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Raiders Announce 2026 Training Camp Schedule

Kyle Kosowan — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 18:00:08 +0000

Prince Albert Raiders hockey will be back soon at the Art Hauser Centre. The Prince Albert Raiders will open their 2026 Training Camp on Friday, August 28 and will conclude on Monday, August 31 with the annual Green and White Game. This year’s attendees will be divided into four teams named after four prestigious alumni –Mike Modano (1986-89), Dean McAmmond (1989-93), Scott Hartnell (1998-2000), and Aliaksei Protas (2018-20). Camp opens on Friday, August 28 with registration and fitness testing. On-ice scrimmages will take place on Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30. Each team will play each other once as they compete for the Parker Kelly Cup with the top two teams facing off on Sunday night at 7:15pm in the championship game. Parker Kelly was picked by the Raiders in the seventh round of the 2014 WHL Prospects Draft. Suiting up for the Raiders from 2015-19, Kelly was known for his never-quit attitude and high character. While not drafted into the NHL, Kelly was invited to camp with the Ottawa Senators and earned an NHL contract. He twice won the Johnathan Pitre Memorial Award for the hardest working player at the Senators development camp. Kelly is now a veteran of 339 career games in the NHL as he enters his third season with the Colorado Avalanche. See below for the schedule of scrimmages. The weekend scrimmages will be open to the public. Saturday, August 29

8:45 a.m. – Team McAmmond vs. Team Hartnell
10:30 a.m. – Team Protas vs. Team Modano
5:15 p.m.– Team McAmmond vs. Team Protas
7:00 p.m. – Team Hartnell vs. Team Modano

Sunday, August 30

8:45 a.m. – Team Hartnell vs. Team Protas
10:30 a.m. – Team McAmmond vs. Team Modano
5:15 p.m. – Parker Kelly Cup Consolation Game
7:15 p.m. – Parker Kelly Cup Championship Game

Camp culminates on Monday, August 31 with the Green and White Game at the Art Hauser Centre at 10 a.m. Admission to the annual Green and White Game is a non-perishable food donation to the Prince Albert Food Bank. Doors open at 9 a.m. The Green and White Game will also be livestreamed on the Raiders’ YouTube channel. Camp rosters will be revealed at a later date. The Raiders begin the 2026 WHL Pre-season on Tuesday, September 1 in Saskatoon against the Blades for a 2 p.m. puck drop at SaskTel Centre. The first home action of the pre-season is on Friday, September 4 against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Game time is 7 p.m. About the Alumni Scott Hartnell – Scott Hartnell was picked seventh overall in the 1997 WHL Prospects Draft. Born in Regina and growing up in Lloydminster, AB, Hartnell played in 128 games for the Raiders from 1998-2000. In his draft eligible year, Hartnell produced 27 goals and 82 points while serving as the team’s captain. Hartnell was drafted sixth overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2000 NHL Draft. Over his 17-year NHL career with the Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, and Columbus Blue Jackets, he scored 327 goals and totalled 707 points to go along with 1,809 penalty minutes. Dean McAmmond – A product of Grande Cache, AB, Dean McAmmond played for the Raiders from 1989 to 1993. He suited up for a total 217 games with the Raiders, scoring 100 goals and totalling 219 points. He also represented Canada at the 1993 IIHF World Junior Championship, taking home a silver medal. McAmmond was selected 22nd overall in the 1991 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He played in 996 NHL games during his 17-year career with nine teams, scoring 186 goals, 262 assists, and 490 penalty minutes. Mike Modano – Mike Modano, from Livonia, Michigan, took the ice for the Raiders from 1986-89. He played in 176 games with the Raiders over those seasons, scoring 118 goals with 176 assists. Modano the first overall selection in the 1988 NHL Draft, joining the Minnesota North Stars. He spent 21 of his 22 seasons with the North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise, winning the Stanley Cup in 1999 with Dallas. He was also a silver medallist in the 2002 Olympics with the United States. Modano is second all-time in NHL scoring by an American with 1,374 points in 1,499 games between the Stars franchise and the Detroit Red Wings. The Raiders retired Modano’s No. 9 in 2013, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014. Aliaksei Protas – Hailing from Vitebsk, Belarus, Aliaksei Protas was selected 26th overall in the 2018 CHL Import Draft. Protas played in two seasons with the Raiders from 2018-20 and was a key member of the 2019 WHL Championship team. The Belarussian had 120 points in 119 regular season games with the Raiders, added 22 points in 23 contests during the 2019 WHL Playoffs. Protas was selected in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals. He has suited up in 321 games over six seasons with the Capitals, registering 68 goals and 171 points.

