2025-26 WHL Midseason Player Survey

By Cami Kepke December 22, 2025

With the halfway mark of the 2025-26 WHL season creeping up, more than 300 players from all 23 clubs have cast their votes for positional player awards, best jerseys, who they think will capture the 2026 Ed Chynoweth Cup, and, most importantly, which team has the best postgame meal.

Results will be unveiled daily leading up to December 25.

RESULTS

Who do you think will win the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year?

I mean, JP Hurlbert and Jim Piggott share initials. Coincidence? The 2026 NHL Draft-eligible forward leads the WHL scoring race with a whopping 55 points (22G-33A) in 33 games. He doesn’t just lead all rookies across the WHL, OHL and QMJHL in points- he’s the CHL points leader, full-stop. Hurlbert’s hat trick in his WHL debut back in September set the tone, and he collected an impressive 137 votes from his peers. He’s been recognized as the WHL Player of the Month for September/October and the Rookie of the Month for November. The 17-year-old from Allen, Texas represented Kamloops at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and is projected to be selected in the first round of the upcoming NHL Draft. Sixteen-year-old Brandon Wheat Kings forward Chase Surkan slid into second with 37 votes after picking up WHL Rookie of the Month for September/October and bagging two hat tricks in 26 games.

Hurlbert looks to become the third Blazer to earn the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, joining British Ice Hockey Hall-of-Famer Ron Shudra (1985-86) and 15-year NHL veteran and current podcast host Scottie Upshall (2000-01).

Honourable Mentions:

6. Tomas Poletin (Kelowna Rockets)- 5.9%

7. Kale Dach (Calgary Hitmen)- 4.2%

8. Colt Carter (Moose Jaw Warriors)- 3.6%

Other- 5.9%

What is the most difficult building to play in as the road team?

Just another day in PA-radise. Prince Albert’s Art Hauser got the edge over some tough opposition by snagging 70 votes and edging the Western Conference-leading Everett Silvertips and Angel of the Winds Arena (68 votes). While smaller than many rinks across the league (the Hauser fits more than 3,000 fans for major games that include standing room-only tickets), the Raiders faithful make it an inhospitable environment for visitors. It’s no surprise that powerhouse Prince Albert boasts the second-best home winning percentage in the league with a 10-1-2-0 record (.846).

The reigning Ed Chynoweth Cup Champion Medicine Hat Tigers currently own the WHL’s best home record at 12-1-1-1 (.867).

Honourable Mentions:

CN Centre (Prince George Cougars)- 4.2%
Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland Winterhawks)- 2.9%
InnovationPlex (Swift Current Broncos)- 2.9%

Other- 17.5%

Who will be the WHL’s top goal scorer in 2025-26?

JP Hurlbert’s torrid scoring pace has seen him bag 22 tallies in 33 games- including six multigoal outings. The Blazers alternate captain captured 127 votes but still faces some tough competition in this category. Brandon Wheat Kings sniper Luke Mistelbacher, who currently has 19 goals and is on pace for a third-consecutive 20-plus goal campaign, took second place with 37 votes, while Kelowna Rockets star and Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla is a hot contender, despite missing time as he competes at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. Montreal Canadiens third-round pick and Medicine Hat Tigers captain Bryce Pickford currently leads the WHL goals race with 25 lamp-lighters in 31 games- as a defenceman!

Honourable Mentions:

Keets Fawcett (Regina Pats)- 3.3%
Bryce Pickford (Medicine Hat Tigers)- 2.3%
Tommy Lafreniere (Kamloops Blazers)- 1.6%

Other: 13.9%

*Washington Capitals prospect and former Moose Jaw Warriors captain Lynden Lakovic received 28 votes prior to sustaining a season-ending upper body injury.

Which team has the best postgame meal?

Salads, mashed potatoes, cabbage rolls, perogies, roast beef, and all the fixings. As one staffer said: ‘It’s Christmas dinner after every game’. The spread at the Art Hauser Centre took 75 votes to cruise to first place in the great postgame meal race, but notably, every team in the league received at least one vote.

Honourable Mentions:

Kelowna Rockets- 4.9%
Moose Jaw Warriors- 4.2%
Edmonton Oil Kings- 3.9%

Other: 33%

Who will win the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as WHL Defenceman of the Year?

We’re witnessing a special run for Bryce Pickford. As noted in the Top Scorer results, the 6-foot-1, 186-pound defender from Chauvin, Alta., leads the WHL in goals with 25 in just 31 games. To put that in perspective, he’d, by and large, be the top-scoring defenceman in the league with those numbers after most full seasons. Instead, he’s primed to join the likes of Ottawa Senators prospect Carter Yakemchuk and Anaheim Ducks rearguard Olen Zellweger as the only defenders in the last decade to eclipse 30 goals. Pickford also has the second-best plus-minus in the league at +37- trailing only his fellow finalist Jonas Woo (+40). Top 2026 NHL Draft-eligible defencemen Carson Carels and Ryan Lin will get some extra time in the spotlight at the 2026 WHL prospects game, while Everett Silvertips captain Tarin Smith heads up the league’s stingiest defence, and 19-year-old Ethan MacKenzie is riding a breakout year right to a potential berth on Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship (along with Carels).

Honourable Mentions:

Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips)- 5.2%
Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders)- 4.6%
Jonas Woo (Medicine Hat Tigers)- 3.9%

Other: 8.4%

Which team will win the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the 2025-26 WHL regular-season champions?

