass that on for kids to look up to. It’s a goal that would be nice to see.”

Nomadic practices in Kindersley, Kerrobert, Unity, Dodsland, Plenty and other locations isn’t everything that makes up west central hockey.

“It’s not like it is out of any individual town. It’s this whole area you cover that everyone comes together, for the same love of hockey.” described Rublee, “Not this year but other years, (other towns) get to watch some hockey they normally don’t get to see because it moves around. Everyone comes together for the same common goal, just a love of the game.”

Perhaps seeing some west central talent succeed in this years WHL bubble will spur on some future puck dreams.

Former Wheat King Logan Linklater lost his first WHL point to a stat correction the other night against Brandon, but has played well so far. Eatonia’s Cade Hayes has 2 points in three games with the Moose Jaw Warriors as he plays his second season. Jhett Larson plays for Brent Sutter and the Red Deer Rebels, and the Delisle, SK native has appeared in 2 games so far while Alberta teams play out of their home rinks. Another former Wheat King in Rosetown’s Vaughn Watterodt should be getting set to maybe make his debut in BC’s bubble later this month.

Keep an eye out for these local players as the WHL’s bubble continues on.