2026-27 Season Tickets Now Available for Pick Up

Kyle Kosowan — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:31:09 +0000

Attention Season Ticket Holders! Your Season Ticket packages for 2026-27 are now available for pick up at the Raider Office. Stop by during our business hours to pick up your ticket packages. The Raider Office is open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Single game tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, September 1 in the Raider Office and online via SaskTix.

Nissan Canada Becomes Official Partner of the CHL, WHL, OHL and QMJHL

Kyle Kosowan — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:48:52 +0000

New multi-year partnership spans marquee CHL events and key WHL, OHL and QMJHL properties, connecting Nissan with hockey communities across Canada through local dealer engagement

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced today a new multi-year partnership with Nissan Canada, which becomes an Official Partner of the CHL and its Member Leagues — the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Through the partnership, Nissan and its dealer network will work alongside teams across the CHL to support hockey communities nationwide in Canada through local activations, community events and fan experiences. With dealers operating in Canadian markets that are home to WHL, OHL and QMJHL teams, the partnership will create new opportunities to engage fans and support the communities where the game is played, celebrated and shared. “We are proud to welcome Nissan Canada as an Official Partner of the CHL and our Member Leagues,” said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. “With Nissan dealers serving many of the markets our teams call home, this partnership combines the national reach of our marquee events and key WHL, OHL and QMJHL properties with meaningful local engagement. Our goal is to build a partnership that resonates as strongly within those communities as it does on the national stage.” Throughout the multi-year partnership, Nissan will have a presence at the CHL’s marquee annual events: the CHL USA Prospects Challenge and the Memorial Cup presented by Kubota. The upcoming 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge, featuring top 2027 NHL Draft prospects from the CHL and the U.S. National Under-18 Team, will be held December 1 in Chicoutimi, Que., and December 2 in Québec City. The 2027 Memorial Cup, which will crown the CHL champion, will be hosted by the Guelph Storm in Guelph, Ont., from May 20–30. At the Member League level, Nissan will serve as presenting sponsor of the WHL Prospects Draft and QMJHL Opening Week and as title sponsor of the OHL Playoffs, while supporting other programs and events throughout the partnership. Beyond these national and league properties, Nissan will help advance a range of initiatives over the course of the partnership, including dealer-led activations, youth hockey experiences and fan engagement programs. Participating dealers will have opportunities to work alongside local WHL, OHL and QMJHL teams to deliver community-based programming in markets across Canada. “Hockey has long been Canada’s game, bringing people together and creating lasting connections in communities across the country,” said Kristina Herder, Director, Marketing Communications, Nissan Canada. “This partnership is more than a sponsorship. It’s about showing up in those communities, supporting the next generation of players and fans, and creating meaningful experiences that bring people together through the game.” By bringing together the CHL, the WHL, OHL and QMJHL, and Nissan’s dealer network across Canada, the partnership creates new opportunities to engage fans, support local hockey initiatives and celebrate the game at both the local and national levels. Further details on activations and community programming will be announced throughout the season. For more information about Nissan Canada’s products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissan.ca. Follow Nissan Canada on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn, and watch its latest videos on YouTube. About the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is the world’s largest development hockey league, featuring 52 Canadian and nine American teams across the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League (NHL) than any other league, while supporting student-athletes through a significant investment in education and scholarship programs. Each year, nearly 1,000 CHL graduates receive support through WHL, OHL, and QMJHL scholarship programs, with CHL clubs investing nearly $10 million annually in player education and scholarship support. During the 2025–26 NHL season, more than 475 CHL alumni were among the 1,033-plus players to appear in at least one game. At the 2026 NHL Draft, 106 CHL-developed players were selected—the most of any development league worldwide and the CHL’s highest total since 2010—including 16 first-round picks. For more information, please visit chl.ca. About Nissan Canada Inc. Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) is the Canadian sales, marketing and distribution subsidiary of Nissan Motor Limited and Nissan North America, Inc. NCI was the first Japanese-based automaker to incorporate in Canada in 1965, and now directly employs 306 full-time staff across offices in Vancouver (BC), Mississauga (ON), and Kirkland (QC). There are 210 independent Nissan dealerships, including 87 that also act as Nissan Commercial Vehicles dealers, 136 electric vehicle-certified dealers, and 39 INFINITI retailers across Canada.

