[{"id":268125,"date":"2026-06-02T13:12:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T19:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=268125"},"modified":"2026-06-02T13:12:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T19:12:53","slug":"thirty-whl-alumni-participating-in-2026-stanley-cup-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/thirty-whl-alumni-participating-in-2026-stanley-cup-final","title":{"rendered":"Thirty WHL Alumni participating in 2026 Stanley Cup Final"},"content":{"rendered":"

CAROLINA HURRICANES LED BY BLAZERS ALUMNUS STANKOVEN; VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS CAPTAINED BY WHEAT KINGS ALUMNUS STONE<\/em><\/p>\n

Calgary, B.C. \u2013<\/strong> A total of 30 Western Hockey League alumni will compete in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, beginning Tuesday, June 2, in Raleigh, N.C.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Hurricanes will take to the ice with three forwards hailing from the WHL, including Seth Jarvis, Jordan Martinook, and Logan Stankoven.<\/p>\n

The Vegas Golden Knights roster features an impressive 12 WHL Alumni, including captain Mark Stone and defenceman Shea Theodore. The Golden Knights roster was constructed by General Manager Kelly McCrimmon, who previously served as the longtime GM and Owner of the WHL\u2019s Brandon Wheat Kings.<\/p>\n

\n

LIST OF WHL ALUMNI PARTICIPATING IN 2026 STANLEY CUP FINAL
\n<\/u><\/strong>(last WHL Club listed)<\/p>\n

Carolina Hurricanes (6)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Players (3):<\/strong> Seth Jarvis (Portland Winterhawks), Jordan Martinook (Vancouver Giants), Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers)<\/p>\n

Staff (3): <\/strong>Eric Fink (Amateur Scout; Portland Winterhawks), Cody Nickolet (Amateur Scout; Saskatoon Blades), Kevin McCarthy (Development Coach; Winnipeg Clubs)<\/p>\n

Vegas Golden Knights (24)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Players (12):<\/strong> Dylan Coghlan (Tri-City Americans), Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips), Adin Hill (Portland Winterhawks), Brett Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors), Keegan Kolesar (Seattle Thunderbirds), Kaedan Korczak (Kelowna Rockets), Brayden McNabb (Kootenay ICE), Akira Schmid (Lethbridge Hurricanes), Colton Sissons (Kelowna Rockets), Mark Stone (Brandon Wheat Kings), Shea Theodore (Seattle Thunderbirds), Kai Uchacz (Red Deer Rebels)<\/p>\n

Staff (12):<\/strong> Kelly McCrimmon (General Manager; Brandon Wheat Kings), Scott Boggs (Equipment Manager; Calgary Hitmen), Bob Lowes (Director of Player Personnel; Brandon Wheat Kings), Tim Speltz (General Manager, Henderson Silver Knights; Spokane Chiefs), Scott Luce (Senior Advisor; Moose Jaw Warriors), Jim McKenzie (Director of Professional Scouting; Victoria Cougars), Kelly Kisio (Pro Scout; Calgary Hitmen), Mick McCrimmon (Pro Scout; Brandon Wheat Kings), Craig Cunningham (Pro Scout; Portland Winterhawks), Bruno Campese (Amateur Scout; Kelowna Rockets), Brad McEwen (Amateur Scout; Medicine Hat Tigers), Nick Holden (Development Coach; Chilliwack Bruins)<\/p>\n

\n

KEY STORYLINES<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Former Warriors captain Howden powering Golden Knights<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Brett Howden, who played for the Moose Jaw Warriors from 2013-14 through 2017-18, has registered 12 points (10G-2A) in 16 playoff games this season. The 28-year-old product of Oakbank, Man., is tied for first in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 10 goals. Howden served as Warriors captain for two seasons (2016-17, 2017-18) and played in 248 career WHL regular season games, tallying 267 points (109G-158A). He was a member of the Golden Knights Stanley Cup championship squad in 2023.<\/p>\n

Former Blazers captain Stankoven driving Hurricanes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Logan Stankoven, who played for the Kamloops Blazers from 2018-19 through 2022-23, has registered 12 points (9G-3A) in 13 playoff games this season. The 23-year-old product of Kamloops, B.C., ranks third in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with nine goals. Stankoven served as Blazers captain for two seasons (2021-22, 2022-23) and played in 179 career WHL regular season games, tallying 260 points (115G-145A). He filled his trophy cabinet as a WHL star, being named WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player (2021-22), WHL Humanitarian of the Year (2022-23), WHL Player of the Year (2021-22), and CHL Player of the Year (2021-22). During the 2023 Memorial Cup in Kamloops, Stankoven led the tournament in scoring and was named Most Sportsmanlike Player.<\/p>\n

