[{"id":267274,"date":"2026-04-09T14:59:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T20:59:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=267274"},"modified":"2026-04-09T14:59:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T20:59:21","slug":"series-preview-kelowna-rockets-vs-everett-silvertips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/series-preview-kelowna-rockets-vs-everett-silvertips","title":{"rendered":"SERIES PREVIEW: Kelowna Rockets vs. Everett Silvertips"},"content":{"rendered":"

On paper, it wouldn’t be crazy to see this series as a potential Memorial Cup matchup.<\/p>\n

The regular-season champion Everett Silvertips are coming off the winningest season in franchise history, while the Kelowna Rockets have caught fire as they prepare to host the 2026 Memorial Cup.<\/p>\n

Both teams are coming off statement first-round sweeps.<\/p>\n

Everett found some playoff absolution by downing the rival Portland Winterhawks, who had eliminated the Silvertips for the last three years.<\/p>\n

Kelowna flexed just how far their group has come by taking out their longtime foes, the Kamloops Blazers.<\/p>\n

The Silvertips are tied for most playoff goals in 2026 with 25, though no skater has more than four (a credit belonging to Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen).<\/p>\n

A staggering 14 Everett skaters have lit the lamp, including draft-eligible Matias Vanhanen, the WHL’s first exceptional-status defenceman, Landon DuPont, and Florida Panthers prospect Shea Busch, who scored in his return to the lineup after being sidelined since October with an injury.<\/p>\n

Eight Silvertips have recorded multi-goal outings.<\/p>\n

It’s a sharp contrast to the Rockets, who are the fourth-highest scoring team with 21 tallies, 11 of which have come from superstars Tij Iginla, a Utah Mammoth prospect, and Los Angeles Kings pick Vojtech Cihar.<\/p>\n

Cihar, who was named MVP at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, is second in goals across the league with six in four games, while alternate captain Iginla is a hair behind with five.<\/p>\n

The duo is tied for second-most points with 10 each.<\/p>\n

On the back end,\u00a0Everett has allowed a league-low five goals while Kelowna has the second-fewest with eight.<\/p>\n

Beyond standout netminders Anders Miller and Harrison Boettiger, both teams boast defensive corps that would be the envy of any major junior team.<\/p>\n

DuPont and Anaheim Ducks prospect Tarin Smith, along with draft-eligible Brek Liske and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Luke Vlooswyk, helped make Everett the stingiest team in the West in the regular season.<\/p>\n

Kelowna loaded up with active WHL games-played leader Mazden Leslie, who was a finalist for Defenceman of the Year in 2025, Vancouver Canucks prospect Parker Alcos, and 2026 WHL Trade Deadline pickup Keith McInnis.<\/p>\n

Everett swept the regular-season series between these teams with four wins, though two were decided by a single goal, and only one meeting came after the 2026 WHL Trade Deadline.<\/p>\n

On the awards front, Iginla and DuPont have both been named to the 2025-26 WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team, while Smith, Miettinen and Bear all earned berths on the Second All-Star squad.<\/p>\n

Vanhanen is in the running for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for WHL Rookie of the Year and the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy for Most Sportsmanlike Player.<\/p>\n

Silvertips goaltender Raiden LeGall and Rockets forward Shane Smith are finalists for the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy for Humanitarian of the Year.<\/p>\n

On the staff side, Silvertips bench boss Steve Hamilton has gotten the nod as a finalist for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy for Coach of the Year, and General Managers Mike Fraser (Everett) and Bruce Hamilton (Kelowna) are finalists for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy for Executive of the Year.<\/p>\n

This marks the fourth time these teams have met in the postseason and the first time since 2010, when Kelowna edged Everett 2-1 in Game 7 of a first-round series.<\/p>\n

All three previous playoff meetings have required at least six games, including a seven-game showdown in the 2004 Western Conference Championship that saw Everett move on to the league final in its inaugural season.<\/p>\n

Angel of the Winds Arena will host Game 1 on Friday, April 10, at 7:05 p.m. PST, before the series shifts to the Okanagan and Prospera Place for Game 3 on Tuesday, April 14, at 7:05 p.m. PST.<\/p>\n

STAT PACK<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nKelowna Rockets<\/strong><\/td>\nEverett Silvertips<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Record<\/strong><\/td>\n38-21-6-3 (3rd B.C.)<\/td>\n57-8-2-1 (1st U.S.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Playoff Leaders<\/strong><\/td>\nVojtech Cihar (6G-4A, 10 pts)<\/p>\n

Tij Iginla (5G-5A, 10 pts)<\/p>\n

Nate Corbet (1G-3A, 4 pts)<\/td>\n

Julius Miettinen (4G-2A, 6 pts)<\/p>\n

Matias Vanhanen (3G-3A, 6 pts)<\/p>\n

Landon DuPont (2G-4A, 6 pts)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Season Leaders<\/b><\/td>\nTij Iginla (41G-49A, 90 pts)<\/p>\n

Carson Wetsch (22G-50A, 72 pts)<\/p>\n

Shane Smith (33G-35A, 68 pts)<\/td>\n

Matias Vanhanen (21G-66A, 87 pts)<\/p>\n

Carter Bear (36G-41A, 77 pts)<\/p>\n

Julius Miettinen (35G-41A, 76 pts)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Leading Goaltender (Playoffs)<\/strong><\/td>\nHarrison Boettiger (4-0-0), 2.00 GAA, .934 save percentage)<\/td>\nAnders Miller (4-0-0, 1.25 GAA, .949 save percentage, one shutout)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Power<\/strong>\u00a0Play (Playoffs)<\/strong><\/td>\n25% (8th)<\/td>\n29.4% (5th)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Penalty Kill (Playoffs)<\/strong><\/td>\n80% (7th)<\/td>\n70% (13th)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First Round<\/strong><\/td>\nDef. Kamloops (4-0)<\/td>\nDef. Portland (4-0)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Last WHL Championship<\/strong><\/td>\n2015<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

2025-26 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
\n<\/strong>Everett leads 4-0-0-0<\/p>\n

October 18, 2025- Everett 3<\/strong>, Kelowna 2
\nNovember 16, 2025- Kelowna 2, Everett 3<\/strong> (OT)
\nNovember 21, 2025- Everett 6<\/strong>, Kelowna 3
\nJanuary 21, 2026- Kelowna 3, Everett 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

GAME BREAKERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kelowna:\u00a0<\/b>Vojtech Cihar has been unstoppable since making tracks for Kelowna after World Juniors. The 6-foot, 181-pound winger netted 31 points (12G-19A) in 31 regular-season games and has exploded for 10 points (6G-4A) in four postseason contests- including a one-goal, three-assist effort in Game 3 against the Blazers. However, the 19-year-old did not get a point in his lone game against the Silvertips on January 21, 2026. If recent history is any indicator, it could simply be a matter of when, not if, he scores his first goal against Everett.<\/p>\n

Everett: <\/strong>Julius Miettinen has beefed up his resume as a formidable netfront presence to include a slew of end-to-end highlight-reel goals. The 6-foot-4, 207-pound centreman leads Everett with six points (4G-2A), including the game-winning goal in Game 3 against the Winterhawks. Miettinen only suited up for two games against Kelowna in the regular season (he missed one match with a day-to-day upper body injury and another with an illness), but picked up a goal and three assists in that short span.<\/p>\n