Raiders sign import pick Luks to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement

Kyle Kosowan — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:27:41 +0000

The Prince Albert Raiders made just one pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, and that pick is now signed. 2008-born defenceman Oskars Luks has signed a WHL Scholarship and Development contract with the Raiders, and will join the club for training camp this fall. The 17-year-old is from Riga, Latvia, and his late October 12^th birthday makes him eligible for the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. The 6’5, 209lb blueliner spent the 2025-26 season in Finland with the Jukurit U18 program. He scored 4 goals and added 20 assists in 39 games, tacking on 39 penalty minutes. He also represented Latvia internationally at the U18 level. “Oskars is a big, mobile defenceman,” Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt said after the 2026 CHL Import Draft. “He has great mobility, great reach and attention to detail. We feel he can step right in and support the group we have. We’re excited to see him get to Prince Albert and watch his game grow.”

Cripps and Harvey named to Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup training camp roster

Kyle Kosowan — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:55:24 +0000

Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Brock Cripps and forward Ben Harvey have been named to Team Canada’s training camp roster ahead of the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. They are two of 27 players who will take part in the Canadian National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team camp. The initial roster, which includes three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 15 forwards, was selected by Program of Excellence (POE) general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON), alongside POE head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) and U18 assistant general manager Yanick Lemay (Drummondville, QC/Drummondville, QMJHL), with input from Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations. “We are excited to unveil the 27 players who will begin the road to the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup at training camp in Edmonton. This is a talented and well-rounded group of young players,” Millar said. “Our staff have worked tirelessly to identify a roster that we believe gives us the best chance to be successful on home ice. We look forward to gathering in Edmonton next week to continue our preparations for the tournament, and for the opportunity to get Canada back on top of the podium in front of Canadian fans in August.” Of the 27 players, 25 suited up for Canada Red or Canada White at the U17 World Challenge, one player won a bronze medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (DuPont) and one represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship (Joseph). Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team training camp, set for July 27-Aug. 1 at NAIT Arena and Rogers Place in Edmonton, will include practices and a game against Sweden on July 30. Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will also take on Czechia on Aug. 1 as part of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup pre-tournament schedule before the roster is finalized ahead of the start of the tournament. Canada opens the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup against Switzerland on Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. MT. It will face Slovakia on Aug. 4 and Sweden on Aug. 5 to close out the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on Aug. 8. Ticket packages and individual game tickets can be purchased online at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets. Media representatives looking to attend Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team training camp can apply for accreditation online. Media accreditation for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup can be requested here. For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Shingoose named to Canada’s U17 Development Camp Roster