Former Silvertips netminder Hart backstopping Golden Knights<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Carter Hart, who played for the Everett Silvertips from 2013-14 through 2017-18, has backstopped the Golden Knights through the Stanley Cup Playoffs, going 12-4 with a 2.22 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. The 27-year-old product of Sherwood Park, Alta., was well decorated during his WHL career, being named WHL Goaltender of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18). He capped his WHL career by being named WHL Player of the Year in 2017-18. Over 190 career WHL appearances, Hart logged a record of 116-46-22 with a 2.01 GAA, .927 SV%, and 26 shutouts. Hart\u2019s 26 shutouts are tied for the most in WHL history, matching Tyson Sexsmith (Vancouver Giants).<\/p>\n

Former Thunderbirds defenceman Theodore provides two-way presence for Golden Knights<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Shea Theodore, who played for the Seattle Thunderbirds from 2010-11 though 2014-15, leads all NHL defencemen remaining in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 11 points (4G-7A) in 16 games. His 11 points are tied for fourth overall. The 30-year-old product of Langley, B.C., was named WHL Defenceman of the Year in 2014-15 and served as captain of the Thunderbirds that same season. Over 257 career WHL regular season contests, Theodore logged 212 points (58G-154A). He was a member of the Golden Knights Stanley Cup championship squad in 2023.<\/p>\n

Former Wheat Kings captain Stone leads Golden Knights in pursuit of second Stanley Cup<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark Stone, who played for the Brandon Wheat Kings from 2008-09 through 2011-12, serves as captain of the Vegas Golden Knights and has scored nearly a point per game with 10 points (5G-5A) in 11 outings. The 34-year-old product of Winnipeg, Man., was named WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player in 2011-12 and played 232 career WHL regular season games, registering 296 points (106G-190A) along the way. Stone previously captained the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup title in 2023.<\/p>\n

\n

2026 Stanley Cup Final Schedule<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuesday, June 2 at 8 p.m. ET \/ 6 p.m. MT \u2013 Vegas at Carolina
\nThursday, June 4 at 8 p.m. ET \/ 6 p.m. MT \u2013 Vegas at Carolina
\nSaturday, June 6 at 8 p.m. ET \/ 6 p.m. MT \u2013 Carolina at Vegas
\nTuesday, June 9 at 8 p.m. ET \/ 6 p.m. MT \u2013 Carolina at Vegas
\n*Thursday, June 11 at 8 p.m. ET \/ 6 p.m. MT \u2013 Vegas at Carolina
\n*Sunday, June 14 at 8 p.m. ET \/ 6 p.m. MT \u2013 Carolina at Vegas
\n*Wednesday, June 17 at 8 p.m. ET \/ 6 p.m. MT \u2013 Vegas at Carolina<\/p>\n

* = if necessary<\/em><\/p>\n

About the Western Hockey League<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regarded as the world\u2019s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 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 over 50 years. The WHL is also the 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\u2019s National Junior Hockey Team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hurricanes take to ice with three former WHL forwards, while Golden Knights boast impressive 12 former WHL players.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":268126,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":1773,"name":"Mark Stone","slug":"mark-stone","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1773,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw","term_order":"552"},{"term_id":1528,"name":"WHL to NHL","slug":"whl-to-nhl","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1528,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":117,"filter":"raw","term_order":"792"},{"term_id":970,"name":"logan stankoven","slug":"logan-stankoven","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":999,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1697"}],"class_list":["post-268125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-mark-stone","tag-whl-to-nhl","tag-logan-stankoven","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/02131231\/260602_SCF_Stone_Stankoven.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/116"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=268125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268125\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/268126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=268125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=268125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":268122,"date":"2026-06-01T12:58:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T18:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=268122"},"modified":"2026-06-01T12:58:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T18:58:01","slug":"rockets-executive-assistant-brown-recognized-with-whl-distinguished-service-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/rockets-executive-assistant-brown-recognized-with-whl-distinguished-service-award","title":{"rendered":"Rockets executive assistant Brown recognized with WHL Distinguished Service Award"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kelowna, B.C. \u2013<\/strong> Western Hockey League Commissioner Dan Near announced today, on behalf of the WHL Board of Governors, that Carrie Brown \u2013 Executive Assistant for the Kelowna Rockets \u2013 has been named the latest recipient of the WHL Distinguished Service Award for the 2025-26 WHL season.<\/p>\n