GOALTENDING<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Kelowna:\u00a0<\/b>Harrison Boettiger has brought a tremendous presence to the Rockets’ crease as he’s settled into the WHL life. The draft-eligible netminder is fourth among all goalies with a 2.00 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in four postseason contests. Whether it was by design or a matter of schedule, Boettiger hasn’t played the ‘Tips often in his rookie season. The 18-year-old is 0-1-0-0 against Everett with a 3.13 GAA and .929 save percentage, having made one start (a 5-3 loss that included an empty-netter) and one relief appearance that saw Boettiger stop 28 of 29 shots.<\/p>\n

Everett:\u00a0<\/strong>Anders Miller leads all WHL goaltenders in playoff GAA (1.25) and save percentage (.949), while adding a 19-save shutout in Round One. The Anchorage, Alaska product owns a sparkling 4-0-0-0 record against Kelowna in the regular season with a 2.50 GAA and .912 save percentage, including a 35-save effort in a 3-2 win on October 18. The 19-year-old may not face a ton of rubber thanks to Everett’s stingy defensive play, but he’s been more than up to the task when needed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

X-FACTOR<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Kelowna:\u00a0<\/b>Rockets captain Carson Wetsch brings sandpaper and stealth to the ice on a nightly basis. The San Jose Sharks prospect has already logged two goals in the postseason and is looking for more. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound winger is coming off a career-best 72-point (22G-50A) season in the Okanagan, though he didn’t hit the scoresheet against Everett in four regular-season meetings. With 80 regular-season penalty minutes under his belt, Wetsch has shown he’s capable of getting opponents off their game while teeing up his own squad.<\/p>\n

Everett:\u00a0<\/strong>Casual reminder. Landon DuPont is among the WHL’s top defencemen at just 16 years old. After his CHL Rookie of the Year campaign in 2024-25, DuPont has popped off for 73 points (18G-55A) in 63 regular-season outings, tying for fourth among all WHL defenders in points. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound rearguard notched four points (2G-2A) in four games against Portland and had three points (2G-1A) against Kelowna in the regular season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

SERIES SCHEDULE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Game<\/strong><\/td>\nVisitor<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nHome<\/strong><\/td>\nDay<\/strong><\/td>\nDate<\/strong><\/td>\nTime<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nKelowna<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nEverett<\/td>\nFriday<\/td>\nApril 10<\/td>\n7:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nKelowna<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nEverett<\/td>\nSaturday<\/td>\nApril 11<\/td>\n6:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nEverett<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nKelowna<\/td>\nTuesday<\/td>\nApril 14<\/td>\n7:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nEverett<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nKelowna<\/td>\nWednesday<\/td>\nApril 15<\/td>\n7:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5*<\/td>\nKelowna<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nEverett<\/td>\nFriday<\/td>\nApril 17<\/td>\n7:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6*<\/td>\nEverett<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nKelowna<\/td>\nSunday<\/td>\nApril 19<\/td>\n5:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7*<\/td>\nKelowna<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nEverett<\/td>\nTuesday<\/td>\nApril 21<\/td>\n7:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

* = if necessary<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On paper, it wouldn’t be crazy to see this series as a potential Memorial Cup matchup. The regular-season champion Everett Silvertips are coming off the winningest season in franchise history, while the Kelowna Rockets have caught fire as they prepare to host the 2026 Memorial Cup. Both teams are coming off statement first-round sweeps. Everett…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":487,"featured_media":267340,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2300,"name":"2026 WHL Playoffs","slug":"2026-whl-playoffs","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2300,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":143,"filter":"raw","term_order":"28"},{"term_id":36,"name":"everett silvertips","slug":"everett-silvertips","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":180,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1156,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1438"},{"term_id":33,"name":"kelowna 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announces finalists for Four Broncos Memorial Trophy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Calgary, Alta. \u2013<\/strong> The Western Hockey League announced today the 2025-26 finalists for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL\u2019s Player of the Year.<\/p>\n

The most prestigious individual award in the WHL, the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy is named in memory of the four members of the Swift Current Broncos who died in a tragic bus crash December 30, 1986. Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka, and Brent Ruff all died when the Broncos bus crashed while en route to a game in Regina.<\/p>\n

Finalists for WHL Awards are voted upon by WHL General Managers.<\/p>\n

Winners of 2026 WHL Awards will be announced from Tuesday, April 21, through Wednesday, May 6.<\/p>\n

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Eastern Conference Finalists<\/p>\n

Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat Tigers
\nLiam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
\nMarkus Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers<\/p>\n

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Western Conference Finalists<\/p>\n

JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
\nTij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets
\nCameron Schmidt, Seattle Thunderbirds<\/p>\n

Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat Tigers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 19-year-old product of Chauvin, Alta., had a breakout campaign, registering 45 goals, 83 points, and a plus-55 rating in 55 games as captain of the Tigers. The 6-foot-1, 186-pound right-shot blueliner\u2019s 45 goals were tied for second in the WHL, while his 83 points finished second among all WHL defencemen. With 11 game-winning goals, the smooth-skating defender finished tied for first in among all WHL skaters. \u00a0Pickford\u2019s 45 goals set a Medicine Hat Tigers franchise record for goals by a defenceman, surpassing the previous mark of 32 set by Kris Russell in 2006-07. A two-time WHL Champion (Seattle \u2013 2023; Medicine Hat \u2013 2025), Pickford was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round (81st overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft. Originally selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the second round (38th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Pickford has played 224 career WHL regular season games, tallying 165 points (73G-92A).<\/p>\n

Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 18-year-old product of Osoyoos, B.C., finished second in WHL scoring with 104 points (45G-59A) in 68 games. The 6-foot, 175-pound right winger\u2019s 45 goals were tied for second in the WHL, while his 59 assists ranked fifth across the League. Ruck\u2019s 16 power-play goals were tied for third best in the WHL, and his 10 game-winning goals were also tied for third in the League. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Ruck is ranked 26th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting\u2019s midterm rankings. In November, he was selected to represent Team CHL at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. He followed that in February by being named to Team East for the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Originally selected by the Tigers in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Ruck has skated in 132 career WHL regular season games, recording 147 points (71G-76A). Ruck was a member of the Tigers 2025 WHL Championship.<\/p>\n

Markus Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 18-year-old product of Osoyoos, B.C., and twin brother of Liam, finished first in WHL scoring with 108 points (21G-87A) in 68 games. The 6-foot, 167-pound centre\u2019s 87 assists were tops in the WHL this season, leading the next best skater by 21. Ruck\u2019s 38 power-play assists were best in the WHL. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Ruck is ranked 31st among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting\u2019s midterm rankings. In February, he was selected to represent Team East for the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Originally selected by the Tigers in the first round (21st overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Ruck has played in 132 career WHL regular season games, tallying 137 points (29G-108A). Ruck was a member of the Tigers 2025 WHL Championship.<\/p>\n

JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 17-year-old product of Allen, Texas, exploded onto the WHL as a rookie, posting 97 points (42G-55A) in 68 games with the Blazers. Hurlbert\u2019s 97 points were fourth in the WHL, while his 42 goals were tied for fourth. He led all WHL rookies in scoring. The 6-foot, 182-pound right winger served as an alternate captain for the Blazers in his first WHL season. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Hurlbert is ranked 10th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting\u2019s midterm rankings. The first-year WHL forward was named to Team CHL for the CHL USA Prospects Challenge in November, before representing Team West in the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. He was originally selected by the Blazers in the first round (20th overall) of the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.<\/p>\n

Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 19-year-old product of Lake Country, B.C., returned following an injury-shortened 2024-25 season to lead the WHL in points per game (1.88), registering 90 points (41G-49A) in 48 games with the Rockets. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound centre established new career highs in both assists and points, best his previous marks from 2023-24 when he tallied 37 assists and 84 points in 64 games. Iginla finished sixth in both goals and points among all WHL skaters. Selected by the Utah Mammoth in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, Iginla has played 184 career WHL regular season games, posting 225 points (108G-117A). Prior to arriving in Kelowna, he was a member of Seattle\u2019s 2023 WHL Championship squad. Iginla was originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.<\/p>\n

Cameron Schmidt, Seattle Thunderbirds<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 19-year-old product of Prince George, B.C., finished third in WHL scoring with 100 points. He was one of only three WHL players to reach the 100-point plateau and was the lone WHL player to register 50 goals in 2025-26. Having split the season between the Vancouver Giants and Thunderbirds, the 5-foot-8, 158-pound right winger finished tied for first in the WHL with 11 game-winning goals. Selected by the Dallas Stars in the third round (94th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft, Schmidt has collected 237 points (123G-114A) in 195 career WHL regular season games. Schmidt was originally selected by the Giants in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.<\/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":"

The Four Broncos Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the WHL Player of the Year. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":267331,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2318,"name":"2026 WHL Awards","slug":"2026-whl-awards","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2318,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw","term_order":"13"},{"term_id":2164,"name":"JP Hurlbert","slug":"jp-hurlbert","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2164,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":23,"filter":"raw","term_order":"139"},{"term_id":1702,"name":"Bryce Pickford","slug":"bryce-pickford","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1702,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":28,"filter":"raw","term_order":"589"},{"term_id":1478,"name":"Liam Ruck","slug":"liam-ruck","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1478,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":31,"filter":"raw","term_order":"798"},{"term_id":1479,"name":"Markus Ruck","slug":"markus-ruck","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1479,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":20,"filter":"raw","term_order":"799"},{"term_id":1404,"name":"Cameron Schmidt","slug":"cameron-schmidt","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1404,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":45,"filter":"raw","term_order":"865"},{"term_id":1181,"name":"Tij Iginla","slug":"tij-iginla","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1181,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":66,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1077"},{"term_id":40,"name":"kamloops blazers","slug":"kamloops-blazers","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":82,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1182,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1607"},{"term_id":33,"name":"kelowna rockets","slug":"kelowna-rockets","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":166,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1086,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1616"},{"term_id":30,"name":"medicine hat tigers","slug":"medicine-hat-tigers","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":185,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1194,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1715"},{"term_id":26,"name":"seattle thunderbirds","slug":"seattle-thunderbirds","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":175,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1317,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1911"}],"class_list":["post-267327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-2026-whl-awards","tag-jp-hurlbert","tag-bryce-pickford","tag-liam-ruck","tag-markus-ruck","tag-cameron-schmidt","tag-tij-iginla","tag-kamloops-blazers","tag-kelowna-rockets","tag-medicine-hat-tigers","tag-seattle-thunderbirds","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/09115412\/POTY_Finalists-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\/267327","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=267327"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267327\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/267331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=267327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=267327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=267327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":267326,"date":"2026-04-09T10:55:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T16:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=267326"},"modified":"2026-04-09T10:55:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T16:55:09","slug":"whl-announces-finalists-for-bill-hunter-memorial-trophy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/whl-announces-finalists-for-bill-hunter-memorial-trophy-2","title":{"rendered":"WHL announces finalists for Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Calgary, Alta. \u2013<\/strong> The Western Hockey League announced today the 2025-26 finalists for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL\u2019s Defenceman of the Year<\/p>\n

Bill Hunter was a founder and builder of the WHL. He served as Owner, General Manager, and Coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings from 1966 through 1972, while also serving as the first Chairman of the Board for the WHL. Hunter was the driving force that kept the WHL at the forefront of Major Junior hockey in Canada.<\/p>\n

Finalists for WHL Awards are voted upon by WHL General Managers.<\/p>\n

Winners of 2026 WHL Awards will be announced from Tuesday, April 21, through Wednesday, May 6.<\/p>\n

Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Eastern Conference Finalists<\/p>\n

Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat Tigers
\nJonas Woo, Medicine Hat Tigers
\nDaxon Rudolph, Prince Albert Raiders<\/p>\n

Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Western Conference Finalists<\/p>\n

Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
\nTarin Smith, Everett Silvertips
\nCarson Carels, Prince George Cougars<\/p>\n

Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat Tigers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 19-year-old product of Chauvin, Alta., had a breakout campaign, registering 45 goals, 83 points, and a plus-55 rating in 55 games as captain of the Tigers. The 6-foot-1, 186-pound right-shot blueliner\u2019s 45 goals were tied for second in the WHL, while his 83 points finished second among all WHL defencemen. With 11 game-winning goals, the smooth-skating defender finished tied for first in among all WHL skaters. \u00a0Pickford\u2019s 45 goals set a Medicine Hat Tigers franchise record for goals by a defenceman, surpassing the previous mark of 32 set by Kris Russell in 2006-07. A two-time WHL Champion (Seattle \u2013 2023; Medicine Hat \u2013 2025), Pickford was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round (81st overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft. Originally selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the second round (38th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Pickford has played 224 career WHL regular season games, tallying 165 points (73G-92A).<\/p>\n

Jonas Woo, Medicine Hat Tigers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 19-year-old product of Winnipeg, Man., posted a career best campaign, logging 86 points (29G-57A) in 56 games to lead all WHL defencemen in scoring. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound right shot blueliner\u2019s 29 goals were second among all WHL rearguards, while his 57 assists were tops among defencemen across the League. With four shorthanded goals to his credit, Woo finished tied for first among all WHL players. Originally selected by the Winnipeg ICE in the first round (18th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Woo has played 259 career WHL regular season games, securing 187 points (51G-136A). He helped the Tigers claim the WHL Championship in 2025.<\/p>\n

Daxon Rudolph, Prince Albert Raiders<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 18-year-old product of Lacombe, Alta., posted incredible numbers in his NHL Draft season, including 28 goals and 78 points, along with a plus-32 rating for the East Division champion Raiders. Rudolph\u2019s 28 goals and 78 points both finished third among all WHL defencemen. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound right-shot blueliner tied a Raiders franchise record for goals by a defenceman, matching the mark established by Josh Morrissey in 2013-14. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Rudolph is ranked sixth among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting\u2019s midterm rankings. In November, Rudolph was selected to represent Team CHL at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. He followed that up in February by captaining Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Originally selected first overall by the Raiders in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Rudolph has played 132 career WHL regular season games, tallying 119 points (35G-84A).<\/p>\n

Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 16-year-old product of Calgary, Alta., registered career highs in all major offensive categories, including 18 goals, 55 assists, 73 points, and a plus-59 rating in 63 games this season. DuPont\u2019s 73 points were tied for fourth among all WHL rearguards, while his 55 assists were tied for second. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound right-shot blueliner took home the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year in 2024-25 having entered the WHL at 15 years old after being granted Exceptional Player Status by Hockey Canada. DuPont tallied 28 power-play assists in 2025-26, good enough for second in the entire WHL. Eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft, DuPont has played 127 career WHL regular season games, collecting 133 points (35G-98A) and a plus-90 rating. He was selected by the Silvertips with the first overall pick in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.<\/p>\n

Tarin Smith, Everett Silvertips<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 20-year-old product of Porcupine Plain, Sask., enjoyed his best WHL season yet, scoring 71 points (16G-55A) in 65 games while serving as captain of the Silvertips. Smith\u2019s 55 assists left him tied for second among all WHL defencemen. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound left-shot blueliner was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round (79th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. In 208 career WHL regular season games, Smith has secured 176 points (41G-135A). Smith was originally selected by the Silvertips in the first round (20th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.<\/p>\n

Carson Carels, Prince George Cougars<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 17-year-old product of Cypress River, Man., emerged as a dominant force in 2025-26, recording 73 points (20G-53A) in 58 games. Carels\u2019 73 points tied for fourth among WHL blueliners, while he was one of only six rearguards to reach the 20-goal plateau. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound left-shot Carels is ranked third among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting\u2019s midterm rankings. In November, he was selected to represent Team CHL in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. Come February, Carels was named captain of Team West for the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Originally selected by the Cougars in the first round (16th overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Carels has played 125 career WHL regular season games, securing 111 points (26G-85A).<\/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":"

The Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the WHL’s Defenceman of the Year. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":267330,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2318,"name":"2026 WHL Awards","slug":"2026-whl-awards","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2318,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw","term_order":"13"},{"term_id":1702,"name":"Bryce Pickford","slug":"bryce-pickford","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1702,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":28,"filter":"raw","term_order":"589"},{"term_id":1596,"name":"Jonas Woo","slug":"jonas-woo","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1596,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":12,"filter":"raw","term_order":"690"},{"term_id":1510,"name":"Carson Carels","slug":"carson-carels","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1510,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":30,"filter":"raw","term_order":"776"},{"term_id":1494,"name":"Daxon Rudolph","slug":"daxon-rudolph","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1494,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":35,"filter":"raw","term_order":"785"},{"term_id":1365,"name":"Tarin Smith","slug":"tarin-smith","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1365,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw","term_order":"900"},{"term_id":1265,"name":"Landon DuPont","slug":"landon-dupont","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1265,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":44,"filter":"raw","term_order":"995"},{"term_id":36,"name":"everett silvertips","slug":"everett-silvertips","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":180,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1156,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1438"},{"term_id":30,"name":"medicine hat tigers","slug":"medicine-hat-tigers","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":185,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1194,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1715"},{"term_id":39,"name":"prince albert raiders","slug":"prince-albert-raiders","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":206,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1121,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1814"},{"term_id":28,"name":"prince george cougars","slug":"prince-george-cougars","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":162,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1079,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1816"}],"class_list":["post-267326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-2026-whl-awards","tag-bryce-pickford","tag-jonas-woo","tag-carson-carels","tag-daxon-rudolph","tag-tarin-smith","tag-landon-dupont","tag-everett-silvertips","tag-medicine-hat-tigers","tag-prince-albert-raiders","tag-prince-george-cougars","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/09101323\/DOTY_Finalists-1920-NO-REMAX.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\/267326","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=267326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267326\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/267330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=267326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=267326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=267326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":267317,"date":"2026-04-08T17:04:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T23:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=267317"},"modified":"2026-04-08T17:04:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T23:04:30","slug":"2026-player-tracker-whl-to-ahl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/2026-player-tracker-whl-to-ahl","title":{"rendered":"2026 Player Tracker: WHL to AHL"},"content":{"rendered":"

As WHL seasons wrap up, NHL prospects and WHL free agents can be invited to compete with professional hockey clubs in the American Hockey League via assignment from their NHL teams or by signing Amateur Tryout Agreements (ATOs). The WHL will keep track of these opportunities until the conclusion of the AHL season.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n

F- Luke Mistelbacher- Belleville Senators- ATO*<\/p>\n

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

D- Harrison Brunicke- Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins- Reassigned<\/p>\n

F- Tommy Lafreniere- Bakersfield Condors- ATO<\/p>\n

MOOSE JAW WARRIORS<\/strong><\/p>\n

G- Chase Wutzke- Iowa Wild- Reassigned<\/p>\n

PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS<\/strong><\/p>\n

F- Ryan Miller- Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins- ATO<\/p>\n

SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

D- Radim Mrtka- Rochester Americans- Reassigned<\/p>\n

TRI-CITY AMERICANS<\/strong><\/p>\n

D- Charlie Elick- Cleveland Monsters- Reassigned<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*Mistelbacher signed an AHL contract that will take effect at the start of the 2026-27 season<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As WHL seasons wrap up, NHL prospects and WHL free agents can be invited to compete with professional hockey clubs in the American Hockey League via assignment from their NHL teams or by signing Amateur Tryout Agreements (ATOs). The WHL will keep track of these opportunities until the conclusion of the AHL season.\u00a0 BRANDON WHEAT…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":487,"featured_media":267328,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":1275,"name":"Player Tracker","slug":"player-tracker","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1275,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw","term_order":"983"},{"term_id":1276,"name":"American Hockey League","slug":"american-hockey-league","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1276,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw","term_order":"984"},{"term_id":1277,"name":"ATO","slug":"ato","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1277,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw","term_order":"985"}],"class_list":["post-267317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-player-tracker","tag-american-hockey-league","tag-ato","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/08170416\/WHLtoAHL_Tracker.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\/267317","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\/487"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=267317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/267328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=267317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=267317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=267317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":267322,"date":"2026-04-08T13:56:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T19:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=267322"},"modified":"2026-04-08T13:56:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T19:56:11","slug":"whl-announces-finalists-for-doug-wickenheiser-memorial-trophy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/whl-announces-finalists-for-doug-wickenheiser-memorial-trophy-2","title":{"rendered":"WHL announces finalists for Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Calgary, Alta. \u2013<\/strong> The Western Hockey League announced today the 2025-26 finalists for the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL\u2019s Humanitarian of the Year<\/p>\n

The Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy recognizes the work players do to help enhance the community in which they play in. The trophy was named in honour of former Regina Pats forward Doug Wickenheiser in May 2001, as recognition for his contributions on and off the ice.<\/p>\n

Finalists for WHL Awards are voted upon by WHL General Managers.<\/p>\n

Winners of 2026 WHL Awards will be announced from Tuesday, April 21, through Wednesday, May 6.<\/p>\n

Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Eastern Conference Finalists<\/p>\n

Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
\nAxel Hurtig, Calgary Hitmen
\nBrady Ness and Ethan Semeniuk, Moose Jaw Warriors<\/p>\n

Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Western Conference Finalists<\/p>\n

Raiden LeGall, Everett Silvertips
\nShane Smith, Kelowna Rockets
\nCarter Esler, Spokane Chiefs<\/p>\n

Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 20-year-old product of Fort St. John, B.C., went 25-16-4-2 with a 2.96 goals-against average, .902 save percentage, and three shutouts in a career-high 52 appearances. Selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round (60th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, Gardner finished among WHL goaltending leaders in shutouts (T-7th) and wins (T-8th).<\/p>\n

Living with Type 1 diabetes, Gardner has been a passionate voice for awareness, raising funds for Diabetes Canada and educating youth through school visits and outreach initiatives. He expanded his community efforts with an autism awareness campaign this season, auctioning off goaltending equipment to support local charitable programs. Outside his dedication and advocacy around diabetes and autism, Gardner committed significant time to hospital visits, minor hockey, and more.<\/p>\n

Axel Hurtig, Calgary Hitmen<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 20-year-old product of Hogas, Sweden, enjoyed a career season on the ice, registering 19 points (6G-13A) in 64 games. Selected by the Calgary Flames in the seventh round (208th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, Hurtig served as the 33rd captain in Hitmen history this past season.<\/p>\n

Hurtig\u2019s leadership extended off the ice and away from the rink. He was deeply involved in HEROS Hockey, a volunteer-driven charity that teaches life skills and empowers marginalized youth through hockey. Off the ice, Hurtig delivered a large-scale, online educational program on the importance of health and wellness, to more than 100 schools reaching 1,600+ students in partnership with the Calgary Public Library. This season, Hurtig became the face of Farley\u2019s Friends \u2013 an initiative that welcomed groups from Kids Up Front, an organization focused on enriching the lives of kids and their families, mentors, foster parents, and friends by giving them the opportunity to create lifelong memories. Hurtig has also served as a Hockey Gives Blood ambassador to raise awareness about blood donation.<\/p>\n

Brady Ness and Ethan Semeniuk, Moose Jaw Warriors<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ness \u2013 a 19-year-old product of Sedgewick, Alta. \u2013 served as captain of the Warriors and posted 14 points (3G-11A) in 62 games.<\/p>\n

Semeniuk \u2013 a 20-year-old product of Calgary, Alta., \u2013 enjoyed a career campaign, tallying 43 points (16G-27A) in 63 games.<\/p>\n

Off the ice, Ness and Semeniuk worked together to demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service. Throughout the season, Ness and Semeniuk volunteered regularly with Moose Jaw Diversified Services \u2013 a non-profit organization that provides person-centred programs for adults with intellectual disabilities, focusing on quality of life through vocational training, life skills development, volunteerism, and recreational activities. Ness and Semeniuk eventually expanded their efforts with Moose Jaw Diversified Services to include the entire Warriors team.<\/p>\n

Outside Moose Jaw Diversified Services, Ness and Semeniuk regularly participated in school visits, minor hockey practices, and volunteered with the Moose Jaw Humane Society.<\/p>\n

Raiden LeGall, Everett Silvertips<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 19-year-old product of Morden, Man., had a career season in Everett, going 27-4-2-1 with a 2.80 goals-against average and two shutouts.<\/p>\n

In the community, LeGall showed leadership and compassion through his \u201cBrick in LeWall\u201d mental health initiative, which raised more than $14,000 for Camp Erin \u2013 a Washington-based bereavement camp for children who have lost a loved one \u2013 and Eden Health Care Services \u2013 a non-profit organization in Manitoba, providing comprehensive mental health services. LeGall\u2019s campaign was inspired by his goalie coach, Tim Morison, who dealt with depression after he and his wife had a stillborn son in 2022.<\/p>\n

In addition to his \u201cBrick in LeWall\u201d initiative, LeGall involved himself in the Everett community through school visits, youth coaching, and other local fundraisers.<\/p>\n

Shane Smith, Kelowna Rockets<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 21-year-old product of Cessford, Alta., boasted a career campaign in Kelowna, collecting 68 points (33G-35A) in 61 games.<\/p>\n

Leading by example with school visits, fan engagement, Smith made a personal pledge this season, donating $25 for each point he scored to the Canadian CMV Foundation, in honour of his niece, Maia, who was diagnosed with congenital CMV at birth. In total, Smith donated $1,675, and in the process raised awareness of congenital CMV \u2013 a common viral infection that can pass from mother to baby during pregnancy. CMV can cause health problems in some babies, which is why awareness, prevention, and early detection are important. CMV impacts one in 200 newborns in Canada.<\/p>\n

Carter Esler, Spokane Chiefs<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 17-year-old product of Okotoks, Alta., appeared in a career-high 44 games with the Chiefs this season, going 24-18-1-0 with a 2.80 goals-against average, .903 save percentage, and five shutouts. With a late 2008 birthday, the 5-foot-10, 166-pound Esler is eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

Through his exceptional leadership, Esler development an innovative, season-long fundraising initiative benefiting multiple local causes. He designed custom goalie pads for each of the Chiefs special theme nights throughout the season, including Teddy Bear Toss, Military Appreciation Night, Chiefs Fight Cancer, and Turn Back the Clock Night.<\/p>\n

The first set of gear \u2013 Esler\u2019s Teddy Bear Toss design \u2013 benefited the Providence Sacred Heart Children\u2019s Hospital. As part of this, Esler visited with children at the hospital, who contributed to the designing of the pads with their own artwork.<\/p>\n

Esler\u2019s other designs benefited the Washington State Fallen Heroes Project, Every Woman Can PNW, and local youth hockey programs in the Inland Northwest. In total, Esler raised nearly $9,000 for local charities through the auctioning of his special theme equipment.<\/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":"

The Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":267323,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2333,"name":"Brady Ness","slug":"brady-ness","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2333,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1"},{"term_id":2318,"name":"2026 WHL Awards","slug":"2026-whl-awards","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2318,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw","term_order":"13"},{"term_id":2163,"name":"Ethan Semeniuk","slug":"ethan-semeniuk","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2163,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw","term_order":"140"},{"term_id":2096,"name":"Axel 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PREVIEW: Prince George Cougars vs. Penticton Vees"},"content":{"rendered":"

A campaign of firsts will continue for the Penticton Vees.<\/p>\n

The expansion club will take on the Prince George Cougars in the second round of the 2026 WHL Playoffs.<\/p>\n

Penticton’s historic 44-14-6-4 inaugural CHL season saw the Vees capture the B.C. Division title, though the Cougars weren’t far behind with a 44-22-2-0 record of their own.<\/p>\n

The Vees closed the book on their first WHL playoff series by downing the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-1, while the Cougars dispatched the Spokane Chiefs in 6 hotly-contested outings- two of which went into overtime.<\/p>\n

This matchup will feature two of the postseason’s top scorers in Prince George’s Brock Souch, who is tied for the WHL points lead with 11 points (5G-6A) and New York Islanders prospect Jacob Kvasnicka, who sits fifth with nine points (5G-4A). Souch and Kvasnicka also sit third and fourth in points per game.<\/p>\n

