The decision to move the livestreaming of WHL games follows uncertainty regarding the future of Victory+, the WHL’s exclusive livestreaming partner since March 2025.

“The WHL’s audience is growing rapidly.  We continue to believe that providing easy access to games is of critical value and importance as we look to expand our reach and deliver WHL excitement to our fans,” commented WHL Commissioner Dan Near. “By moving WHL Regular Season games to YouTube on a short-term basis, we are protecting that access for fans to livestream their favourite WHL Club and watch their favourite WHL stars when the 2026-27 season gets underway Friday, September 18.”

Over two playoffs and one regular season livestreaming on Victory+, the WHL achieved great success with millions of viewers tuning in, generating unprecedented exposure and reach for WHL Clubs and players, representing a significant step forward in accessibility for fans. WHL Clubs invested in enhancements to their productions, including additional content, intermission programming, camera angles, and more.

“While we are disappointed to part ways, our time with Victory+ resulted in remarkable growth and exposure for the WHL as a result of the increased accessibility for fans,” Near said. “WHL Clubs pushed forward, investing in their production and exploring new ways to deliver games to fans via our livestreaming product. To this day, we hear accounts from fans who discovered the WHL because of our decision to work alongside Victory+, a company with Western Canadian roots. In today’s changing landscape, accessibility to the product is paramount and we will explore all options to deliver games to WHL fans around the world.”

The WHL remains committed to delivering a premium livestreaming experience for fans. Consistency with game production will be maintained as the WHL enters its next livestreaming chapter.

More information regarding the WHL on YouTube will be made available ahead of the start of the 2026-27 WHL Regular 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 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.

• PP: 2/4 – 50.0%
• PK: 1/1 – 100.0%

1. Oliver Sichtar (1G, 1A) - Lethbridge
2. Markus Ruck (1G, 2A) - Medicine Hat
3. Cohen Pentney (1G) - Lethbridge

• Josh Evaschesen (Medicine Hat, AB) – Acquired via trade from Kamloops
• Reily Pickford (Chauvin, AB) – Signed
• Nolan Marto (Grand Forks, ND) – Signed
• Hunter Saddleback (St. Albert, AB) – Signed
• Ben Meyer (Regina, SK) – Signed
• Nash Springer (McKinney, TX) – Signed
• Mace’o Phillips – Acquired via trade from Portland
• Denis Pasler (Yekaterinburg, Russia) - Drafted Round 2, 73rd overall of the 2026 CHL Import Draft
• Arvid Drott (Stockholm, Sweden) – Drafted Round 1, 59th overall of the 2026 CHL Import Draft
• Max Osgood (Plymouth, MI) – Signed
• Jake Burmis (Rogers, MN) – Signed
• Brayden Holberton – Acquired via trade from Seattle

• Saturday, September 5 @ 7:00pm – VS Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Friday, September 11 @ 7:00pm – VS Swift Current Broncos
• Saturday, September 12 @ 5:00pm - @ Swift Current Broncos

Today, we continue with the graduating trio from the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Andrew Basha (F)

Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
WHL Career Stats: 233 GP – 82 G-152 A – 234 points
WHL Draft: 2020 – Fifth Round, 105th Overall (Medicine Hat Tigers)
NHL Draft: 2024 – Second Round, 41st Overall (Calgary Flames)

Watch out world! Andrew Basha is heating up!

After a five season campaign with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Basha is set to graduate before heading to the big leagues.

Originally selected 105th overall by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Basha quickly proved to be a monumental piece for the Tabbies, cracking the Club's full-time roster during the 2021-22 season.

While a consistent contributor right out of the gates, Basha's game took a massive step forward during the 2023-24 WHL Season, when the forward erupted for a career-high 85 points (30 G-55 A) in 63 regular season appearances. The performance earned him a spot on the WHL Central Division Second All-Star Team and placed him third in team scoring during the regular season.

And, it wasn't just his Western League opponents who were well aware of Basha's increased production. His breakout campaign also caught the eyes of NHL management.

It would be Basha's hometown Calgary Flames that came calling that summer, selecting Basha 41st overall in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft. The hometown Club then signed him to a three-year entry-level contract on September 29, 2024.