The WHL Distinguished Service Award, which was introduced by the WHL in 2004, is presented annually to the individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes on behalf of WHL franchises and in doing so have made an extraordinary contribution at the Club and League levels over an extended period. The WHL will present Distinguished Service Awards annually to an individual from both the WHL Western and Eastern Conferences.<\/p>\n

Brown was honoured by Commissioner Near and Bruce Hamilton, WHL Chairman of the Board and President \/ General Manager of the Kelowna Rockets, during Game 6 of the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince 1995, the Rockets inaugural season in Kelowna, Carrie has been a fixture in the Kelowna Rockets front office,\u201d commented WHL Commissioner Dan Near. \u201cEvery Club is fuelled by key personnel \u2013 who consistently provide a steady presence and support our Clubs\u2019 commitment to our communities. For the entirety of her career with the Rockets, Carrie has been that dedicated and passionate contributor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown, who hails from Kelowna, has worked for the Rockets for 30 years. From coordinating League-related matters and internal operations to supporting staff and players, Brown is organized and accessible. She works with great attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining the proud and strong history of the Rockets.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarrie is the heart and soul of our organization,\u201d said Bruce Hamilton, President and General Manager of the Rockets. \u201cShe is the steady presence in our office every single day, ensuring that the countless moving pieces of a WHL franchise operate smoothly. Carrie does the work that often goes unnoticed but is absolutely essential.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite simply, without Carrie Brown, the Kelowna Rockets would not be the organization we are today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown has helped to define the culture and success of the Rockets.<\/p>\n

Previous Recipients of the WHL Distinguished Service Award:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jerome Engele (Saskatoon Blades \u2013 Assistant Coach); Bob Schroeder (Portland Winterhawks \u2013 Off-Ice Official); Rob McCrea (Edmonton Oil Kings \u2013 Off-Ice Officials Supervisor); Glenda Zelmer (Brandon Wheat Kings \u2013 Education Advisor); Lucille McClung and Carol Carlson (Prince George Cougars \u2013 Core Volunteer Supervisors); Dr. Michael Bobyn (Kelowna Rockets \u2013 Team Doctor) \u2013 Bernie Bajnok (Calgary Hitmen \u2013 Education Advisor); Dean \u2018Scooter\u2019 Vrooman (Portland Winterhawks \u2013 Play-by-Play Announcer); Bernie Burtney (Saskatoon Blades \u2013 Off-Ice Officials); Gerry Bergen (Prince Albert Raiders \u2013 Off-Ice Officials); Dr. Bob Smillie (Kamloops Blazers \u2013 Team Physician); Bob Bartlett (Lethbridge Hurricanes \u2013\u00a0Director, Player Development); Sue Johnson (Portland Winterhawks \u2013 Education Advisor); Herman Elfring (Lethbridge Hurricanes \u2013 Board Member); Norbert Heinzelmann (Kelowna Rockets \u2013 Off-Ice Officials); Bill Sanderson (Victoria Royals \u2013 Off-Ice Officials); Bob McGill (Edmonton Oil Kings \u2013 Scout); Ralph Zander (Calgary Hitmen \u2013 Off-Ice Official); Terry Bonner (Vancouver Giants \u2013 Scouting Director); Dr. Mary Smith (Spokane Chiefs \u2013 Team Dentist); Dennis Coates (Kamloops Blazers \u2013 Volunteer Board Member); Judy Seher (Red Deer Rebels \u2013 Billet Coordinator); Balzer, Frank, Tony & John Lanz (Medicine Hat Tigers \u2013 Off-Ice Officials); Rose Mary Hartney (Moose Jaw Warriors \u2013 Education Advisor); Greg \u2018Spike\u2019 Wallace (Kamloops Blazers \u2013 Community & Sponsorship Coordinator); Nella Rounsville (Kootenay ICE \u2013 Education Advisor); Lorne Frey (Kelowna Rockets \u2013 Asst GM\/Head Scout); Graham Tuer (Saskatchewan Hockey Association \u2013 Volunteer); Jann Boss (Portland Winterhawks \u2013 Administration); Ruth \u201cGrams\u201d Pollock (Prince Albert Raiders \u2013 Billet Coordinator); Dr. Ian Hill (Regina Pats \u2013 Team Doctor); Dr. Alfred Blue (Seattle Thunderbirds \u2013 Team Doctor); Doris Rubel (Kamloops Blazers \u2013 Billet Coordinator); Colleen MacBean (Swift Current Broncos \u2013 Education Advisor); and Bob Ridley (Medicine Hat Tigers \u2013 Play-By-Play Announcer)<\/p>\n

