Alumn-ICE Report: May 27, 2025
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 – Tallied two assists in the Florida Panthers’ Game 5 Eastern Conference semifinal victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs, before blasting home a slap shot halfway through the third period of the Panthers’ Game 7 triumph, with both games decided by 6-1 margins. That decisive victory sent Florida on to the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, which Florida currently leads 3-1. The Panthers can book their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final with a win at Carolina on Wednesday.
BRAYDEN McNABB, 2006-11 – Was held without a point in his last two games of the postseason with the Vegas Golden Knights, dropping out of the NHL playoffs with a five-game loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
ICE/Wild WHL Alumni Remaining in the NHL Playoffs
Sam Reinhart (FLA); Matthew Savoie (EDM)
AHL
CHASE WHEATCROFT, 2021-22 – Played in one of the Texas Stars’ five games in the Central Division Final against the Milwaukee Admirals, and did not register a point. Texas eked out a 3-2 win in the series, and begins a best-of-7 tilt against the Pacific Division champ Abbotsford Canucks on Thursday in British Columbia.
LUKE PHILP, 2011-16 – Scored just 2:33 into the Hershey Bears’ Game 2 overtime loss against the Charlotte Checkers in the Atlantic Division Final, but saw the Checkers sneak through for a 2-1 overtime win. That goal was Philp’s last of the postseason, as the Checkers swept Hershey 3-0 to earn an Eastern Conference Final berth against the Laval Rocket.
2 minutes and 33 seconds is all it takes for Luke Philp to find the back of the net in Game 2. @TheHersheyBears | #HERvsCLT | #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/e12aBTYaOi
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) May 17, 2025
ICE/Wild WHL Alumni Remaining in the AHL Playoffs
Chase Wheatcroft (Texas)
ECHL
BEN ZLOTY, 2018-23 & GRAHAM SWARD, 2022-24 – Got one final assist from Sward in Game 6 of the Norfolk Admirals‘ North Division Final against the Trois-Rivieres Lions, before ultimately dropping out of the Kelly Cup playoffs with a six-game loss in the best-of-7 clash. Trois-Rivieres is one win away from moving on to the Kelly Cup Final, in their best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final series against the Florida Everblades.
BOBBY RUSSELL, 2016-18 & GAGE ALEXANDER, 2019-22 – Russell made his Toledo Walleye playoff debut May 17 in Toledo’s Game 2 victory over the Kansas City Mavericks in the Western Conference Final. Toledo wiped out the Mavericks four games to one, and now sits just four wins away from a Kelly Cup championship.
ICE/Wild WHL Alumni Remaining in the ECHL Playoffs
Bobby Russell, Gage Alexander (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 as the American pro hockey playoffs continue:
NIC DOWD, 2008-09 – Saw his season with the Washington Capitals come to an end on May 15, as the Capitals bowed out of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a five-game loss to the Eastern Conference finalist Carolina Hurricanes.
BRYAN YOON, 2015-16 – Cranked out two assists in the Colorado Eagles’ 5-3 win May 18 in Game 2 of the Pacific Division Final against the Abbotsford Canucks, but the Canucks used a 5-0 win Monday to push their way into the Western Conference Final against the Texas Stars.
BRETT CHORSKE, 2019-20 – Scored his first Calder Cup playoff goal and assist last Wednesday in the Charlotte Checkers’ 6-3 bouncing of the Hershey Bears in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Final, sending the Bears out of the postseason with a three-game sweep. Chorske’s goal 3:50 into the second period put the Checkers on the comeback trail after going down 2-0 in the game, and returned Will Lockwood’s favor by setting up Lockwood’s goal early in the third period. Charlotte begins a best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final set against the Laval Rocket with a visit to Quebec on Wednesday.
Charlotte has responded with back-to-back goals to tie Game 3 at 2-2 near the midway mark of the middle frame.
Here's Brett Chorske's finish at the net that got the Checkers on the board moments ago. @InsideAHLHockey pic.twitter.com/cVsuEv1qVs
— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 22, 2025
HARRISON SCOTT, 2019-20 – Stepped onto the ice for all five Texas Stars games in their division final win over the Milwaukee Admirals, but did not post a point in the series. Texas begins its best-of-7 Western Conference Final Thursday in British Columbia against the Abbotsford Canucks.
Wenatchee Junior “A” Alumni Remaining in the Playoffs
Brett Chorske (Charlotte, AHL); Harrison Scott (Texas, AHL); Marko Reifenberger, Gehrett Sargis (Norfolk, ECHL)
