Alumn-ICE Report: Championship Edition 2026
A proud third-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, who made news in the final rounds of the American pro hockey playoffs:
NHL
BRAYDEN McNABB, 2006-11 – Hammered out seven assists in the final two rounds over the Vegas Golden Knights’ Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche and the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. He had an incredible start to his Stanley Cup Final series against Carolina, rattling off three assists in a 5-4 Game 1 win before taking a shot to the face in Game 2 – his comeback from the injury was legendary, stepping into action in Game 3 wearing a full face shield while posting two more assists and playing 49 shifts for almost 36 minutes. He had the primary assist on Shea Theodore’s game-winner at the 85:38 mark of the game, as the Golden Knights struck for a 5-4 double-overtime victory.
After taking a puck directly to the face and leaving the ice in Game 2, Brayden McNabb returned to the lineup in Game 3 and put in a SHIFT 👏
Not only did he notch the second-most minutes between both teams, but also recorded two assists in Vegas' double OT winner 🔥
Incredible… pic.twitter.com/nFnp7VdMeR
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 7, 2026
AHL
NOAH PHILP, 2015-17 – Closed out all of the Chicago Wolves’ last three Calder Cup playoff series with multi-point games, starting with a two-goal performance in Chicago’s division final clincher against the Grand Rapids Griffins. He scored points in Chicago’s last three games of the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Eagles, posting a power play goal with just 15 seconds left in the first period and tacking on an assist just 67 seconds into the second. After picking up four points in the conference final, he had four points in the five-game Calder Cup Final series against the Toronto Marlies, earning a couple of assists in the fifth and final game on Friday. His last point of the postseason came on a power play assist with six seconds remaining in the second period.
NOAH PHILP GOAL AND THE @Chicago_Wolves STRIKE FIRST IN GAME 7‼️#COLvsCHI | #CalderCup
📺💻📲: https://t.co/xslzIvekI0 pic.twitter.com/IGxm2EUbc1
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) June 9, 2026
ECHL
HUDSON ELYNUIK, 2013-14 – Played in just three games of the Florida Everblades’ five-game Eastern Conference Final victory against the Wheeling Nailers, but made the most of the stretch, with four points in three outings. He posted a goal and an assist on back-to-back shifts in Game 3, helping the Everblades ice a 5-2 victory, while his two assists three nights later helped clinch the series with a 6-1 Game 5 win in West Virginia. He was at his best in the biggest moments, with seven points over Florida’s six-game Kelly Cup Final win against the Kansas City Mavericks, including multi-point games in each of Florida’s last three wins. His last goal of the postseason tied the series, a game-winner 10:36 into overtime in Game 4 to seal a 3-2 Florida victory in Estero.
OVERTIME BELONGS TO THE BLADES😤 pic.twitter.com/4atdWzn6ho
— Florida Everblades (@FL_Everblades) June 13, 2026
BRAYDEN EDWARDS, 2021-22 – Picked up points in all seven of the Wheeling Nailers’ North Division Final games against the Maine Mariners, before adding a goal in Game 3 and an assist in Game 4 of Wheeling’s Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Everblades. His goal in Game 3 was a tying marker, before Florida racked up three unanswered goals for a 5-2 victory. Wheeling survived five games against Florida, with Edwards notching the primary assist on Wheeling’s overtime winner in Game 4.
REECE HARSCH, 2019-20 – Played in all six games of the Fort Wayne Komets’ Western Conference Final loss to the Kansas City Mavericks, posting assists in the second game and fourth game of the series. Fort Wayne won Games 2 and 5, taking their first victory of the series on a goal with 26 seconds to go in the game.
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 in American pro hockey this month:
NIC DOWD, 2008-09 – Scored points in the first and last games of the Vegas Golden Knights’ Western Conference Final set against the Colorado Avalanche, as Vegas dispatched the Presidents’ Trophy winners in four straight games. He played in all six games of the Stanley Cup Final against Carolina, but did not register a point in the series.
BRYAN YOON, 2015-16 – Played in all four games of the Colorado Eagles’ Pacific Division Final series against the Coachella Valley Firebirds, touching off a comeback victory with a second-period goal in the clinching game. Colorado fell out of the playoffs with a seven-game loss to the Chicago Wolves, while Bryan followed his season by signing with Swedish club MoDo for 2026-27.
Välkommen till MoDo, Bryan Yoon! 👋
Den 28-årige backen har kritat på ett avtal för kommande säsong, 2026/2027.
🗣️ "En dynamisk spelare", säger sportchef Henrik Gradin.
📰 https://t.co/BYKQmbM5uS#modose https://t.co/CutBw5rLMP pic.twitter.com/mEQ1AYX8hJ
— MoDo Hockey (@MoDo_Hockey) June 11, 2026
LUCAS SOWDER, 2016-19 – Posted three points, including a third-period Game 1 marker, in the Kansas City Mavericks’ Western Conference Final triumph against the Fort Wayne Komets. That series went six games, as did Kansas City’s Kelly Cup Final series against the Florida Everblades – Sowder had three points in that series as well, with his last goal coming in a 5-2 Game 5 loss in Estero. The Mavericks won the first two games of the series at home before Florida rolled to the championship with wins in four straight.
