WHL names 2023-24 U.S. Division First All-Star Team
Calgary, Alta. – Berkly Catton has been named to the Western Hockey League’s U.S. Division First All-Star Team for the 2023-24 WHL season.
WHL Division All-Stars are voted upon by WHL General Managers.
WHL U.S. Division First All-Star Team
Goaltender – Jan Spunar (Olomouc, Czechia) – Portland Winterhawks
Defence – Graham Sward (Abbotsford, B.C.) – Wenatchee Wild
Defence – Luca Cagnoni (Burnaby, B.C.) – Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Berkly Catton (Saskatoon, Sask.) – Spokane Chiefs
Forward – Gabe Klassen (Prince Albert, Sask.) – Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Kenta Isogai (Nagano, Japan) – Wenatchee Wild
WHL U.S. Division First All-Star Team Biographies
Goaltender – Jan Spunar (Portland Winterhawks): The 19-year-old product of Olomouc, Czechia, finished his second WHL season with a record of 25-6-2-1, including a 2.12 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and two shutouts. The 6-foot-3, 199-pound puckstopper was named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week on October 16, 2023. Originally selected by the Winterhawks in the first round (52nd overall) of the 2022 CHL Import Draft, Spunar owns a career record of 42-13-4-2 with a 2.35 GAA, .910 SV% and two shutouts.
Defence – Graham Sward (Wenatchee Wild): The 20-year-old prospect of the Colorado Avalanche finished second in scoring among all WHL blueliners, recording 81 points (15G-66A) in 66 games. His efforts were worthy of Tempo WHL Player of the Week recognition on February 20, 2024. From September 29 through November 4, 2023, the product of Abbotsford, B.C., logged 27 points (5G-22A) across a 15-game point streak. Originally selected by the Spokane Chiefs in the first round (17th overall) of the 2018 WHL Draft, the 6-foot-3, 191-pound rearguard has earned 180 points (33G-147A) in 250 career WHL Regular Season games.
Defence – Luca Cagnoni (Portland Winterhawks): Passed over in the WHL Draft, the 19-year-old prospect of the San Jose Sharks is a poster boy for perseverance after leading all WHL defencemen in scoring with an eye-popping 90 points (18G-72A) in 65 games this season. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound blueliner was recognized as Tempo WHL Player of the Week on January 22, 2024. Selected by the Sharks in the fourth round (123rd overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, the product of Burnaby, B.C., has tallied 193 points (44G-149A) in 205 career WHL Regular Season games.
Forward – Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs): The 18-year-old product of Saskatoon, Sask., showed why he is a top-rated prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft, finishing fourth in WHL scoring with 116 points (54G-62A) in 68 games. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound centre logged a 14-game point streak from February 4 through March 5, 2024, securing 28 points (15G-13A) along the way, helping the Chiefs secure the eighth and final playoff seed in the WHL’s Western Conference. Listed ninth among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings, Catton is set to hear his name called early in the 2024 NHL Draft. Originally selected by the Chiefs with the first-overall pick in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Catton has registered 175 points (78G-97A) in 140 career WHL Regular Season contests.
Forward – Gabe Klassen (Portland Winterhawks): The 20-year-old product of Prince Albert, Sask., was one of 10 WHL players to surpass the 100-point plateau in 2023-24, recording 106 points (35G-71A) in 67 games. The Winterhawks captain was named Tempo WHL Player of the Week on November 13, 2023. From December 8, 2023 through January 19, 2024, Klassen enjoyed a 15-game point streak, notching 29 points (7G-22A) along the way. Originally selected by the Winterhawks in the first round (19th overall) of the 2018 WHL Draft, the 5-foot-10, 178-pound centre has secured 265 points (118G-147A) in 248 career WHL Regular Season games.
Forward – Kenta Isogai (Wenatchee Wild): The 19-year-old product of Nagano, Japan, burst onto the WHL scene in 2023-24, posting 88 points (31G_57A) in 64 games. A 12-game point streak dating from December 31, 2023 through February 4, 2024, saw the 5-foot-10, 158-pound left winger record 26 points (8G-18A). Isogai signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Wenatchee Wild prior to the start of the 2023-24 season.
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
