VP Sports & Entertainment presents: 2024 WHL Champion Calvert signs on with Pittsburgh Penguins

Atley Calvert could barely get the words out as cheers rained down from the stands in the Temple Gardens Centre.

Sure, the Moose Jaw Warriors had been a solid team, but few had expected them to knock off the regular-season champion Saskatoon Blades in the Eastern Conference Championship, let alone sweep the powerhouse Portland Winterhawks in the Championship Series.

But they did.

And Calvert, the hometown boy in his final season of WHL eligibility, had played a key role in bringing the Warriors their first WHL Championship in franchise history.

“I can’t even describe it,” Calvert said. “So much work has gone into this. We’ve been together for the past four years and to see it all come to an end like this is something truly special.”

For the second straight night, and for the second straight game, Atley Calvert opens the scoring for the @MJWARRIORS!#WHLChampionship | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/iKmFc1vvyH

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 12, 2024

In the two seasons since, Calvert has continued to put in the work- and it’s paying off.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed the 22-year-old to a two-year, entry-level contract, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas announced Wednesday.

It’s a big step forward for the 6-foot-1, 194-pound forward who broke into professional hockey as an undrafted free agent.

Calvert is coming off his first full season with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he posted 16 goals (including one game-winner and a shorthanded strike) and 22 assists for 38 points and a +19 rating in 70 games.

He finished sixth on the team in points and goals while ranking fourth in assists and plus/minus.

In the Calder Cup Playoffs, Calvert chipped in another six points (3G-3A) in 15 outings.

#ICYMI: Atley Calvert secured a GAME 3 VICTORY for the @WBSPenguins last night ⏮️👏 pic.twitter.com/47FqTfpPlv

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) June 2, 2026

His rookie pro season saw him split time between the AHL and the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers.

Calvert’s dogged mentality stretched back to his junior hockey days, where he made the Warriors as an undrafted skater.

He went on to carve out an important role for the team, logging 105 goals and 115 assists for 220 points over 237 games in parts of five seasons.

Calvert’s final season saw him crack the 2024 WHL East Division Second All-Star Team after a 95-point (47G-48) campaign.

The 2024 WHL Playoffs saw him step up again with 20 points (8G-12A) in 20 games, where Moose Jaw developed a reputation for wild multi-goal comebacks.

Calvert had a goal and two assists as the Warriors stormed back from a 4-2 deficit to defeat Brandon 5-4 in overtime in Game 2, and assisted the overtime goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Championship to send his team to the big dance.

He signed an AHL deal with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton just weeks after the end of the WHL Playoffs and Memorial Cup.