Kyle Kosowan — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:49:53 +0000

Prince Albert Raiders prospect Athens Shingoose was one of 80 players invited to Canada’s national under-17 development camp, set for July 17-21 in Oakville, Ontario. Shingoose played his rookie season with RHA Winnipeg U18 Prep in 2025-26. The 16-year-old was a point per game player, as he scored 15 goals and added 16 assists for 31 points in 30 games. That was good enough to lead his team in scoring, as he finished six points ahead of the team’s next leading scorer (Spencer Kuntz, 25). Shingoose also recorded 66 penalty minutes, and a team leading five powerplay goals. The roster, which includes eight goaltenders, 24 defencemen and 48 forwards, was selected by Program of Excellence (POE) general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON), alongside POE head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) and U17 assistant general manager Mike Johnston (Dartmouth, NS/Portland, WHL), with input from Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations. Hockey Canada’s regional scouts—Pierre Cholette (Québec), Scott Grieve (Ontario), Jared Power (West), Rob Simpson (Ontario) and Darren Sutherland (Atlantic)—and Member representatives assisted with the selection process. “We are excited to unveil the top Canadian under-17 players who have earned invitations to our development camp this week, and to introduce these young players to Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence,” Millar said. “This is a very talented and exciting group that will be surrounded by world-class coaching and support staffs, and we look forward to introducing them to our program, setting the expectations for the season and preparing for the U17 World Challenge later this year.” All 80 players have been drafted by Canadian Hockey League (CHL) teams (31 from the Ontario Hockey League, 29 from the Western Hockey League and 20 from the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League). The players will be split into four teams for the five-day camp, which includes two days of practice and six games from July 19-21. Following camp, players will continue to be evaluated through the beginning of the 2026-27 season before the Canada Red and Canada White rosters are named ahead of the 2026 U17 World Challenge, scheduled for Nov. 1-7 in Oakville.

McDonald named assistant coach for 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup team

Kyle Kosowan — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:52:04 +0000

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has named the coaching staff that will lead Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Aug. 3-8 in Edmonton. Ryan Oulahen (Newmarket, ON/North Bay, OHL), who served as an assistant coach at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton when Canada last won gold, will take the reins as head coach as Canada looks for its 26th summer U18 gold medal. Ryan McDonald (Prince Albert, SK/Prince Albert, WHL), Brad MacKenzie (Charlottetown, PE/Halifax, QMJHL) and Kyle Chipchura (Westlock, AB/Edmonton, WHL) will serve as assistant coaches, with goaltending coach Jeff Harvey (St. Albert, AB/Saskatoon, WHL) and video coach Matthew Smith (Tatamagouche, NS/Newfoundland, QMJHL). The coaching staff was selected by Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON), Yanick Lemay (Drummondville, QC/Drummondville, QMJHL), assistant general manager of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations. “We are thrilled to welcome Ryan, Ryan, Brad and Kyle to the staff for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup,” said Millar. “Each brings a pedigree of coaching experience, particularly in short-term international competition, which will be a tremendous asset as we prepare for the tournament. We’re excited to continue the process of building a team and working with a group of players who will proudly represent Canada and showcase their talent to hockey fans in Edmonton in August.” Oulahen just completed his seventh season as head coach of the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and second season as assistant general manager. Prior to joining North Bay, he spent three seasons as head coach of the OHL’s Flint Firebirds and six seasons as an assistant coach with the Battalion (2010-16). Oulahen has previously served as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, winning a gold medal in 2024 and 2018. He also served as an assistant coach at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with Canada Red (2014) and Canada Black (2015), and as head coach of Canada White (2016). McDonald completed his first full season as head coach of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, guiding the Raiders to their first 50-win season since 2018-19 and to the WHL championship series. Prior to being named head coach, he also served as assistant coach with the Raiders from 2020 until he was named interim head coach in March 2025. McDonald won a gold medals as head coach of Canada Red (2025) and as an assistant coach alongside MacKenzie with Canada White (2024) at the U17 World Challenge, and won a silver medal as head coach of Team Saskatchewan at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. He also spent four seasons with the Warman Wildcats AAA program at both the U15 and U18 levels. MacKenzie was promoted to head coach of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in July 2025 and guided them to the playoffs in his first season at the helm. He served one season as associate coach with the Mooseheads (2024-25) and three as an assistant coach (2022-24). Prior to joining the Mooseheads, he was head coach of the Grand Falls Rapids of the Maritime Hockey League (2019-21), earning MHL Coach of the Year honours in 2020-21. MacKenzie also won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada White at the 2024 U17 World Challenge. Chipchura completed his second season as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Prior to joining the coach staff, he served as the team’s development coach in 2023-24. Chipchura spent two seasons with the Northern Alberta Xtreme of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), serving as head coach of the U17 Prep team in 2022-23 following one season as an assistant coach with the U15 Prep team in 2021-22. Chipchura was also an assistant coach with Canada White at the 2025 U17 World Challenge. The support staff that will work with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup includes:

