WHL Alumni Spotlight: Barzal and Co. take centre stage at NHL All-Star Weekend
With over 100 graduates currently featured on NHL rosters, the Western Hockey League prides itself as one of the finest development leagues in the World.
By way of the WHL Alumni Spotlight, we aim to highlight notable achievements set by our alumni at the highest level of professional hockey on a week-to-week basis.
This is what our WHL Alumni were up to over the last week.
Five WHL alumni participate in 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend
On a weekend that saw the NHL’s best-of-the-best take to the ice for some friendly competition, the WHL found itself well-represented with five alumni attending the event. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (Cologne, GER. / Kelowna Rockets and Prince Albert Raiders), Florida’s Sam Reinhart (Vancouver, B.C. / Kootenay Ice), New York Islanders’ Mathew Barzal (Coquitlam, B.C. / Seattle Thunderbirds), Toronto’s Morgan Rielly (Vancouver, B.C. / Moose Jaw Warriors), and Seattle’s Oliver Bjorkstrand (Herning, DEN. / Portland Winterhawks) were all named All-Stars for the weekend in Toronto, Ont.
Past WHL Champions, Draisaitl (2015 – Kelowna Rockets) and Barzal (2017 – Seattle Thunderbirds), were also selected to participate in the NHL All-Star Skills competition.
Draisaitl finished tied for ninth with 4.5 points, while Barzal claimed fifth and a second-place finish in the fastest skater event — a mere .111 seconds behind the leader.
13.519!!!#Isles | @ubs pic.twitter.com/MynhWgUjo4
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 3, 2024
Barzal’s success in the skills event also bled into the second day of competition, as he, along with All-Star teammate and former Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman, Morgan Reilly, became champions of the 3-on-3 tournament with Team Matthews.
First-overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft and former Regina Pats captain, Connor Bedard, was also named an All-Star but was forced to sit out from the weekend after sustaining a jaw injury. Instead, Bedard was a special guest at the All-Star Skills competition, acting as a ‘passer’ for the One Timers event.
still our All-Star 🤩 pic.twitter.com/pf0pWT4Qqt
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 3, 2024
Skinner named NHL’s Second Star for month of January
In a month that’s seen the Edmonton Oilers continue their historic and record-setting winning streak, former Lethbridge Hurricanes and Swift Current Broncos netminder Stuart Skinner has been perfect between the pipes. Enough so, that the former 17th-overall selection in the 2013 WHL Prospects Draft has been named the NHL’s Second Star of January. With an impeccable record of 9-0-0 in January, Skinner has not only assisted the Oilers set a new record for the longest winning streak in the franchise but has also helped tie the record for the second-longest winning streak in NHL history.
Stuart Skinner has been simply stellar. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/GBNyYh1QHi
— NHL (@NHL) January 22, 2024
Accolades like this are no stranger to Skinner, however. In his five-season tenure at the WHL, Skinner also backstopped the Swift Current Broncos to a WHL Championship in 2018. During the 2018 WHL Playoffs, the Broncos netminder led all goaltenders in wins (16), saves (811), shutouts (6), goals against average (2.20 GAA), and save percentage (93.2%). In total, the product of Edmonton, Alta., claimed 104 wins in 207 starts and was drafted by the Oilers in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Bains takes over 2024 AHL All-Star Classic
In 2022, Arshdeep Bains was awarded the WHL’s Bobby Clarke Trophy for most points during the 2021-22 regular season. Now, following his performance at the 2024 AHL All-Star Challenge in San Jose, Calif., Bains is also adding the event’s MVP award to his trophy case. In just his first AHL All-Star appearance, a 23-year-old Bains stole the star-studded show with a five-point outing — including a game-winning goal with 12.9 seconds remaining to claim the victory for the Pacific Division All-Stars.
Netting the game-winning goal with 12.9 seconds left, Arshdeep Bains led the Pacific Division to their second consecutive #AHLAllStar Challenge win 🏆️🌟 pic.twitter.com/mfAfMDxWU8
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 8, 2024
Although impressive, Bains’ outing at the All-Star Challenge is not a surprise for those who watched him play at the junior level. Going undrafted in the WHL Prospects Draft, the Surrey, B.C., product made quite the name for himself after joining the Red Deer Rebels’ protected list. Suiting up in 257 games with the Rebels, Bains recorded 209 points (77 goals, 132 assists) — including a League-leading 112 points in his farewell season.
In March 2022, as one of Red Deer’s graduating players, Bains signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Vancouver Canucks.
Blues’ Schenn climbs franchise ranks for most overtime goals
With his overtime marker against the Los Angeles Kings on January 29, St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn has climbed another step up the ranks for most overtime goals in Blues history. His seventh game-winning tally as a member of the Blues now puts Schenn tied for second-most — and just three behind the leader and current Ottawa Senators forward, Vladimir Tarasenko. In his 15 seasons in the NHL, Schenn has accrued 11 overtime goals across three different organizations.
A native of Saskatoon, Sask., Schenn also played parts of four seasons with both the Brandon Wheat Kings and his hometown club, Saskatoon Blades. During his first season with the Wheat Kings, Schenn led all rookies in points, with 71, and was awarded the Jim Piggott Trophy as the 2007-08 WHL Rookie of the Year. The former Wheat Kings and Blades forward would then be drafted fifth overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2009 NHL Draft.
SCHENN FOR THE WIN (AGAIN)!!! #stlblues pic.twitter.com/HG0uN6tdE8
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 28, 2024
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