Which WHLer will hit 50 goals first this season?
As the WHL hits its home stretch, there are many races to watch. Three of the four divisions are separated by five points or less, while the Prince George Cougars and Victoria Royals are currently tied for the B.C. Division lead with 53 points each. While team success is the most important factor heading into the playoffs, one individual race that is heating up revolves around goal scoring and which player will hit the 50-goal mark first in 2024-25.
With less than 30 games to go for every team, there are a few players who are closing in on the 50-goal mark. Six players have at least 28 goals this season, while 29 have already hit the 20-goal mark. While a strong game can change everything, below is a list of the six players most likely to hit the 50-goal mark first:
- Shea Van Olm, Spokane Chiefs - 31 G, 27 GR
- Andrew Cristall, Spokane Chiefs- 29 Goals, 27 GR
- Kyle Chyzowski, Portland Winterhawks- 29 Goals, 28 GR
- Cameron Schmidt, Vancouver Giants- 29 Goals, 27 GR
- Luke Mistelbacher, Swift Current Broncos- 28 Goals, 30 GR
- Hunter St. Martin, Medicine Hat Tigers- 28 Goals, 26 GR
Based on rosters and upcoming schedules, the most likely outcome is that Shea Van Olm of Spokane will be the first player to reach 50 goals this season. Van Olm is coming off a hat trick versus the Wenatchee Wild and now has both Andrew Cristall and Berkly Catton feeding him pucks. As of right now, the Chiefs forward is on pace for 52 goals, which, if he hits, would tie him with Kyle Beach for the 11th most in a season in franchise history.
In the end, the biggest winners from this race are the fans, as they get to see plenty of goal-scoring over the next few months. There were a few teams that really loaded up at the deadline and created rosters that could easily put up over five goals per game. Overall, the final stretch of the season should be an exciting time, with both overagers and draft-eligible prospects expected to light the lamp on a consistent basis.
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