Penticton dominated the regular season series between these teams with a 5-0-1-0 record, highlighted by a 3-0 shutout win on February 16 that saw goaltenders Ethan McCallum and San Jose Sharks prospect Joshua Ravensbergen drop the gloves.<\/p>\n

However, three of those games were decided by a single goal, and the Cougars won the most recent matchup between the teams thanks to a late equalizer from Dmitri Yakutsenak and an overtime winner from Souch.<\/p>\n

The Cats were also without Ravensbergen and top 2026 NHL Draft eligible Carson Carels for several games as the pair competed for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.<\/p>\n

Ravensbergen and Carels both cracked the 2025-26 WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team, while Kvasnicka earned a berth on the Second All-Star squad and picked up a nomination for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for WHL Rookie of the Year.<\/p>\n

Penticton star and Seattle Kraken prospect Ryden Evers is a finalist for the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy for the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player and bench bosses Fred Harbinson and Mark Lamb are also up for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy for WHL Coach of the Year.<\/p>\n

Harbinson has also gotten a nod as a Western finalist for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy for Executive of the Year after successfully navigating Penticton’s inaugural major junior season.<\/p>\n

The South Okanagan Events Centre will host Game 1 on Friday, April 10, at 7:05 p.m. PST before the playoff train chugs north for Game 3 at the CN Centre on Tuesday, April 14, at 7:00 p.m. PST.<\/p>\n

The series will be streamed for free on Victory+.<\/p>\n

STAT PACK<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nPrince George Cougars<\/strong><\/td>\nPenticton Vees<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Record<\/strong><\/td>\n44-22-2-0 (2nd B.C.)<\/td>\n44-14-6-4 (1st B.C.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Playoff Leaders<\/strong><\/td>\nBrock Souch (5G-6A, 11 pts)<\/p>\n

Kooper Gizowski (3G-5A, 8 pts)<\/p>\n

Terik Parascak (3G-5A, 8 pts)<\/td>\n

Jacob Kvasnicka (5G-4A, 9 pts)<\/p>\n

Ryden Evers (4G-2A, 6 pts)<\/p>\n

Louis Wehmann (3G-1A, 4 pts)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Season Leaders<\/b><\/td>\nTerik Parascak (33G-46A, 79 pts)<\/p>\n

Brock Souch (28G-45A, 73 pts)<\/p>\n

Carson Carels (20G-53A, 73 pts)<\/td>\n

Jacob Kvasnicka (35G-50A, 85 pts)<\/p>\n

Ryden Evers (35G-39A, 74 pts)<\/p>\n

Brady Birnie (22G-48A, 70 pts)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Leading Goaltender (Playoffs)<\/strong><\/td>\nJoshua Ravensbergen (4-1-1, 2.75 GAA, .918 save percentage)<\/td>\nAndrew Reyelts (4-0-0, 2.19 GAA, .925 save percentage)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Power<\/strong>\u00a0Play (Playoffs)<\/strong><\/td>\n52.9% (1st)<\/td>\n26.3% (6th)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Penalty Kill (Playoffs)<\/strong><\/td>\n88.5% (4th)<\/td>\n92.9% (1st)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First Round<\/strong><\/td>\nDef. Spokane (4-2)<\/td>\nDef. Seattle (4-1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Last WHL Championship<\/strong><\/td>\n1981*<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

*- Victoria Cougars<\/p>\n

2025-26 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
\n<\/strong>Penticton leads 5-0-1-0<\/p>\n

December 17, 2025- Prince George 2, Penticton 5<\/strong><\/div>\n
January 1, 2026- Prince George 5, Penticton 6<\/strong> (OT)<\/div>\n
January 6, 2026- Penticton 5<\/strong>, Prince George 2<\/div>\n
January 7, 2026- Penticton 3<\/strong>, Prince George 2<\/div>\n
February 16, 2026- Prince George 0, Penticton 3<\/strong><\/div>\n
March 10, 2026- Penticton 3, Prince George 4<\/strong> (OT)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

GAME BREAKERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prince George:\u00a0<\/strong>First-year WHLer Brock Souch has paced Prince George with 11 points (5G-6A) in six playoff games. The 19-year-old forward has hit the scoresheet in five of six outings, though none have been as dominant as his two-goal, two-assist outing in Game 1 against Spokane. Souch was the most consistent Cougars skater against the Vees in the regular season, putting up six points (3G-3A) in six games, including a shorthanded goal and an assist in a 6-5 overtime loss on January 1, and the overtime goal in Prince George’s lone win against Penticton on March 10.<\/p>\n

Penticton:\u00a0<\/strong>Five-foot-11, 170-pound winger Jacob Kvasnicka has points in all five of his playoff contests to rank fourth in points-per-game (1.80) among all WHL skaters. He added another nine points (2G-7A) in five matches against the Cougars in the regular season, with both goals coming in a 5-2 win in the Northern Capital on January 6.<\/p>\n

GOALTENDING<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Prince George:\u00a0<\/strong>Towering goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen is playing some of the best hockey of his career. The 6-foot-5.5, 195-pound netminder has already been named to the Western Conference First All-Star team and enters the second round one win away from tying the club record for career playoff wins. Ravensbergen went 1-2-0-0 against Penticton in the regular season with a 3.02 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage… and one fight.<\/p>\n

Penticton:\u00a0<\/strong>Andrew Reyelts has taken the reins in the postseason, ranking in the top five among all WHL netminders in GAA (2.19) and save percentage (.925). The 6-foot-1. 178-pound puckstopper posted a 2-0-1-0 record, a 3.66 GAA and .864 save percentage against the Cougars in 2025-26.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

X-FACTOR<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Prince George:\u00a0<\/strong>Washington Capitals prospect Terik Parascak made it all the way to the Western Conference Championship as a rookie and knows the pain of a Game 7 loss. Now a little older and wiser, the Cougars alternate captain is looking to hit a new gear in the playoffs. The 6-foot, 187-pound winger has eight points (3G-5A) in six postseason games this year and logged a goal and two assists in five regular-season tilts against the Vees.<\/p>\n

Penticton:\u00a0<\/strong>Significant playoff experience\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>a chance to knock out his former club? The ammunition is there for Vees ‘A’ Matteo Danis to have a breakout series. The 21-year-old played two seasons in Prince George before being selected by the Vees in the 2025 WHL Expansion Draft. Danis- along with Parascak- helped the Cougars reach Game 6 of the 2024 Western Conference CHampionship and had five goals in seven playoff games in 2025. Danis has four helpers so far in this postseason run and is still on the hunt for his first goal against his old team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

