WHL names 2023-24 U.S. Division Second All-Star Team
Calgary, Alta. – Conner Roulette has been named to the Western Hockey League’s Second All-Star Team for the 2023-24 WHL season.
WHL Division All-Stars are voted upon by WHL General Managers.
WHL U.S. Division Second All-Star Team
Goaltender – Scott Ratzlaff (Irma, Alta.) – Seattle Thunderbirds
Defence – Jeremy Hanzel (Coquitlam, B.C.) – Seattle Thunderbirds
Defence – Sawyer Mynio (Kamloops, B.C.) – Seattle Thunderbirds
Forward – James Stefan (Laguna Beach, Calif.) – Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Ben Hemmerling (Sherwood Park, Alta.) – Everett Silvertips
Forward – Conner Roulette (Winnipeg, Man.) – Spokane Chiefs
WHL U.S. Division Second All-Star Team Biographies
Goaltender – Scott Ratzlaff (Seattle Thunderbirds): The 19-year-old prospect of the Buffalo Sabres took the reins in the Seattle crease this season, appearing in a career high 52 games, logging 21 wins, a .905 save percentage and one shutout. The product of Irma, Alta., was named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week on January 29, 2024, after recording an impressive .960 save percentage in victories over the Wenatchee Wild and Everett Silvertips, including a career-best 62-save performance against Everett. Selected by the Sabres in the fifth round (141st overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, Ratzlaff owns a career WHL record of 64-36-2-2 with a 2.78 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and seven shutouts. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound netminder was originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.
Defence – Jeremy Hanzel (Seattle Thunderbirds): The 21-year-old prospect of the Nashville Predators led the Thunderbirds in scoring this season, recording 60 points (17G-43A) in 66 games. Establishing career highs in goals, assists and points, Hanzel stepped into a leadership role. Selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the sixth round (187th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, Hanzel signed his entry-level contract with the Avs before having his rights traded to the Nashville Predators at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. Unselected in the WHL Draft, Hanzel signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Thunderbirds in March 2020. In 218 career WHL Regular Season games, he has tallied 149 points (39G-110A).
Defence – Sawyer Mynio (Seattle Thunderbirds): The 18-year-old prospect of the Vancouver Canucks finished second in scoring among all Thunderbirds, trailing only his fellow blueliner Hanzel. Like Hanzel, Mynio stepped into a bigger role in 2023-24, establishing new career bests in goals (16), assists (37) and points (53). Selected by the Canucks in the third round (89th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, Mynio finished second among all WHL defencemen with 11 power-play goals. Originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the third round (63rd overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Mynio has recorded 95 points (25G-70A) in 178 career WHL Regular Season games.
Forward – James Stefan (Portland Winterhawks): The 20-year-old prospect of the Edmonton Oilers surpassed the 100-point plateau this season, registering his first 50-goal season and adding 51 assists. With 101 points, Stefan finished tied for ninth among all WHL skaters, becoming the first Winterhawk to record 50 goals and 100 points since Joachim Blichfeld in 2018-19. Passed over in both the NHL and WHL Drafts, Stefan signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Winterhawks in November 2018. From there, he went on to score 256 points (111G-145A) in 254 career WHL Regular Season games en route to signing a free agent contract with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers on March 21, 2024.
Forward – Ben Hemmerling (Everett Silvertips): The 19-year-old prospect of the Vegas Golden Knights turned in a career season, posting 91 points (30G-61A) in 65 games. Selected by the Golden Knights in the sixth round (177th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, Hemmerling’s 91 points led all Silvertips. Originally selected in the third round (49th overall), the product of Sherwood Park, Alta., has tallied 207 points (64G-143A) in 199 career WHL Regular Season games.
Forward – Conner Roulette (Spokane Chiefs): The 20-year-old product of Winnipeg, Man., erupted for 108 points (45G-63A) in 68 games, finishing sixth in WHL scoring. From February 4 through March 12, 2024, Roulette strung together a 17-game point streak, tallying 31 points (10G-21A). Originally selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the second round (34th overall) of the 2018 WHL Draft, Roulette has collected 287 points (118G-169A) in 259 career WHL Regular Season contests with the Chiefs, Thunderbirds and Saskatoon Blades.
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.