Unfortunately, the 2024-25 season was not as kind to the budding prospect, as Basha missed significant time due to an ankle injury. However, the setback didn't stop the forward from making an impression during the 2025 WHL Playoffs, as Basha returned to the Tigers lineup for the 2025 WHL Championship Series. With five points (2 G-3 A) in five games, Basha helped the Tigers capture the Club's sixth Ed Chynoweth Cup in franchise history. He also added an assist in four games at the 2025 Memorial Cup as the Tigers advanced to the tournament final before falling to the OHL's London Knights.

Basha began the 2025-26 campaign with the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, before being reassigned to Medicine Hat on January 2, 2026. He went on to run rampant offensively, collecting 50 points (18 G-32 A) in 32 regular season games.

He carried that production into the 2026 WHL Playoffs, leading the Tigers with 21 points (3 G-18 A) in 15 appearances as Medicine Hat advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship Series for the second-consecutive postseason.

Basha closes out his WHL career with 234 points (82 G-152 A) in 233 regular season games with the Tigers.

Ethan Neutens (F)

Hometown: Cochrane, Alta.
WHL Career Stats: 235 GP – 27 G-32 A – 59 points
WHL Draft: 2020 – Ninth Round, 180th Overall (Kelowna Rockets)

Ethan Neutens may have started his WHL career in the Okanagan, but it was in Medicine Hat where he found a home.

Originally selected 180th overall by the Kelowna Rockets in the ninth round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, the Cochrane, Alta., product made his WHL debut on October 5, 2022, against the Victoria Royals.

Neutens spent parts of three seasons with the Rockets, collecting 25 points (11 G-14 A) in 135 regular season appearances.

On November 14, 2024, Neutens headed east to join Medicine Hat following a trade with the Rockets. He made his Medicine Hat debut the following night, quickly embracing his new home with the Tabbies.

Neutens skated in 47 regular season appearances in his first season with Medicine Hat. But, it was what happened in the 2025 WHL Playoffs that will forever stick with the forward.

In 18 postseason appearances, Neutens collected five points (2 G-3 A), but, more importantly, he was part of the Tigers' run to their sixth Ed Chynoweth Cup.

Neutens then followed his championship season with a career year offensively.

During the 2025-26 WHL Season, the hard-working winger posted a career-high in goals (12), assists (12), and points (24) in 53 regular season games. Neutens' energy and physical style of play also helped earn him the moniker “Everybody's Favourite Tiger” around Medicine Hat.

In total, Neutens closes out his WHL career with 59 points (27 G-32 A) in 235 regular season games split between Kelowna and Medicine Hat.

Josh Van Mulligen (D)

Hometown: Medicine Hat, Alta.
WHL Career Stats: 250 GP – 14 G-72 A – 86 points
WHL Draft: 2020 – Second Round, 39th Overall (Medicine Hat Tigers)

For Josh Van Mulligen, there may not have been a more fitting way to close out his WHL career.

Born and raised in Medicine Hat, the defenceman grew up watching the Tigers from the stands and even spent time around the Club as a stick boy.

So, there was no spot more fitting than the Gas City for Van Mulligen, who heard his name called by Medicine Hat in the second round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. Van Mulligen would go on to spend his entire five-season junior career in the orange and black, steadily developing into a dependable two-way blueliner for his hometown club.

While consistent in all five seasons with the Tigers, the 2024-25 campaign will always go down as the most memorable for the blueliner.

The regular season saw Van Mulligen post a career-best 27 points (3 G-24 A) in 50 games with Medicine Hat. And, the good times were only getting started for Van Mulligen and Co.

With six points (3 G-3 A) in postseason appearances, Van Mulligen was a mainstay on Medicine Hat's blueline as the Central Division club captured it's sixth WHL Championship.

The hometown defenceman followed up his trophy-raising season with another productive campaign in 2025-26. Van Mulligen recorded 25 points (6 G-19 A) in 51 regular season appearances, setting a new career high in goals.

In total, Van Mulligen closes out his WHL career with exactly 250 regular season appearances with the Tabbies, collecting 86 points (14 G-72 A).