Former Hitmen alternate captain, Hurricanes forward Tschigerl named WHL Grad of the Month for September/October

Edmonton, Alta.- A new season filled with new challenges is paying off big-time for Sean Tschigerl.

The recent WHL graduate hasn’t missed a beat in the transition to Canada West hockey with the University of Alberta Golden Bears- much to the chagrin of goaltenders across the conference.

The former Calgary Hitmen alternate captain and one-time Lethbridge Hurricane has been voted WHL Grad of the Month after a dynamic start to the 2024-25 season.

Tschigerl has notched six goals (including a pair of powerplay tallies and two game-winners) and nine assists for a Canada West-leading 15 points in eight matches.

He’s also tied for second in assists and plus-minus.

“I was excited,” Tschigerl, a 2021 Anaheim Ducks draft pick, said of the recognition. “The whole team’s been playing well and my line is doing really well offensively. It’s great to be recognized and you appreciate it, but you’ve obviously got to keep working hard.”

The 6-foot-1, 191-pound forward is riding a seven-game point streak, highlighted by a hat trick in a 4-0 victory over the University of Manitoba on October 12 and a four-assist performance in a 5-2 win against the high-powered Saskatchewan Huskies the following week.

Tschigerl’s continued offensive prowess is no surprise, considering he strung together three straight WHL seasons where he surpassed 20 goals and 50 points.

Originally drafted by the Hitmen with the fourth-overall pick in the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft, Tschigerl amassed 95 goals and 117 assists for 212 points in 273 games over parts of six seasons.

While the points have come easily for Tschigerl and the East Division-leading Golden Bears (7-1), he’s relishing the challenge of excelling in school as much as he is on the ice.

“You’re playing against guys a little bit older, more mature, they’re probably a little stronger, so they’re closing gaps quicker, a little harder down low,” Tschigerl explained. “That’s going to be good for me development-wise, playing against mature players like that, and I’ve enjoyed the competition. It’s been awesome so far. I think I’m developing and growing my game and as a student-athlete, getting better in the classroom as well.

It’s a full day every day. I want to do well in my classes, so I’m spending extra time tutoring, studying with the guys, just getting ahead in class work.”

The first-year Faculty of Arts student is still debating whether he’ll turn his focus to business or kinesiology down the road but hopes to stay involved in hockey in some capacity.

In the meantime, Tschigerl is more focused on short-term goals.

“I just want to finish the year with a good grade point average score and as many goals as possible,” the Whitecourt, Alta. product added. ‘I know that players can play against the World Junior team in December (as part of annual pre-World Junior Championship tuneup matches), and that was obviously a goal of mine at the start of the season… That’s the best time to represent yourself, but also challenge yourself against those guys. They’re trying to prepare for World Juniors and there’s nothing better than to play against high-end athletes like that. That was one my goals going into the season, but I’d love to go back to NHL camp come summertime, and even the fall.

There are guys on our team, including myself, that are drafted to the NHL- not necessarily signed players, but they’re still really good players. Look through every team- they might have a guy or two drafted to the  NHL and multiple guys who have been to NHL camps. If you’re going to NHL camp, there must be some good players, they have some type of game, and you don’t just lose it when you leave the league (WHL). If anything, you’re probably getting a little stronger, a little more mature.”

Seeing former Golden Bears forward and Canada West Champion Noah Philp make his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers after wrapping up his Canada West career has also given Tschigerl’s pro dreams a major boost.

The Golden Bears will face MacEwan University (4-4) in a cross-city battle on November 8 and 9.

For each season played in the WHL, a player is awarded a one-year post-secondary scholarship, which includes tuition, compulsory fees, and required textbooks.

In partnership with Canada West universities, numerous WHL Scholarship recipients are also awarded additional financial assistance from their university to receive Western Canada’s Premier Hockey Scholarship.

Since 1993, the WHL has awarded nearly 8,000 scholarships to graduate players.

The WHL is the leading supplier of hockey scholarships in Western Canada and offers one of the most comprehensive scholarships in North America.

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

About Canada West

As the leading university athletic conference in the country, Canada West is home to student-athletes who excel in the classroom and their communities. The conference is comprised of 17 member institutions spanning from Victoria to Winnipeg, with over 3,200 student-athletes competing across 14 sports. Canada West’s mission is to train leaders and build champions by providing leadership in the delivery, regulation, and promotion of university-level high-performance sports programs throughout Western Canada.