SERIES SCHEDULE<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\nGame<\/strong><\/td>\n		Visitor<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nHome<\/strong><\/td>\nDay<\/strong><\/td>\nDate<\/strong><\/td>\nTime<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nPrince George<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nPenticton<\/td>\nFriday<\/td>\nApril 10<\/td>\n7:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nPrince George<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nPenticton<\/td>\nSaturday<\/td>\nApril 11<\/td>\n7:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nPenticton<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nPrince George<\/td>\nTuesday<\/td>\nApril 14<\/td>\n7pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nPenticton<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nPrince George<\/td>\nWednesday<\/td>\nApril 15<\/td>\n7pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5*<\/td>\nPrince George<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nPenticton<\/td>\nFriday<\/td>\nApril 17<\/td>\n7:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6*<\/td>\nPenticton<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nPrince George<\/td>\nSunday<\/td>\nApril 19<\/td>\n7pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7*<\/td>\nPrince George<\/td>\n@<\/td>\nPenticton<\/td>\nTuesday<\/td>\nApril 21<\/td>\n7:05pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A campaign of firsts will continue for the Penticton Vees. The expansion club will take on the Prince George Cougars in the second round of the 2026 WHL Playoffs. Penticton’s historic 44-14-6-4 inaugural CHL season saw the Vees capture the B.C. Division title, though the Cougars weren’t far behind with a 44-22-2-0 record of their…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":487,"featured_media":267320,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2300,"name":"2026 WHL Playoffs","slug":"2026-whl-playoffs","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2300,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":143,"filter":"raw","term_order":"28"},{"term_id":1911,"name":"Penticton Vees","slug":"penticton-vees","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1911,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":131,"filter":"raw","term_order":"382"},{"term_id":28,"name":"prince george cougars","slug":"prince-george-cougars","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":162,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1079,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1816"}],"class_list":["post-267273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-2026-whl-playoffs","tag-penticton-vees","tag-prince-george-cougars","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/08130109\/PENvsPG_Series-Matchup-1920_DRAFT-SHOW.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\/267273","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\/487"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=267273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267273\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/267320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=267273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=267273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=267273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":267310,"date":"2026-04-08T11:55:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T17:55:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=267310"},"modified":"2026-04-08T11:55:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T17:55:37","slug":"whl-announces-finalists-for-del-wilson-memorial-trophy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/whl-announces-finalists-for-del-wilson-memorial-trophy-2","title":{"rendered":"WHL announces finalists for Del Wilson Memorial Trophy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Calgary, Alta. \u2013<\/strong> The Western Hockey League announced today the 2025-26 finalists for the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL\u2019s Goaltender of the Year.<\/p>\n

Wilson was an Owner, Governor, and General Manager of the Regina Pats, and served six years as Chairman of the Board. He also worked as the WHL\u2019s Referee-in-Chief. Wilson was part of the group that led the WHL into partnership with the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, bringing about what is known today as the Canadian Hockey League.<\/p>\n

Finalists for WHL Awards are voted upon by WHL General Managers.<\/p>\n

Winners of 2026 WHL Awards will be announced from Tuesday, April 21, through Wednesday, May 6.<\/p>\n

Del Wilson Memorial Trophy<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Eastern Conference Finalists<\/p>\n

Michal Orsulak, Prince Albert Raiders
\nFilip Ruzicka, Brandon Wheat Kings
\nChase Wutzke, Moose Jaw Warriors<\/p>\n

Del Wilson Memorial Trophy<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Western Conference Finalists<\/p>\n

Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
\nTobias Tvrznik, Wenatchee Wild
\nAndrew Reyelts, Penticton Vees<\/p>\n

Michal Orsulak, Prince Albert Raiders<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 18-year-old product of Tremosna, Czechia, enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign in the WHL, going 28-4-3-1 with a 2.22 goals-against average, .907 save percentage, and four shutouts. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound puckstopper is ranked second among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting\u2019s midterm rankings. Among qualified WHL goaltenders, Orsulak ranked first in goals-against average, tied for second in shutouts, fifth in save percentage, and fifth in wins. In February, Orsulak represented Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. The first-year WHL goaltender was selected by the Raiders in the first round (46th overall) of the 2025 CHL Import Draft.<\/p>\n

Filip Ruzicka, Brandon Wheat Kings<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 18-year-old product of Trinec, Czechia, enjoyed a stellar rookie campaign in the WHL, going 26-14-1-0 with a 3.19 goals-against average, .906 save percentage, and two shutouts. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-7, 230-pound puckstopper is ranked 13th among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting\u2019s midterm rankings. Among qualified WHL goaltenders, Ruzicka was tied for seventh in save percentage and stood alone in seventh for wins. Ruzicka was selected by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the second round (104th overall) of the 2025 CHL Import Draft.<\/p>\n

Chase Wutzke, Moose Jaw Warriors<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 19-year-old product of Debden, Sask., went 16-24-3-1 with a 3.33 goals-against average, .904 save percentage, and one shutout as he split the season between the Red Deer Rebels and Warriors. Facing the third most shots among any WHL netminder (1,553), Wutzke turned aside more pucks (1,404) than all but one WHL goaltender. Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-3, 156-pound Wutzke has appeared in 140 career WHL regular season games, going 56-59-10-4 with a 3.25 GAA, .899 SV%, and three shutouts. He made his WHL debut with Red Deer during the 2021-22 campaign after being selected by the Rebels in the second round (40th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.<\/p>\n

Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 19-year-old product of North Vancouver, B.C., posted his third straight season with 25 or more wins, going 32-13-0-0 with a 2.51 goals-against average, .919 save percentage, and four shutouts. Among qualified WHL netminders, the 6-foot-6, 195-pound puckstopper ranked first in wins, first in save percentage, tied for second in shutouts, and fourth in goals-against average. Selected by the San Jose Sharks in the first round (30th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft, Ravensbergen has played 135 career WHL regular season games, going 91-30-4-2 with a 2.68 GAA, .909 SV%, and 10 shutouts. He was undrafted into the WHL. In 22 career WHL Playoff games, Ravensbergen is 14-7 with a 2.55 GAA, .918 SV%, and three shutouts.<\/p>\n

Tobias Tvrznik, Wenatchee Wild<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 18-year-old product of Litomerice, Czechia, landed in the WHL this season and posted a record of 16-18-2-2 with a 3.10 goals-against average, .913 save percentage, and one shutout. His save percentage was good for third among all qualified WHL goaltenders. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound puckstopper is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, ranked fifth among North American netminders in NHL Central Scouting\u2019s midterm rankings. Tvrznik was named to Team West for the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass, but was unable to compete due to injury. He was originally selected by the Wild in the first round (10th overall) of the 2025 CHL Import Draft.<\/p>\n

Andrew Reyelts, Penticton Vees<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 20-year-old product of Proctor, Minn., put forth a solid first campaign in the WHL, going 29-6-6-2 with a 2.45 goals-against average, .906 save percentage, and three shutouts. He finished among WHL leaders in GAA (third), wins (fourth), SV% (T-7th) and shutouts (T-7th). The 6-foot-1, 178-pound puckstopper was acquired by the Vees from the Wenatchee Wild in the 2025 WHL Expansion Draft. He signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Vees on June 24, 2025.<\/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":"

The Del Wilson Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the WHL\u2019s Goaltender of the Year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":267313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2318,"name":"2026 WHL Awards","slug":"2026-whl-awards","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2318,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw","term_order":"13"},{"term_id":2204,"name":"Andrew Reyelts","slug":"andrew-reyelts","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2204,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":7,"filter":"raw","term_order":"106"},{"term_id":2192,"name":"Filip Ruzicka","slug":"filip-ruzicka","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2192,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":10,"filter":"raw","term_order":"116"},{"term_id":2093,"name":"Michal 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sign forward Henry Meier to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everett, Wash. —<\/strong> The Everett Silvertips have signed 2010-born forward Henry Meier to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.<\/p>\n