The Everett Silvertips have clinched their best first half in franchise history with a formidable 27-3-2-1 record through 33 games- good enough to lead the entire CHL in points. Everett received 146 votes from players as the most likely Scotty Munro winner. The U.S. Division powerhouse has captured the trophy twice (2006-07, 2024-25) and will aim to become the 10th team in WHL history to repeat as regular season champions.

Honourable Mentions:

Medicine Hat Tigers- 3.6%
Penticton Vees- 3.3%
Kamloops Blazers- 2.6%

Other: 11.5%

Who will win the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy as WHL Goaltender of the Year?

Fear the Berg. Prince George Cougars fan favorite Joshua Ravensbergen has been playing some of the best hockey of his career this season with a 16-6-0-0 record, a 2.50 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage and two shutouts. The 2024 San Jose Sharks first-round pick ranks first in the league in wins, T-1 in shutouts, second in save percentage, sixth in GAA and fifth in total saves (627). Ravensbergen has won eight straight appearances dating back to November 11, 2025 and is currently fighting for a spot with Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. The 6-foot-5.5, 195-pound puckstopped gloved 119 votes from his peers. No Prince George netminder has even won the Del Wilsom Memorial Trophy, though Hockey Hall-of-Famer Grant Fuhr (1980-81) and Kevin Eastman (1979-80) were eached named Goaltender of the Year for the then-Victoria Cougars.

Honourable Mentions:

Andrew Reyelts (Penticton Vees)- 7.3%
Chase Wutzke (Moose Jaw Warriors)- 5.9%
Tobias Tvrznik (Wenatchee Wild)- 4.6%

Other: 8.4%

Which WHL team has the best primary jerseys?

Fit for a crown! The Edmonton Oil Kings edged the competition with 39 votes for the best jerseys in the league. And why mess with a good thing? The modern Oil Kings have never strayed far from the design worn by the original iteration of the team back in the founding days of the WHL. However, the margin of victory was quite tight, with every WHL club receiving votes in this category.

Honourable Mentions:

Portland Winterhawks- 6.8%
Brandon Wheat Kings- 5.9%
Lethbridge Hurricanes- 4.9%

Other: 35.8%

Who will be the highest-drafted current WHLer at the 2026 NHL Draft?

Carson Carels is quickly carving out a name for himself on the road to the 2026 NHL Draft. The A-rated defenceman has eight goals (including a game-winner) and 21 assists for 29 points in 28 games with the B.C. Division-leading Prince George Cougars, and is expected to be the second-youngest defenceman to compete for Canada at the 2026 World Juniors. While there are still two more survey questions to reveal, we’ll let you know now that this is the largest share of the vote any player received in all categories. Carels looks to join the ranks of some franchise heavyweights by becoming the fifth defenceman in Cougars history to be selected in the first round- a group that includes Olympic gold medalist and WHL Defenceman and Player of the Year Dan Hamhuis (NSH, 12th overall- 2001) and another Olympic champion and three-time IIHF World Championship gold-medal winner Eric Brewer (NYI, fifth overall- 1997)- who happen to be part-owners of the Cougars. Brewer and the late Vancouver Island legend Rick Lapointe, who was selected fifth overall by the Detroit Red Wings from the Victoria Cougars in the 1975 NHL Draft, are the highest-drafted players to come from the Cougars. While Carels has the player vote, a slew of talented 2026 NHL Draft-eligibles will have another chance to show off their skills at the 2026 WHL Prospects Games in February.

Honourable Mentions:

Giorgos Pantelas (Brandon Wheat Kings)- 2%
Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers)- 1.3%
Harrison Boettiger (Kelowna Rockets)- 1%

Other: 2.1%

Who will win the Ed Chynoweth Cup as 2025-26 WHL Champions?

Is this Everett’s year? With a trove of NHL prospects up front and on defence (not to mention an exceptional status blueliner), the Silvertips will try to ward off some old playoff demons this spring. The U.S. Division powerhouse has never missed the playoffs since joining the WHL in 2003-04 and have advanced to the Championship Series twice (2004, 2018). Clocking in at a close second with 41 votes, the Edmonton Oil Kings will try to climb to the top of the heap for the fourth time in franchise history and first time since 2022. And peep the honourable mentions- could the Penticton Vees pull an Everett and reach the final in their first year in the league?

Honourable Mentions:

6. Penticton Vees- 6.2%

7. Kamloops Blazers- 5.5%

8. 2.6%

Other- 11.5%

Who will win the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as WHL Player of the Year?

JP Hurlbert caps off the 2025-26 Midseason Player Survey with his third win and 80 votes. Should he continue his consistent scoring pace, he could become the fifth Kamloops Blazer (technically, fourth, considering Rob Brown won it in back-to-back years in the mid-80s) to be named Player of the Year and the first since current Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven in 2021-22. But there are also plenty of deserving finalists in the mix- Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla certainly would have been in the conversation last season, had his campaign not been cut short by injury. Braeden Cootes, who began the season with the Vancouver Canucks, also garnered a considerable number of votes. Now, it’s all in the players’ hands to see how the rest of the season pans out.

Honourable Mentions:

6. Terik Parascak (Prince George Cougars)- 6.2%

7. Miroslav Holinka (Edmonton Oil Kings)- 5.9%

8. Jaxon Jacobson (Brandon Wheat Kings)- 5.5%

Other- 11.4%