VOTING OPENS FOR TOP 50 WHL PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME
Calgary, AB – As part of the WHL’s 50th Season celebrations, the WHL announced today that voting is now open for the selection of the Top 50 WHL Players of All-Time.
Fans can visit top50.whl.ca to cast their ballots once per week from a list of the top 125 players in WHL history as selected by a committee of League historians. Fans can return to the site beginning each Monday to cast a new ballot. Voting will be open until Sunday, December 20th.
The list of 125 players compiled by the committee has been separated into categories for voting based on times in which players played in the WHL. Fans must select their top three players from the 1967-76, 1977-86, 1987-96, 1997-06, and 2007-15 time periods. Additionally, fans can choose five wild card selections from any time period before completing their ballot.
Input from the committee will also be considered following the fan vote, and the Top 50 WHL Players of All-Time will be announced in the New Year.
The list of players from which fans will select their favourites includes greats from the League’s inception in 1966 through to players that suited up as recently as last season. In total, 88 forwards, 27 defencemen, and 10 goaltenders made the list. Players were selected based on a combination of the impact they had while playing in the WHL and their careers upon graduating from the League.
The committee that selected the list was comprised of members of the media and individuals who have demonstrated long-standing contributions to the WHL, along with members the WHL Office staff. The WHL would like to thank Gregg Drinnan, Norm Dueck, Peter Loubardias, Bob Ridley, Dan Russell, Rob Vanstone, Dean Vrooman and Bill Willms for their assistance with this project.
Players Eligible for Top 50 WHL Players of All-Time Voting (alphabetical order, last name first)
| Last Name | First Name | P | Years Played | Hometown | Last WHL Team |
| Allison | Ray | F | 1974-79 | Cranbrook, BC | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Alzner | Karl | D | 2003-08 | Burnaby, BC | Calgary Hitmen |
| Babych | Wayne | F | 1973-78 | Edmonton, AB | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Barnes | Stu | F | 1987-90 | Spruce Grove, AB | Tri-City Americans |
| Barrie | Tyson | D | 2006-11 | Victoria, BC | Kelowna Rockets |
| Baumgartner | Nolan | D | 1992-96 | Calgary, AB | Kamloops Blazers |
| Beck | Barry | D | 1973-77 | Vancouver, BC | New Westminster Bruins |
| Benn | Jamie | F | 2007-09 | Victoria, BC | Kelowna Rockets |
| Benning | Jim | D | 1978-81 | Edmonton, AB | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Bjorkstrand | Oliver | F | 2012-15 | Herning, Denmark | Portland Winterhawks |
| Boschman | Laurie | F | 1976-79 | Major, SK | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Bouwmeester | Jay | D | 1998-02 | Edmonton, AB | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Brendl | Pavel | F | 1998-01 | Opocno, Czech Rep. | Calgary Hitmen |
| Bridgman | Mel | F | 1971-75 | Trenton, ON | Victoria Cougars |
| Brouwer | Troy | F | 2001-06 | Vancouver, BC | Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Brown | Rob | F | 1983-87 | St. Albert, AB | Kamloops Blazers |
| Callander | Jock | F | 1978-82 | Regina, SK | Regina Pats |
| Chapman | Blair | F | 1973-76 | Lloydminster, SK | Saskatoon Blades |
| Chipperfield | Ron | F | 1970-74 | Brandon, MB | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Clark | Wendel | D | 1983-85 | Kelvington, SK | Saskatoon Blades |
| Clarke | Bob | F | 1967-69 | Flin Flon, MB | Flin Flon Bombers |
| Davidson | John | G | 1969-73 | Calgary, AB | Calgary Centennials |
| Dawes | Nigel | F | 2001-05 | Winnipeg, MB | Kootenay ICE |
| Derkatch | Dale | F | 1981-85 | Winnipeg, MB | Regina Pats |
