By Scott Fisher /

RED DEER REBELS
2008 first overall Bantam pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will play his first full season in Red Deer.
The Rebels have also added some veteran depth up front.
Red Deer GM Brent Sutter acquired overage forward Nathan Green from the Brandon Wheat Kings for an exchange of CHL import picks (14th for 41st).
The Rebels then chose Swedish forward John Persson.

CALGARY HITMEN
The Hitmen are looking for a few good men.
With a number of players moving on to the professional and university ranks, the Eastern Conference champions have a few holes to fill.
Local defencemen Peter Kosterman is expected to grab one available spot.

MEDICINE HAT TIGERS
Defenceman Mark Isherwood is hoping to sign a pro deal with the Boston Bruins.
But if that doesn’t happen, the overager will be a key player for the Bengals this season.
The Abbotsford, B.C.-product led Tigers blueliners with 19 goals and 42 points last season.

LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES
It might be a while before the Hurricanes put together their full lineup.
Drafted prospects Kyle Beach (Chicago), Eric Mestery (Washington) and Carter Ashton (Tampa Bay) are all off to NHL camps as are free agents Carter Bancks (San Jose), Austin Fyten (Detroit) and Brennan Yadlowski (Philadelphia).

KOOTENAY ICE
It’s tough being a rookie in Cranbrook these days.
The Ice could have as many as 20 players off last year’s roster at training camp.
GM Jeff Chynoweth is still looking to add a veteran defenceman.

EDMONTON OIL KINGS
Young defenceman Mark Pysyk is ready to take the next step.
The Oil Kings’ inaugural draft pick (third overall in 2007), helped Team Canada win gold at the Ivan Hlinka tourney and is now focused on leading the third-year franchise back to the post-season.
The Oil Kings 3rd annual pre-season tournament, with six teams competing, begins Aug. 28.

SASKATOON BLADES
The Blades are looking forward to seeing what Swedish import Hampus Gustafsson brings to the ice.
Head coach Lorne Molleken said he planned to use the skilled 18-year-old on the right side.

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS
The Wheat Kings haven’t filled both import spots since 2007.
That should change this season as the 2010 Memorial Cup hosts welcome Swedish defenceman Alexander Urbom and Finnish forward Toni Rajala to the fold.

SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS
Mark Lamb took over the dual role as GM/head coach of the Broncos after Dean Chynoweth left for the New York Islanders.
Lamb, 45, spent the past seven seasons as an assistant coach in the NHL, incliding the last six with the Dallas Stars.
He played for the Broncos when the team was part of the SJHL in 1980.

PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS
Ryan Harrison might not have cracked Team Canada’s Under-18 roster.
But he said it’ll just make him hungrier for the upcoming season.
The 17-year-old centre had 35 points during his rookie campaign last season.

REGINA PATS
The goaltending battle in the Queen City is shaping up to be an interesting one.
Returning starter Linden Rowat and backup Damien Ketlo will be challenged by prospects Dawson Guhle, Derek Tendler and Cory Nygaard.

MOOSE JAW WARRIORS
The re-built Warriors will have 25 players in camp who played at least one game for the club last season.
Overagers Jason Bast, Cody Smuk and Ryan Stanton will be expected to lead the turnaround for last year’s cellar-dwellers.

KELOWNA ROCKETS
Catching head coach Ryan Huska’s eye was a little difficult for this year’s crop of rookies.
The defending WHL champions had 175 players slated to show up for the four-day rookie camp.

VANCOUVER GIANTS
The Giants are rebuilding the back end in a hurry.
Head coach Don Hay said as many as three 16-year-old rookies — David Musil, Zach Hodder and Luke Fenske — could be patrolling Vancouver’s blueline this season.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS
Getting drafted has done wonders for Tyler Shattock.
Head coach Barry Smith said the right-winger, drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round, is playing with much more confidence and could become one of the team’s leaders this season.

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS
Brett Connolly had a short summer.
The CHL’s reigning rookie of the year helped Team Canada win the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, the Under-18 world 
championship.
Connolly had to assists in the gold-medal game as Canada thumped Russia 9-2.

CHILLIWACK BRUINS
The Bruins have two veteran goaltenders in camp. There’s only room for one.
Mark Friesen and Lucas Gore, both 19, are battling for the starter’s role, and the runner-up will likely be forced to move on.

TRI-CITY AMERICANS
Jim Hiller has taken over the reins behind the Ams’ bench.
Hiller, 40, replaced Don Nachbaur, who joined the AHL’s Bimghampton Senators.
Hiller began his WHL coaching career as an assistant with the Americans seven years ago.

SPOKANE CHIEFS
The Chiefs are now on Facebook and 
Twitter.
Chiefs fans can stay up-to-date on team news at twitter.com/chiefshockey.
The Chiefs will also post stories about former players on its Facebook page.

SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS
T-Birds goaltender Calvin Pickard made the most of his starts at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
Pickard posted two wins — over Swednen and Switzerland — in as many appearances as Canada won the gold medal.

EVERETT SILVERTIPS
The Silvertips now have a pair of Hartsburgs behind the bench.
Chris Hartsburg, 29, signed on as an assistant coach under father Craig, who was handed the head job in June.
Chris was an assistant with the Central Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles last season.

PORTLAND WINTER HAWKS
The rebuilding Winter Hawks have signed another young forward.
Centre Ryan Johansen, 17, who played last season with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees, will be at the Hawks’ training camp.
Johansen had five goals and 17 points in 47 games with the Vees.

— Scott Fisher covers the WHL for the Calgary Sun