Three Up, Three Down: Penticton Finds Its Punch as Trouble Builds in Moose Jaw

Photo: Penticton Vees / CHL

October 28, 20264 min read

WHL stock watch, October 24–28, 2026

October is early enough to explain away a difficult weekend. It is also late enough that the same problems showing up repeatedly deserve some attention.

Penticton delivered one of the strongest statements of the past few days, Brandon’s established scorers took care of business, and the WHL received another reminder of its importance to the NHL Draft. Elsewhere, missed opportunities and mounting losses made for less comfortable conversations.

Here are three positives and three negatives from the latest stretch of WHL action.

GOOD: Penticton gives Edmonton something to think about

The Vees left Rogers Place on Sunday with a 4–1 victory, powered by a three-point performance from Tyler Deakos. The Montréal Canadiens prospect contributed a goal and two assists, helping Penticton finish its Central Division trip with consecutive victories.

Deakos subsequently earned WHL Player of the Week honours after collecting seven points across three games. His Sunday performance was particularly valuable: he helped establish the lead, assisted on the goal that restored a two-goal cushion and then scored himself to put the game further out of reach.

That is the encouraging part for Penticton. This was a road win built around a player delivering at important moments. A developing team needs those performances, especially away from home against opponents looking to establish themselves.

Nobody should turn one result into a declaration that the Vees have arrived. But Edmonton certainly cannot treat them as an easy afternoon on the schedule.

GOOD: Brandon’s big names play like big names

The Wheat Kings beat Moose Jaw 6–2 on Tuesday, with Kris Muissu and Joby Baumuller scoring twice apiece. Hudson Landmark also scored his first WHL goal.

There is something reassuring about a team getting exactly what it needs from its established offensive threats while a younger player gets a moment of his own.

For Brandon, the challenge is turning those nights into an expectation. Teams with ambitions cannot spend every week waiting for someone unexpected to rescue them. Their best players have to drive results, particularly against opponents struggling to find their footing.

Tuesday offered a straightforward example of that formula working.

GOOD: The WHL has another draft class worth following

NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary Players to Watch list included 54 WHL-developed players, comprising 48 skaters and six goaltenders. Five WHL-developed players received an A rating.

Preliminary recognition does not guarantee a draft selection, and October ratings will change. Still, the announcement gives fans a reason to look beyond the most familiar names.

There are players trying to establish themselves as first-round candidates, others trying to climb into that conversation and plenty fighting simply to stay on the radar. That makes an ordinary league game more interesting. A matchup can matter to the standings while also offering an early look at someone whose stock could move considerably before June.

BAD: Edmonton lets a home opportunity slip

Penticton deserves its credit, but the other side of Sunday’s result belongs here too.

The Oil Kings fell behind 2–0, and after getting within a goal, allowed Penticton to rebuild its cushion in the third period. The Vees finished the afternoon with a 4–1 win.

For Edmonton, that is a frustrating progression. Getting back into a game has limited value if the next important goal immediately puts you back in trouble.

The concern is not that one home loss defines the Oil Kings. It is whether they can turn a response into sustained pressure. There is a difference between making the score close and taking control of the game.

BAD: Prince George’s home ice offers little relief

The WHL’s October 28 daily report listed Prince George on a four-game losing streak and a five-game home winless stretch.

Those are uncomfortable numbers together. Home games should provide an opportunity to settle down, establish favourable matchups and stop a difficult stretch from following a team around.

Instead, the Cougars have continued searching for that reset.

The longer it lasts, the more pressure falls on the next game. A promising period starts to feel like something that must be protected. An opposition goal carries extra weight. Prince George needs a result that gives its players some room to breathe.

BAD: Moose Jaw’s losses are becoming a pattern

Seattle beat the Warriors 6–4 on Saturday. Brandon followed with Tuesday’s 6–2 victory, and the October 28 league report listed Moose Jaw’s losing streak at five games.

Conceding six goals in consecutive games leaves very little margin for an offence to work with. Moose Jaw scored four against Seattle and still came away empty-handed.

There is no single scoreline that repairs a stretch like this. The Warriors need games that remain manageable long enough for their offence to make a difference.

October still leaves plenty of runway. But “there is lots of season left” becomes a less convincing answer when the same problems keep collecting points for the opposition.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Arik Krause

Editor

Arik Krause is the Founder/COO of NetFront Sports