| Derlago | Bill | F | 1974-78 | Birtle, MB | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Doan | Shane | F | 1992-95 | Halkirk, AB | Kamloops Blazers |
| Draisaitl | Leon | F | 2012-15 | Cologne, Germany | Kelowna Rockets |
| Eakin | Cody | F | 2006-11 | Winnipeg, MB | Kootenay ICE |
| Eberle | Jordan | F | 2006-10 | Regina, SK | Regina Pats |
| Ennis | Tyler | F | 2005-09 | Edmonton, AB | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Etem | Emerson | F | 2009-12 | Long Beach, CA | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Evason | Dean | F | 1980-84 | Winnipeg, MB | Kamloops Jr. Oilers |
| Falloon | Pat | F | 1988-91 | Foxwarren, MB | Spokane Chiefs |
| Federko | Bernie | F | 1973-76 | Foam Lake, SK | Saskatoon Blades |
| Fehr | Eric | F | 2000-05 | Winkler, MB | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Ferraro | Ray | F | 1982-84 | Trail, BC | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Fleury | Theoren | F | 1984-88 | Oxbow, SK | Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Fuhr | Grant | G | 1979-81 | Spruce Grove, AB | Victoria Cougars |
| Gallagher | Brendan | F | 2008-12 | Delta, BC | Vancouver Giants |
| Gare | Danny | F | 1971-74 | Nelson, BC | Calgary Centennials |
| Getzlaf | Ryan | F | 2001-05 | Regina, SK | Calgary Hitmen |
| Gillies | Clark | F | 1971-74 | Moose Jaw, SK | Regina Pats |
| Goodall | Glen | F | 1986-90 | Fort Nelson, BC | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| Hamhuis | Dan | D | 1998-02 | Smithers, BC | Prince George Cougars |
| Hanlon | Glen | G | 1974-77 | Brandon, MB | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Hawgood | Greg | D | 1983-88 | Edmonton, AB | Kamloops Blazers |
| Henning | Lorne | F | 1968-72 | Melfort, SK | New Westminster Bruins |
| Hodgson | Dan | F | 1980-85 | Fort McMurray, AB | Prince Albert Raiders |
| Holland | Dennis | F | 1985-89 | Vernon, BC | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Hossa | Marian | F | 1997-98 | Stara Lubovna, Slovakia | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Hrudey | Kelly | G | 1978-81 | Edmonton, AB | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Iginla | Jarome | F | 1993-96 | Edmonton, AB | Kamloops Blazers |
| Johansen | Ryan | F | 2009-11 | Vancouver, BC | Portland Winterhawks |
| Johnson | Tyler | F | 2007-11 | Spokane, WA | Spokane Chiefs |
| Joly | Greg | D | 1971-74 | Rocky Mountain House, AB | Regina Pats |
| Keith | Duncan | D | 2002-03 | Winnipeg, MB | Kelowna Rockets |
| Kidd | Trevor | G | 1988-91 | Dugald, MB | Spokane Chiefs |
| Kozun | Brandon | F | 2006-10 | Los Angeles, CA | Calgary Hitmen |
| Ladd | Andrew | F | 2001-05 | Maple Ridge, BC | Calgary Hitmen |
| Lambert | Dan | D | 1986-90 | St. Boniface, MB | Swift Current Broncos |
| Langkow | Daymond | F | 1991-96 | Edmonton, AB | Tri-City Americans |
| Lazar | Curtis | F | 2010-14 | Salmon Arm, BC | Edmonton Oil Kings |
| Leach | Reggie | F | 1967-70 | Riverton, MB | Flin Flon Bombers |
| Linden | Trevor | F | 1985-88 | Medicine Hat, AB | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Lowry | Adam | F | 2009-13 | Calgary, AB | Swift Current Broncos |
| Lucic | Milan | F | 2004-07 | Vancouver, BC | Vancouver Giants |
| Lysiak | Tom | F | 1970-73 | High Prairie, AB | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Marleau | Patrick | F | 1995-97 | Swift Current, SK | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| Martyniuk | Ray | G | 1967-70 | Flin Flon, MB | Flin Flon Bombers |
| McCarthy | Kevin | D | 1973-77 | Winnipeg, MB | Winnipeg Monarchs |
| McCrimmon | Brad | D | 1976-79 | Plenty, SK | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| McDonald | Lanny | F | 1970-73 | Hanna, AB | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Modano | Mike | F | 1986-89 | Livonia, MI | Prince Albert Raiders |
| Moran | Brad | F | 1995-00 | Abbotsford, BC | Calgary Hitmen |