Head athletic therapist Colton Reiley (Sydney, NS/Cape Breton, QMJHL)
Athletic therapist Taylor Cochrane (Elk Point, AB/Kamloops, WHL)
Team physician Danielle Kelton (London, ON/London, OHL)
Head equipment manager Andrew MacNeill (Charlottetown, PE/Charlottetown, QMJHL)
Equipment manager R. Grant (Windsor, ON/Windsor, OHL)
Hockey operations head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB)
Hockey operations manager Mitchell Furlotte (Bathurst, NB)
Hockey operations coordinator Jake Grison (Lion's Head, ON)
Media relations manager Spencer Sharkey (Hamilton, ON)

The roster for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team training camp will be announced at a later date. Canada will play its opening game of the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. MT. It will also face Slovakia on Aug. 4 and Sweden on Aug. 5 to close out the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on Aug. 8. Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will hold a training camp prior to the start of the tournament, set for July 27-30 at NAIT Arena in Edmonton, which will include practices and a game against Sweden on July 30. It will also take on Czechia on Aug. 1 as part of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup pre-tournament schedule.

2026-27 regular season schedule announced

Kyle Kosowan — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:01:33 +0000

The full regular season schedule has been announced for the 2026-27 campaign. The Prince Albert Raiders will open the regular season with their home opener against the Regina Pats on Friday, September 18. That’s a part of five games that will be played in September. The full schedule can be seen in the images below. If you’re planning your warm vacation destination around the Raiders’ schedule, you’ll want to look at the end of January into early February. That’s when the club embarks on a road trip through the BC Division. The road swing actually starts on Sunday, January 24^th in Saskatoon, but the BC part of it begins on Friday, January 29^th in Kelowna. Lasting just over a week long, the Raiders will roll through Kelowna, Penticton, Victoria, Vancouver, Kamloops, and Prince George. This season, the Americans teams come to town. Dates for those games are: Friday, October 23^rd vs Everett (WHL Championship Series rematch) Friday, October 30^th vs Seattle Tuesday, November 17^th vs Wenatchee Friday, November 20^th vs Portland Wednesday, January 6^th vs Tri-City Wednesday, January 13^th vs Spokane The Raiders and Blades will square off eight times in 2026-27. They’ll meet for a home and home set during the second weekend of the season, and then won’t see each other again until a home and home series on December 27^th and 29^th. The clubs will face off again twice in January, before wrapping up the season series with a home and home on the final weekend of the season. The longest homestand of the season lasts from November 13^th to November 27^th. In that stretch, the Raiders will play six straight games at the Art Hauser Centre. The longest road trip of the season is the aforementioned BC swing. That trip goes from January 24^th to February 6^th, and lasts seven games. But first, the preseason. The 2026-27 preseason schedule has already been announced. The Raiders will play five exhibition games, starting on Tuesday, September 1^st in Saskatoon.

State of the Western Hockey League – June 2026

Kyle Kosowan — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:13:25 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – WHL Commissioner Dan Near issued today the following State of the Western Hockey League update following the successful conclusion of the 2025-26 WHL season, including changes to the WHL schedule and travel regulations aimed at improving the overall WHL Player Experience in response to feedback received directly through a survey of WHL players.

