2025 WHL Graduates: Seattle Thunderbirds
Over the summer, the Western Hockey League will be celebrating the WHL Graduates from the 2024-25 season in a 22-part, team-by-team series.
Today, we continue with the graduating players from the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Owen Boucher (D)
Hometown: St. Paul, Alta.
WHL Career Stats: 201 GP – 5 G-23 A –28 PTS
WHL Draft: 2019 – 8th Round, 157th Overall (Winnipeg)
After logging over 200 regular season appearances, Owen Boucher is waiving good-bye to the Western Hockey League. The 21-year-old is one of four players that make up the Seattle Thunderbirds’ graduating class of 2025. While Boucher graduates the League as a member of the Thunderbirds, the blueliner made his major junior debut elsewhere. Originally selected by the Winnipeg ICE in the eighth round of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, Boucher made his WHL debut on March 13, 2021. Boucher made a total of 61 appearances in Winnipeg, before being acquired by the Prince Albert Raiders via trade in September 2022. The St. Paul, Alta. local called Prince Albert home for parts of two seasons, recording 12 points (3 G-19A) in 64 games. Boucher’s best season came as a member of the Raiders, as he hit the 10-point plateau for the first – and only – time in his career during the 2022-23 campaign. After his quick stint in HockeyTown North, the defenceman once again found himself on the move – this time to Kent, Wash. Boucher completed his WHL career with Seattle, making 75 appearances and recording nine points (2 G-7 A) with the T-Birds. In total, Boucher racked up 28 points (5 G-23 A) in his 201 career games with the ICE, Raiders, and Thunderbirds.
Due to recent injury, Owen Boucher has decided to step away from hockey. Thank you for being a Bird, Bouch! Wishing you the very best 💙💚 pic.twitter.com/89hvU6XOtu
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) December 9, 2024
Hayden Pakkala (F)
Hometown: Okotoks, Alta.
WHL Career Stats: 259 GP – 48 G-57 A –105 PTS
WHL Draft: 2019 – 7th Round, 142nd Overall (Winnipeg)
When it comes to WHL markets, chances are Hayden Pakkala has been there for a game or two! The well-travelled, veteran forward is set to exit the Western League following a four-season stint spent on three different clubs. After hearing his name called in the seventh round (142nd overall) of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft by the Winnipeg ICE, Pakkala made his long-awaited WHL debut on October 1, 2021. However, his first major junior game was made alongside the Prince Albert Raiders – who acquired the forward via trade just four days prior. Pakkala spent parts of three season with Prince Albert, collecting 59 points (23 G-36 A) in 166 regular season appearances with the Raiders. From Prince Albert, Pakkala ventured southwest, joining the Lethbridge Hurricanes midway through the 2023-24 campaign. While short, the Alberta product’s stint with Lethbridge sure was sweet. In 59 total starts, the Okotoks, Alta., local recorded 26 points (14 G-12 A) and a +2 rating. In December 2024, the forward found himself on the move for the third – and final – time in his junior hockey career. Acquired by Seattle via trade with Lethbridge, Pakkala donned the T-Birds uniform for 34 regular season occasions. In that time, the veteran collected 20 points (11 G-9 A). Having completed his WHL eligibility, the Alberta-born talent is headed to Cowtown, as he is set to join the University of Calgary Men’s Hockey Program for the 2025-26 season.
TAKE A BOW, HAYDEN PAKKALA!🤯@WHLHurricanes pic.twitter.com/wUC8jmT8px
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 3, 2024
Nathan Pilling (F)
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
WHL Career Stats: 206 GP – 67 G-52 A –119 PTS
WHL Draft: Listed (Moose Jaw)
When it comes to breakout campaigns, nobody did it better than veteran forward, Nathan Pilling. From an undrafted prospect hailing from Calgary, Alta., to one of the best 20-year-old players in the League, Nathan Pilling’s major junior career is nothing short of spectacular. After going undrafted in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, Pilling was listed by the Moose Jaw Warriors. He signed his WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement ahead of the 2021-22 season and made his Western League debut on October 1, 2021.The towering forward made 54 appearances with the Warriors during his rookie season, accruing 14 points (5 G-9 A) and a +3 rating. However, Pilling’s tenure with Moose Jaw was limited, as the forward was acquired by the Edmonton Oil Kings midway through his second campaign in the WHL. The move to Edmonton was a special one for Pilling, as he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Gregg Pilling – a member of the Kingdom from 1962-64. But, like his stint in Moose Jaw, Pilling’s time in Edmonton was also short. After a mere 30 games with the Oil Kings, Pilling was dealt to the Seattle Thunderbirds. It was Kent, Wash., where the veteran talent truly began to flourish. In his final season of WHL eligibility, Pilling erupted for a career-high of 34 goals, 26 assists, and 60 points. And, as a veteran persona on the roster, Pilling led the underdog Thunderbirds to the 2025 WHL Playoffs, where they took the 2024-25 WHL Regular Season Champions, the Everett Silvertips, to a gruelling, six-game series. Having completed his WHL career, Pilling has announced his commitment to the NCAA’s University of St. Thomas for the 2025-26 season.
🎥HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT🎥
A SWING AND A GOAL, NATHAN PILLING HAS YOUR GWG.@SeattleTBirds | #WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/ZNyhNeEXVh
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 12, 2025
Brayden Schuurman (F)
Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C.
WHL Career Stats: 235 GP – 83 G-97 A –180 PTS
WHL Draft: 2019 – 4th Round, 69th Overall (Victoria)
After 235 games as a WHLer, Brayden Schuurman is exiting the League having completed his junior hockey career – and, he’s taking some hardware with him.
The 21-year-old forward is graduating from the Western League as a WHL Champion with the Moose Jaw Warriors. However, Schuurman’s journey to the WHL’s summit didn’t start in the Friendly City. Schuurman was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft by the Victoria Royals. He made his Western League debut with the Royals on his birthday, February 22, 2020, and collected his first points – a two-goal performance – against the Kamloops Blazers on April 3, 2021. Schuurman spent parts of five seasons with the Royals organization, before migrating east to Moose Jaw, Sask. In his time with Victoria, the Abbotsford, B.C. local totalled 95 points (50 G-45 A) in 134 regular season appearances. In October 2025, Schuurman joined the Moose Jaw Warriors following a trade with Victoria. Schuurman’s injection into a depth role with Moose Jaw proved to be invaluable. The crafty forward collected 47 points (20 G-27 A) in 62 regular season games. However, Schuurman’s true value lied during the 2024 WHL Playoffs. Collecting nine points (7 G-2 A) in 20 postseason appearances and the game-winning goals in Game 3 and 4 of the 2024 WHL Championship Series, Schuurman helped the Warriors capture their first Ed Chynoweth Cup in franchise history. Ring on hand, Schuurman returned for the 2024-25 season – his sixth and final campaign in the Western League. Now, a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds, the veteran rounded out his career by netting 24 points (8 G-16 A) in 26 games with the U.S. Division Club. Having completed his WHL eligibility, Schuurman is set to take his talents to the NCAA’s Colorado College for the 2025-26 season.
MADNESS IN MOOSE JAW!
Brayden Schuurman nets the WHOA-vertime winner and the @MJWARRIORS are one win away from their first #WHLChampionship in franchise history! pic.twitter.com/u4Apye3MeW
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 15, 2024
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