Former Americans alternate captain Mutala named 2025-26 CW WHL Top Performer, reflects on U SPORTS career

Sasha Mutala is flying high to close out his UBC Thunderbirds career.

The former Tri-City Americans alternate captain has been named the 2025-26 Canada West/Western Hockey League Top Performer after a historic campaign for UBC.

Mutala led the conference in scoring with 46 points (12G-32A) in 28 games, marking the highest point total by a Thunderbirds skater in 30 years and setting a program record for single-season assists.

He was only held off the scoresheet three times this season, while helping UBC to a program record 23-win campaign.

“It’s truly an honour,” Mutala said. “I know so many good players who have won these awards in the past, and it’s very humbling to be recognized so much in such a short period of time.

Team success breeds individual success. I was so lucky to play with two incredible players, with Scottie (Scott Atkinson, Edmonton Oil Kings) and Dougie (Chris Douglas, Red Deer Rebels) on my line… I’m just so proud of so many guys in this team that put their games at a new level, and I think, put their careers at a different level as well.”

The Vancouver, B.C. product was named Canada West Men’s Hockey Player of the Year- becoming the first T-Birds since 1985 to earn the honour- and made the 2025-26 Canada West First All-Star Team.

Over four seasons in his home province, Mutala has netted 40 goals and 97 assists for 137 points in 108 games and helped UBC capture the conference championship for the first time in 53 years with an electric win in 2024.

“I’ve been given the opportunity of a lifetime at UBC,” Mutala, who has been studying finance at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, added. “Coming here when I was 20, after my Western League career was over, didn’t really know what to expect, but I quickly found out how much everyone cares in that building. Big shout out to Sven Butenschon (Brandon Wheat Kings) for recruiting me and giving me, really, the opportunity right from day one to lead and to play my game and let me grow. I’ve had a great four years, you know, winning Canada West in my second season, going to Nationals, setting records with that group and our graduating class. (There’s) just so many influential people I’ve met during my time at UBC as well, not just on the ice, but off the ice too. It’s truly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made my life.”

Mutala, 24, has signed a professional contract with the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers, along with his Thunderbirds teammate Jake Lee (Seattle Thunderbirds, Kelowna Rockets), and has already netted three points in his first five games.

He suited up for parts of six seasons with the Tri-City Americans, wearing an ‘A’ for the U.S. Division squad from 2018-2021.

Over that stretch, Mutala tallied 84 goals and 112 assists for 196 points over 266 regular-season games, highlighted by a 28-goal, 39-assist run in 2019-20.