SUCCESSES, 2025-26

WHL continues to thrive in its local communities

More than 3.2 million fans attended regular season WHL games this year, representing a 4% increase from 2024-25. The WHL averaged 4,144 attendees per game in the regular season, representing the highest average attendance of any Junior League in the world.

WHL enjoys strong showing at 2026 NHL Draft

With four WHL players being selected in the top 10, the WHL led the way early in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Of the first 100 players selected, 23 hailed from the WHL. The next highest total from any development league was the Ontario Hockey League with 16.

Overall, the WHL saw 37 current players and two alumni selected in the 2026 NHL Draft, with the mark of 39 serving as the WHL’s best total in over 15 seasons, since 43 players were selected in the 2010 NHL Draft.

WHL on Victory+ sets records in 2025-26

The first regular season of the WHL on Victory+ was a resounding success, with average regular season viewership increasing by over 50 per cent year over year.

The 2026 WHL Playoffs on Victory+ saw a 63-per-cent jump in average viewership, with WHL Playoff action generating audiences rivalling that of historical linear cable broadcasts.

WHL on Victory+ is set to return FOR FREE once again in 2026-27.

Kelowna Rockets host sold out Memorial Cup presented by Kubota

The 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota was a smashing success in Kelowna, B.C., with every game of the tournament sold out at Prospera Place.

Hosted in conjunction with the CHL’s 50th Anniversary Season, the sport of hockey congregated in the beautiful Okanagan and enjoyed fantastic weather and competitive hockey featuring the WHL Champion Everett Silvertips, OHL Champion Kitchener Rangers, QMJHL Champion Chicoutimi Sagueneens, and host Kelowna Rockets.

Everett Silvertips win franchise-first WHL Championship

In May, the Everett Silvertips capped a historic season by hoisting the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Eastern Conference champion Prince Albert Raiders in five games.

Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen was named WHL Playoff MVP, finishing tied for the lead in playoff scoring with 27 points.

WHL stars secure Canadian Hockey League Awards in June

Four representatives from the WHL came home with hardware from the 2026 CHL Awards in Toronto earlier this month.

Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman and Montreal Canadiens prospect Bryce Pickford was named CHL Defenceman of the Year, while Everett Silvertips Head Coach Steve Hamilton was presented with the CHL Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award. Medicine Hat Tigers forward Markus Ruck was crowned CHL Top Scorer, while Portland Winterhawks forward Alex Weiermair was named CHL Scholastic Player of the Year.

2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass

The brand-new WHL Prospects Game made its debut in Langley, B.C., with 40 NHL Draft-eligible prospects putting on an entertaining showcase in front of hundreds of NHL scouts and a near sold-out crowd at the Langley Events Centre, home of the Vancouver Giants, while tens of thousands more watched free on Victory+.

Team East defeated Team West in overtime, thanks to Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Daxon Rudolph, who scored the game-winning goal. The product of Lacombe, Alta., went on to be the first defenceman selected in the 2026 NHL Draft, when he was chosen by the Buffalo Sabres with the fourth-overall pick.

WHL Scholarship

The 2025-26 campaign served as the 33rd year of the WHL Scholarship program. This season, 370 WHL graduate players have been awarded WHL Scholarships, representing an investment of over $40 million by WHL Clubs. This season, WHL Clubs have contributed nearly $3 million to the 370 WHL graduates utilizing the WHL Scholarship.

Administered by the WHL Office, WHL Scholarships are solely funded by WHL member Clubs. Every player who plays in the WHL is eligible to receive the WHL Scholarship. For every season played in the WHL, players receive a guaranteed, full year of WHL Scholarship, including tuition, textbooks, and compulsory fees to a post-secondary institution of their choice. The WHL Scholarship is a full guaranteed academic scholarship with no requirement to play university hockey to qualify.

NEW FOR 2026-27

One week extension of WHL Regular Season Schedule

Beginning with the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season, the WHL regular season schedule will extend by one week. The decompressed schedule will create additional rest and recovery for players, opportunity for additional strength and conditioning, and support the athletes’ educational priorities.

