WHL This Week: January 23, 2025
Calgary, Alta. – We’ve got family affairs, all-important division clashes, classroom visits, minor hockey practices, and more in the latest edition of WHL This Week. Let’s get to the latest news and notes from across the Western Hockey League.
WHL HEADLINES
Ekstrom’s two goals help Chiefs edge Silvertips on Wednesday Night in The Dub
Swedish import Rasmus Ekstrom scored twice as the Spokane Chiefs held off the Everett Silvertips for a big win on Wednesday Night in The Dub. – GAME STORY
McKenna and DuPont set to meet next on Wednesday Night in The Dub
Next week’s edition of Wednesday Night in The Dub features the next generations of star talent to grace the WHL, as Gavin McKenna and the Medicine Hat Tigers visit Landon DuPont and the Everett Silvertips. – WATCH ON YOUTUBE
WHL leads the way in Bob McKenzie’s Mid-season Draft Rankings
TSN’s Bob McKenzie has dropped his latest list of prospect rankings ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft, with 17 WHL players identified in the top 80, including Roger McQueen (Brandon Wheat Kings) and Jackson Smith (Tri-City Americans), among many more. – DETAILS
Rebels Owner / GM Sutter inducted in New York Islanders Hall of Fame
Brent Sutter just keeps adding to his list of accolades. Saturday night on Long Island, the two-time Stanley Cup winner was the latest to be inducted into the New York Islanders Hall of Fame. – STORY
Kraken prospect Catton named Tempo WHL Player of the Week
Berkly Catton can’t be stopped right now. The Saskatoon product was named Tempo WHL Player of the Week after accruing eight points (5G-3A) in three games this past week. – DETAILS
Lightning prospect Meneghin named WHL Goaltender of the Week
Harrison Meneghin is the WHL Goaltender of the Week after going 2-0-0-0 with a 0.96 GAA and .944 SV%. – DETAILS
Giants defenceman Lin named WHL Rookie of the Week
Vancouver Giants blueliner Ryan Lin is the latest WHL Rookie of the Week after recording four assists in two games this past week. – DETAILS
COMMUNITY CORNER
Winterhawks partner with You Can Play for Pride Night this Friday
The Portland Winterhawks fifth annual Pride Night is slated for this Friday when the Tri-City Americans visit Veterans Memorial Coliseum. – DETAILS
Oil Kings team up with Operation Friendship Seniors Society for ‘Sockuary’
The Edmonton Oil Kings have unveiled a new partnership with the Operation Friendship Seniors Society (OFSS), which will work to collect warm socks for seniors in need in the Edmonton area. – DETAILS
Raiders practice in small town of Birch Hills
The Prince Albert Raiders hit the road for practice this week, taking their talents to the small town of Birch Hills, Sask., located southeast of Prince Albert. – WATCH
Auction for Cougars Indigenous sweater goes live
The online auction for the Prince George Cougars 2025 Indigenous sweaters is now live, with proceeds from the auction supporting designing Dakelh artist Kobe Antoine and local charities of Lheidli T’enneh’s choosing. – DETAILS
Warriors visit Palliser Heights School for reading day
Members of the Moose Jaw Warriors stopped by Palliser Heights School to read to local children earlier this week. – PHOTOS
Blades take to ice with Hepburn Minor Hockey
Members of the Saskatoon Blades participated in a practice with Hepburn Minor Hockey Wednesday night, signing autographs and sharing some great McSweeney’s beef jerky. – PHOTO
Broncos visit Cabri School for dodgeball and gym sports
Rylan Gould and Connor Gabriel made a trip out to Cabri, Sask., visiting Grade 6-9 students at Cabri School for a day full of dodgeball, volleyball, basketball, and more. – PHOTOS
OTHER NEWS
Brothers, father face off for first ‘Darby Derby’ in Swift Current
This past Saturday, Portland Winterhawks Hudson and Griffin Darby returned to their hometown of Swift Current and took to the ice with their father, Regan, behind the bench for the Broncos. – STORY
CHL announces freeview schedule for Real Canadian Superstore Jersey Design Contest
There is another batch of free hockey coming your way, as 29 games across the CHL will be available for freeviewing on CHL TV as part of the Real Canadian Superstore Jersey Design Contest. – FULL DETAILS
Broncos sign Swedish import Morin to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement
The Swift Current Broncos bolstered their forward depth with the signing of CHL Import Draft selection William Morin this past week. – MORE INFO
Blades sign forward Halat to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement
The Saskatoon Blades have signed forward Adam Halat (2009) to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. The product of Okotoks, Alta., was acquired in a trade with the Calgary Hitmen in late December. – DETAILS
Hitmen announce ‘A Night with the Hitmen – 30 Years of Stories’
The Calgary Hitmen are set to host ‘A Night with the Hitmen – 30 Years of Stories’ on Thursday, March 6. The night will feature a hot stove hosted by Brad Curle and Brent Krahn, highlighting three decades of great stories. – DETAILS
Play-by-play legend Lazaruk gets own Bobblehead Night in Saskatoon
Les Lazaruk, the long tenured play-by-play voice of the Saskatoon Blades, is getting his own bobblehead Friday, January 31, when the Wenatchee Wild visit SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. The first 1,000 fans through the door will receive their own limited edition collectible, immortalizing Lazaruk. – DETAILS
WHL ALUMNI NEWS
Former Winterhawk Abols makes NHL debut at 29 years old
It was a long journey for Rodrigo Abols, but the former Portland Winterhawks import made his NHL debut at the age of 29 with the Philadelphia Flyers. – MORE
Seven WHL Alumni claim gold at 2025 FISU Winter World University Games
Canada won gold at the 2025 FISU Winter World University Games, thanks to the efforts of a strong contingent of WHL alumni, including former Tri-City Americans forward Sasha Mutala. – DETAILS
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Giants forward Muranov commits to Niagara University
Maxim Muranov is set to compete for Niagara University following the completion of his WHL eligibility. – DETAILS
Broncos forward Gould commits to Michigan Tech University
Swift Current Broncos alternate captain Tanner Gould is off to Michigan Tech University for 2026-27, upon the completion of his WHL eligibility. – DETAILS
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, January 24
Saskatoon at Prince Albert – 7 p.m. ST
Moose Jaw at Edmonton – 7 p.m. MT
Red Deer at Lethbridge – 7 p.m. MT
Tri-City at Portland – 7 p.m. PT
Kelowna at Kamloops – 7 p.m. PT
Brandon at Prince George – 7 p.m. PT
Everett at Wenatchee – 7 p.m. PT
Victoria at Seattle – 7:05 p.m. PT
Medicine Hat at Spokane – 7:05 p.m. PT
Saturday, January 25
Prince Albert at Regina – 6 p.m. ST
Calgary at Lethbridge – 6 p.m. MT
Moose Jaw at Red Deer – 7 p.m. MT
Kamloops at Prince George – 6 p.m. PT
Portland at Wenatchee – 6 p.m. PT
Seattle at Everett – 6:05 p.m. PT
Vancouver at Kelowna – 6:05 p.m. PT
Medicine Hat at Tri-City – 6:05 p.m. PT
Swift Current at Victoria – 6:05 p.m. PT
Sunday, January 26
Prince Albert at Saskatoon – 4 p.m. ST
Swift Current at Vancouver – 4 p.m. PT
Tri-City at Everett – 4:05 p.m. PT
Red Deer at Calgary – 6 p.m. MT
Lethbridge at Edmonton – 6 p.m. MT
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) 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.