| Mueller | Peter | F | 2005-07 | Bloomington, MN | Everett Silvertips |
| Murdoch | Don | F | 1973-76 | Cranbrook, BC | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Murray | Marty | F | 1991-95 | Lyleton, MB | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Myers | Tyler | D | 2005-09 | Calgary, AB | Kelowna Rockets |
| Neely | Cam | F | 1982-84 | Comox, BC | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Niedermayer | Scott | D | 1989-92 | Cranbrook, BC | Kamloops Blazers |
| Nugent-Hopkins | Ryan | F | 2008-11 | Burnaby, BC | Red Deer Rebels |
| Pederson | Barry | F | 1977-81 | Big River, SK | Victoria Cougars |
| Petan | Nic | F | 2010-15 | Delta, BC | Portland Winterhawks |
| Phaneuf | Dion | D | 2001-05 | Edmonton, AB | Red Deer Rebels |
| Phillips | Chris | D | 1995-97 | Calgary, AB | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| Pinder | Gerry | F | 1966-67 | Saskatoon, SK | Saskatoon Blades |
| Pouliot | Derrick | D | 2009-14 | Estevan, SK | Portland Winterhawks |
| Price | Carey | G | 2002-07 | Anahim Lake, BC | Tri-City Americans |
| Propp | Brian | F | 1976-79 | Neudorf, SK | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Rattie | Ty | F | 2008-13 | Airdrie, AB | Portland Winterhawks |
| Recchi | Mark | F | 1984-88 | Kamloops, BC | Kamloops Blazers |
| Redden | Wade | D | 1993-96 | Lloydminster, SK | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Rielly | Morgan | D | 2010-13 | Vancouver, BC | Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Reinhart | Sam | F | 2010-15 | North Vancouver, BC | Kootenay ICE |
| Robinson | Todd | F | 1994-99 | Trail, BC | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Rogers | Mike | F | 1971-74 | Calgary, AB | Calgary Centennials |
| Ronning | Cliff | F | 1983-85 | Burnaby, BC | New Westminster Bruins |
| Rota | Darcy | F | 1970-73 | Vancouver, BC | Edmonton Oil Kings |
| Russell | Kris | D | 2003-07 | Caroline, AB | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Sakic | Brian | F | 1987-92 | Burnaby, BC | Tri-City Americans |
| Sakic | Joe | F | 1985-88 | Burnaby, BC | Swift Current Broncos |
| Schenn | Brayden | F | 2007-11 | Saskatoon, SK | Saskatoon Blades |
| Seabrook | Brent | D | 2000-05 | Richmond, BC | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| Shinnimin | Brendan | F | 2007-12 | Winnipeg, MB | Tri-City Americans |
| Sillinger | Mike | F | 1987-91 | Regina, SK | Regina Pats |
| Smyth | Ryan | F | 1991-95 | Banff, AB | Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Sobchuk | Dennis | F | 1970-74 | Lang, SK | Regina Pats |
| Staniowski | Ed | G | 1971-75 | Moose Jaw, SK | Regina Pats |
| Stoll | Jarret | F | 1997-02 | Melville, SK | Kootenay ICE |
| Stuart | Brad | D | 1995-99 | Rocky Mountain House, AB | Calgary Hitmen |
| Sutter | Brent | F | 1979-82 | Viking, AB | Lethbridge Broncos |
| Sutter | Brian | F | 1974-76 | Viking, AB | Lethbridge Broncos |
| Sydor | Darryl | D | 1988-92 | Edmonton, AB | Kamloops Blazers |
| Trottier | Bryan | F | 1972-75 | Val Marie, SK | Lethbridge Broncos |
| Tsujiura | Steve | F | 1977-82 | Coaldale, AB | Calgary Wranglers |
| Tucker | Darcy | F | 1991-95 | Castor, AB | Kamloops Blazers |
| Vernon | Mike | G | 1980-83 | Calgary, AB | Calgary Wranglers |
| Walter | Ryan | F | 1973-78 | New Westminster, BC | Seattle Breakers |
| Ward | Cam | G | 2000-04 | Saskatoon, SK | Red Deer Rebels |
| Weber | Shea | D | 2001-05 | Sicamous, BC | Kelowna Rockets |
| Wesley | Glen | D | 1983-87 | Red Deer, AB | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Whitney | Ray | F | 1988-91 | Fort Saskatchewan, AB | Spokane Chiefs |
| Wickenheiser | Doug | F | 1977-80 | Regina, SK | Regina Pats |
| Williams | Dave “Tiger” | F | 1971-74 | Weyburn, SK | Swift Current Broncos |
| Yaremchuk | Ken | F | 1979-83 | Edmonton, AB | Portland Winter Hawks |