The 2026-27 WHL Regular Season begins Friday, September 18, and will end one week later than has been historically scheduled. The final day of the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season will be contested Sunday, March 28, 2027.

The 2027 WHL Playoffs are scheduled to begin Wednesday, March 31. The WHL tiebreaker game will no longer be used to break a tie for the eighth seed in a conference.

The decision to decompress the WHL schedule was approved by the WHL Board of Governors and WHL General Managers in association with a variety of initiatives to continue to augment the WHL Player Experience, to enhance player development, and to adapt to the changing hockey landscape.

Air Travel for Select Road Games

Beginning with the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season, WHL Clubs will be permitted to travel via air for one (1) set of road games to start and return home, under the following parameters:

Trip by bus must be greater than 10 hours;
Applies to out-of-conference travel only

The decision to allow WHL Clubs to fly for one (1) set of road games was approved by the WHL Board of Governors in association with a variety of initiatives to continue to augment the WHL Player Experience, to enhance player development, and to adapt to the changing hockey landscape.

‘No Return’ Three-on-Three Overtime Pilot

The 2026 WHL Preseason will feature a pilot project aimed at enhancing the fan experience of three-on-three overtime.

Under the ‘No Return’ three-on-three overtime format, once a team has gained the blueline, a player cannot deliberately carry, pass, or shoot the puck outside the blueline. Should this occur, play will immediately be whistled down (unless the opposing team collects the puck first) and the resulting face-off will occur in the defensive zone of the offending team with no line change permitted. The team benefitting from the offensive zone faceoff will have the opportunity to select which circle the faceoff occurs in.

‘No Return’ three-on-three overtime has been contemplated in early anticipation of changing coaching strategies during three-on-three overtimes that are highly conservative and may potentially reduce the excitement of the extra period. Key measures for this pilot will include the number of shot attempts and scoring chances in overtime and the percentage of game outcomes determined by overtime prior to a shootout.

All 2026 WHL Preseason games, regardless of final score, will feature ‘No Return’ three-on-three overtime to allow all Clubs the opportunity to pilot the rule.

Following the 2026 WHL Preseason, WHL General Managers will vote on the implementation of ‘No Return’ Three-on-Three Overtime for the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season.

First Round of WHL Playoffs – Best-of-Five Series

Beginning in 2027, the first round of the WHL Playoffs will be contested as best-of-five series.

To accommodate the extra week in the regular season, this change will allow the playoffs to be completed on its existing schedule for the WHL Champion to participate in the Memorial Cup.

The WHL Playoffs will begin Wednesday, March 31, 2027, and the first-round format will vary based on the geography of the competing teams, availability of facilities, and preferences of the higher-seeded Club. The following formats are currently approved, pending WHL approval of each instance:

1-2-1-1 (A-H-A-H)
2-3 (A-H) for longer distance series
2-2-1 (H-A-H)
1-1-1-1-1 (H-A-H-A-H) for close distance series only

H = Home A = Away

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 consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 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 over 50 years. The WHL is also the 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.

Raiders select Latvian defenceman Luks with lone CHL Import Draft pick

Kyle Kosowan — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:44:57 +0000

The Prince Albert Raiders only made one pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft on Tuesday morning, selecting Latvian defenceman Oskars Luks. Standing at 6’5 and weighing 209 lbs, the 17-year-old Luks spent the 2025-26 season in Finland. He played for the Jukurit U18 club, where he scored four goals and added 20 assists in 39 games. He represented Latvia at the 2026 U18 World Hockey Championship, where he recorded a goal and an assist in seven games, going along with a +4 rating. Both of his points came in an 8-1 rout over Norway. “Oskars is a big, mobile defenceman," Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt said. "He has great mobility, great reach and attention to detail. We feel he can step right in and support the group we have. We’re excited to see him get to Prince Albert and watch his game grow.”