Cootes named WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player

The Prince Albert Raiders are proud to share that forward Braeden Cootes has been named the recipient of the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.

In two seasons with the Regina Pats, Hornung was widely regarded and respected for his combination of talent, desire, and unmistakable sportsmanlike attitude. He was paralyzed following a collision in a game in Regina on March 1, 1987, but remained deeply engrained in hockey and the WHL until his passing in 2022.

Cootes was acquired by the Raiders from the Seattle Thunderbirds in January, and played 45 games between the Raiders and T-Birds in the 2025-26 season. The Vancouver Canucks first round pick scored 24 goals and added 39 assists for 63 points, while racking up just eight penalty minutes.

Originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the first round (10th overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Cootes has collected 162 points (64G-98A) in 176 career WHL regular season games.