About the Western Hockey League<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regarded as the world\u2019s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 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 over 50 years. The WHL is also the 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\u2019s National Junior Hockey Team.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kelowna, B.C. \u2013 Western Hockey League Commissioner Dan Near announced today, on behalf of the WHL Board of Governors, that Carrie Brown \u2013 Executive Assistant for the Kelowna Rockets \u2013 has been named the latest recipient of the WHL Distinguished Service Award for the 2025-26 WHL season. The WHL Distinguished Service Award, which was introduced…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":268124,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":33,"name":"kelowna rockets","slug":"kelowna-rockets","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":166,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1108,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1648"},{"term_id":651,"name":"WHL Distinguished Service Award","slug":"whl-distinguished-service-award","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":677,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":16,"filter":"raw","term_order":"2099"}],"class_list":["post-268122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-kelowna-rockets","tag-whl-distinguished-service-award","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/01125640\/Memorial-Cup_1920.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/116"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=268122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268122\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/268124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=268122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=268122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":268115,"date":"2026-05-31T21:41:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T03:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=268115"},"modified":"2026-05-31T22:09:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T04:09:42","slug":"silvertips-concede-in-memorial-cup-final-to-ohls-kitchener-rangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/silvertips-concede-in-memorial-cup-final-to-ohls-kitchener-rangers","title":{"rendered":"Silvertips concede in Memorial Cup final to OHL’s Kitchener Rangers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kelowna, B.C.-\u00a0<\/strong>A historic season for one of the WHL’s most consistent clubs has come to an end.<\/p>\n

After setting a franchise record for wins (57), collecting a second-straight regular season title and the club’s first WHL Championship, the Everett Silvertips fell 6-2 to the Kitchener Rangers in the Memorial Cup Final.<\/p>\n

“We rode this train as long as we could,” 2026 WHL Coach of the Year Steve Hamilton said. “We played 91 games and never lost back-to-back. I don’t know if any other teams can say that. Incredibly proud of our group. I mean, we’re WHL champions. This is the greatest team in Everett Silvertips history.”<\/p>\n

NHL Draft-eligible Matias Vanhanen (NHL CSS: 54) and Landon DuPont, the WHL’s first exceptional-status defenceman, were also named to the 2026 Memorial Cup All-Star Team.<\/p>\n

Everett reached the title match in its tournament debut, despite having the fewest NHL prospects (five) of any of the four participating teams.<\/p>\n

Vanhanen and Detroit Red Wings first-round pick Carter Bear netted the team’s pair against the OHL champs.<\/p>\n

The Blueshirts were first on the board in front of a sold-out crowd at Prospera Place.<\/p>\n

Alexander Bilecki drove a long shot on net, where Ottawa Senators pick Luke Ellinas was all alone to tip a shot off his skate and past Anders Miller.<\/p>\n

But the Silvertips answered back on the very next shift.<\/p>\n

Vanhanen burst over the blue line before passing off to DuPont, who whipped a shot on San Jose Sharks prospect Christian Kirsch.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly attempted to collect the rebound, but Vanhanen was in a perfect position to swat the loose puck into the net for his fourth goal of the tournament.<\/p>\n

With the primary assist, DuPont tied former Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa for most points by an exceptional-status skater in the Memorial Cup with five.<\/p>\n

\n

WHAT A RESPONSE FROM THE TIPS!!! \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8<\/p>\n

Matias Vanhanen (2026 #NHLDraft<\/a> Eligible Prospect) gets his 4th of the #MemorialCup<\/a> and evens things up. <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 TSN 1\/3\/4 | RDS
\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 NHL Network | Victory+@WHLsilvertips<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3f3Y6qat2f<\/a><\/p>\n

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n