Alumn-ICE Report: 2025 Championship Edition
A proud second-year member of the Western Hockey League, the Wenatchee Wild are continuing a celebrated WHL legacy that dates back to Edmonton, Alberta in 1996, continuing in Cranbrook, British Columbia and Winnipeg, Manitoba. These are the organization’s WHL alumni, including alumni from the Kootenay and Winnipeg ICE, making news as the American pro hockey playoffs continue:
NHL
SAM REINHART, 2010-15 – Went crazy over the final four games of the Florida Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup championship, depositing goals in all of his final four games of the postseason, including an unreal four-goal game in the clinching Game 6 against the Edmonton Oilers. His four-goal outburst was the first in a Cup-clinching game since the Toronto St. Patricks’ Babe Dye accomplished the feat in 1922, the first four-goal game in any Stanley Cup Final contest since 1957, and finished with seven goals in a Stanley Cup Final series (three others have accomplished that in the last century…the last one was some guy named Wayne Gretzky in 1985…what ever happened to that guy???) Reinhart was at his best in the biggest moments, also posting two assists in Florida’s Eastern Conference Final clincher against the Carolina Hurricanes. This year marks the second set of back-to-back Stanley Cups for a Florida-based team in four years.
Firing home 4 of his @FlaPanthers 5 goals in Tuesday's championship-clinching Game 6 victory over the Oilers, Sam Reinhart registered the first 4-goal game in a #StanleyCup Final series since 1957. Thanks to it, he also ended up tying behind just 2 totals on this list of players pic.twitter.com/7JTPkSgrzt
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) June 18, 2025
AHL
CHASE WHEATCROFT, 2021-22 – Played in four of the Texas Stars’ six games in the Western Conference Final against the Abbotsford Canucks, and did not register a point. Abbotsford closed out the Stars in six before putting away the Charlotte Checkers in six games to win their first Calder Cup.
Also on Wenatchee’s alumni list are the standouts from its Junior A era (2008-2023) – these players laid the foundation for the WHL’s future success in the Wenatchee Valley. These are Wenatchee’s Junior A alumni who are making news as the American pro hockey playoffs wrap up:
BRETT CHORSKE, 2019-20 – Played only one game of the Charlotte Checkers’ Eastern Conference Final sweep against the Laval Rocket, but notched a critical goal Saturday in Game 5 of the Calder Cup Final against the Abbotsford Canucks. His goal put the Checkers ahead 2-1 in a game they would ultimately win 4-3 in overtime – he appeared in four of the six Calder Cup contests, with Abbotsford earning the Cup-clinching win Monday.
Brett Chorske finds the back of the net and the @CheckersHockey lead all in one shot. #CLTvsABB | #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/uB73UUP1s9
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) June 22, 2025
HARRISON SCOTT, 2019-20 – Scored the final goal of the season for the Texas Stars, potting a second-period chance in Game 6 of the Stars’ Western Conference Final matchup against the Abbotsford Canucks. That goal put Texas ahead 2-0, but the Canucks rallied to score four straight after that and put away the Stars – Abbotsford clinched its first Calder Cup championship with a 3-2 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Monday.
How about Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals for your first professional goal?
Way to go, Scotty!!! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/NeIJ7bYI9O
— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) June 9, 2025
