Alumn-ICE Report: May 14, 2026
(Next week’s Alumn-ICE report will focus on former Wild and ICE standouts in top-level national pro hockey leagues around the world – our American pro report will return with a playoff update in two weeks.)
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, making news as the American pro hockey playoffs continue:
NHL
ZACH BENSON, 2020-23 has impressed throughout the playoffs, racking up points in four of his five games so far in the month of May. His goal and assist on May 1 helped wipe out the Boston Bruins in the sixth game of their series, before posting a pair of helpers in the opening game of Buffalo’s second-round game against the Montreal Canadiens. He added a goal in Game 2 of the series, but his Game 4 goal was a highlight – his third-period goal at the front of the net came on the power play and counted as the game-winner in a 3-2 victory Tuesday, putting a cap on Benson’s 21st birthday. PEYTON KREBS, 2016-21 has appeared in all four games of the Montreal series, but has been held without a point over the four games so far. With the series tied 2-2, the Sabres and Habs shift back to Buffalo Thursday for Game 5.
ZACH BENSON GIVES BUFFALO THE LEAD IN THE THIRD 🤯 #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: @espn
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports pic.twitter.com/zmomyDBRUa— NHL (@NHL) May 13, 2026
MATT SAVOIE, 2019-24 – Finished the Edmonton Oilers’ six-game first-round series loss to the Anaheim Ducks with one assist, registered in Game 2.
BRAYDEN McNABB, 2006-11 – Notched in assist in the Vegas Golden Knights’ final game of their first-round series against the Utah Mammoth, and posted a shorthanded goal and a +3 mark last Friday in Vegas’s 6-2 Game 3 rout of the Anaheim Ducks. The Golden Knights are on the verge of returning to the Western Conference Final, with a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 Thursday.
CONOR GEEKIE, 2019-24 – Played just over five minutes on April 29 in a 3-2 Tampa Bay Lightning loss to the Montreal Canadiens – Geekie played in two games of the series, which saw Montreal eliminate Tampa Bay in seven games.
ICE/Wild WHL Alumni Remaining in the NHL Playoffs
Zach Benson, Peyton Krebs (BUF); Brayden McNabb (VGK)
AHL
DAWSON BARTEAUX, 2019-20 – Played in Game 4 of the Manitoba Moose second-round playoff series against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Manitoba was eliminated in the best-of-five set, 3-1.
NOAH PHILP, 2015-17 – Scored goals in both Game 3 and Game 4 of the Chicago Wolves’ division semifinal series against the Texas Stars, tallying just 5:08 into Chicago’s 2-1 victory in Game 3 before scoring Chicago’s last goal the following night in a 5-4 overtime loss. Manitoba was eliminated in the best-of-five set, 3-1. The Wolves demolished Texas 6-1 in Game 5, sending them on to a best-of-five Central Division final against the Grand Rapids Griffins, set to begin Thursday in Grand Rapids.
KENTA ISOGAI, 2023-25 – Played in the last four games of a best-of-five Ontario Reign division semifinal loss to the Coachella Valley Firebirds, with assists in all of the last three games. All three of his assists came on go-ahead or game-tying goals.
ICE/Wild WHL Alumni Remaining in the AHL Playoffs
Noah Philp (Chicago)
ECHL
HUDSON ELYNUIK, 2013-14 – Appeared in all four games of the Florida Everblades’ best-of-seven division semifinal sweep of the Savannah Ghost Pirates, and opened the Everblades’ South Division Final against the South Carolina Stingrays with a power play goal and an assist in last Friday and Saturday’s Game 1 and Game 2 victories. Florida walloped South Carolina Wednesday, 7-3, sending them to within a win of the ECHL’s Eastern Conference Final.
BRAYDEN EDWARDS, 2021-22 – Earned an assist in the Wheeling Nailers’ 2-0 win over the Reading Royals in Game 3 of their North Division semifinal round, a 4-1 series victory for Wheeling. He has points in all five division final games so far against the Maine Mariners, including the game-winner Saturday in Wheeling’s 4-1 Game 2 victory. He had a goal and an assist in Game 5 on Wednesday, but the Mariners scored a 5-3 victory to move within a win of the Eastern Conference Final.
🚨 Brayden Edwards
🍎 Ryan McAllister
🍏 Brent Johnson#ForTheWheel pic.twitter.com/etjiUyg9xD— xy-Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) May 14, 2026
REECE HARSCH, 2019-20 – Played in all five games of the Fort Wayne Komets’ five-game Central Division series win against the Indy Fuel, and has played in both games of the Komets’ division final series against the Toledo Walleye. Fort Wayne leads the series 2-0, with a chance to close it out Friday or Saturday in Toledo.
CAM HAUSINGER, 2017-19 – Fired off five shots in Game 6 of the Toledo Walleye Central Division semifinal series against the Bloomington Bison, the final game of the series – he has appeared in both games of Toledo’s Central Division final set against the Fort Wayne Komets, with the series set to continue Thursday in Fort Wayne. MICHAEL MILNE, 2018-22 had a goal in that clinching Game 6 against Bloomington, and continues to hunt for his first point of the series against Fort Wayne.
ICE/Wild WHL Alumni Remaining in the ECHL Playoffs
Hudson Elynuik (Florida); Brayden Edwards (Wheeling); Reece Harsch (Fort Wayne); Cam Hausinger, Michael Milne (Toledo)
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 – Has been a regular in the lineup in both the Vegas Golden Knights’ first-round playoff series against Utah and its Western Conference Semifinal series against the Anaheim Ducks, but has been held off the stat sheet since Game 3 on April 24 against Utah. The Golden Knights are on the verge of returning to the Western Conference Final, with a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 Thursday.
BRYAN YOON, 2015-16 – Made his Colorado Eagles 2026 Calder Cup playoff debut Wednesday in the Eagles’ 3-0 shutout of the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The best-of-five series continues with Game 2 Friday in California before shifting to Fort Collins Sunday.
CHARLIE COMBS, 2015-17 – Scored a power play goal in the South Carolina Stingrays’ double-overtime Game 5 win over the Atlanta Gladiators, before the Stingrays closed out Atlanta in Game 6 of the series. He returned to the stat sheet with an assist Wednesday in South Carolina’s 7-3 loss to the Florida Everblades, who can close out the series Friday in Charleston. SETH EISELE, 2017-18 made his 2026 Kelly Cup playoff debut Wednesday, allowing two goals on 14 shots in a relief effort.
LUCAS SOWDER, 2016-19 – Scored on three of his four shots on goal in the Kansas City Mavericks’ four-game Mountain Division semifinal sweep of the Tahoe Knight Monsters, and has assists in two of Kansas City’s three division final games against the Allen Americans. Kansas City is a game away from a division title, with Game 4 set for Saturday in Texas.
Wenatchee Junior “A” Alumni Remaining in the Playoffs
Nic Dowd (Vegas, NHL); Bryan Yoon (Colorado, AHL); Seth Eisele, Charlie Combs (South Carolina, ECHL); Lucas Sowder (Kansas City, ECHL)