“I’m very excited to join the Silvertips for next season,” commented Meier. “I’m looking forward to meeting the team and winning a Memorial Cup together. I’m super pumped to get started.”<\/p>\n

Meier, a Woodbury, MN native, was originally picked 19th-overall in the 2025 U.S. Prospect Draft. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound forward spent the 2025-26 season with Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U team posting 25 goals and 35 assists for 60 points in 50 games played, helping lead Shattuck to 16U Nationals. He previously logged 33 goals and 27 assists in 58 games played at the 14U level in 2024-25, also qualifying for the 14U National tournament.<\/p>\n

“It’s exciting for our organization to officially have Henry and his family on board,” said Silvertips general manager Mike Fraser. “His progression and development since last year’s draft has been impressive and we look forward to seeing him continue his journey in Everett soon.”<\/p>\n

“Henry is an excellent addition to our organization,” commented Director of Scouting Brooks Christensen. “We believe he aligns well with our style of play as a highly skilled forward, demonstrating strong vision, high hockey IQ and scoring ability. He is a difficult player to play against, and we look forward to seeing him in a Silvertips jersey.”<\/p>\n

Henry Meier is guaranteed a WHL Scholarship for every year he plays in the WHL by signing a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everett, Wash. — The Everett Silvertips have signed 2010-born forward Henry Meier to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. “I’m very excited to join the Silvertips for next season,” commented Meier. “I’m looking forward to meeting the team and winning a Memorial Cup together. I’m super pumped to get started.” Meier, a Woodbury, MN native,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":267316,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2332,"name":"Henry Meier","slug":"henry-meier","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2332,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","term_order":"2"},{"term_id":36,"name":"everett silvertips","slug":"everett-silvertips","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":180,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1156,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1438"}],"class_list":["post-267314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-henry-meier","tag-everett-silvertips","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/08105916\/Meier_Signed-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\/267314","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\/130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=267314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267314\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/267316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=267314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=267314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=267314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":267309,"date":"2026-04-08T09:57:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T15:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=267309"},"modified":"2026-04-08T09:57:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T15:57:26","slug":"whl-announces-finalists-for-daryl-k-doc-seaman-memorial-trophy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/whl-announces-finalists-for-daryl-k-doc-seaman-memorial-trophy-2","title":{"rendered":"WHL announces finalists for Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Calgary, Alta. \u2013<\/strong> The Western Hockey League announced today the 2025-26 finalists for the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL\u2019s Scholastic Player of the Year.<\/p>\n

Seaman was a pioneer in promoting higher education and hockey. For many years, he was a staunch supporter of the efforts of Hockey Canada and the Western Hockey League, to ensure all players can combine education and hockey.<\/p>\n

Winners of 2026 WHL Awards will be announced from Tuesday, April 21, through Wednesday, May 6.<\/p>\n

Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Eastern Conference Finalists<\/p>\n

Ben MacBeath, Calgary Hitmen
\nNigel Boehm, Brandon Wheat Kings<\/p>\n

Daryl K. (Doc) Memorial Trophy<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Western Conference Finalists<\/p>\n

Sean Burick, Penticton Vees
\nAlex Weiermair, Portland Winterhawks<\/p>\n

Ben MacBeath, Calgary Hitmen<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 18-year-old product of Calgary, Alta., tallied 51 points (7G-44A) in 67 games, finishing fifth in scoring on the Hitmen and second among all WHL rookie defencemen. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-2, 181-pound MacBeath is ranked 20th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting\u2019s midterm rankings. The first-year WHL blueliner represented Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. MacBeath was originally selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the seventh round (136th overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.<\/p>\n

Academically, MacBeath logged a 98 per cent average in Math 31 and a 97 per cent average in Physics 20. He also excelled in English 20-1 (94 per cent), Social 20-1 (93 per cent), and Social 30-1 (90 per cent). Regarded as an excellent problem solver with a keen eye for detail, MacBeath has been referred to as a \u201ctrue renaissance student-athlete\u201d who brings the same level of passion and commitment to learning and sport.<\/p>\n

Nigel Boehm, Brandon Wheat Kings<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 17-year-old product of Corman Park, Sask., registered 16 points (2G-14A) in 63 games in his second campaign with the Wheat Kings. Originally selected by the Wheat Kings in the second round (28th overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenceman has appeared in 124 career WHL regular season contests over two seasons with the Black and Gold.<\/p>\n

Academically, Boehm posted 99 per cent averages in Law 40 and English Language Arts 20, along with a 95 per cent average in Physics 30. He finished Pre-Calculus 30 with a grade of 93 per cent. Boehm\u2019s approach in the classroom comes back to his desire to strengthen his mental skills, including focus, problem solving, and discipline \u2013 all transferrable to athletic success. He believes balancing academics with sport builds resilience, confidence, and independence.<\/p>\n

Sean Burick, Penticton Vees<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 18-year-old product of San Celemente, Calif., appeared in 50 games with the Vees in his rookie campaign in the WHL. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-8, 209-pound right shot defenceman is ranked 119th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting\u2019s midterm rankings. He competed at the 2026 WHL Prospect Game presented by Showpass, representing Team West.<\/p>\n

Academically, Burick earned a 96.7 per cent average in AP Microeconomics and AP Statistics \u2013 A. In English A, Burick finished a 96.2 per cent average. Regarded as an exceptional individual and model student-athlete, Burick embodies quiet confidence, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to excellence on and off the ice.<\/p>\n

Alex Weiermair, Portland Winterhawks<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 20-year-old product of Los Angeles, Calif., enjoyed an outstanding campaign with the Winterhawks, tallying 93 points (37G-56A) and 28 minutes in penalties over 66 regular season games. Weiermair\u2019s point total led the Winterhawks and was good enough for fifth in the WHL. The 6-foot-1, 207-pound right winger joined the Winterhawks midway through the 2024-25 season after departing the University of Denver. Selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft, Weiermair\u2019s impressive season earned him a three-year, entry-level contract on March 1. Originally selected by the Winterhawks in the first round (16th overall) of the 2020 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, Weiermair has collected 139 points (58G-81A) in 107 career WHL regular season games.<\/p>\n

Academically, Weiermair tackled university coursework during his 20-year-old season in the WHL. He achieved straight As in Psychology, Business, Chemistry, and History (Ancient Greece). Outside of his formal education, Weiermair speaks German and is teaching himself Italian. He is regarded as humble, mature, genuine, and a young man of great integrity, who thinks seriously and deeply, while also promoting warmth, kindness, and respect for others.<\/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":"

The Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the WHL\u2019s Scholastic Player of the Year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":267312,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2331,"name":"Nigel Boehm","slug":"nigel-boehm","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2331,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","term_order":"3"},{"term_id":2318,"name":"2026 WHL Awards","slug":"2026-whl-awards","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2318,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw","term_order":"13"},{"term_id":2015,"name":"Sean Burick","slug":"sean-burick","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2015,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw","term_order":"283"},{"term_id":1958,"name":"Ben MacBeath","slug":"ben-macbeath","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1958,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":5,"filter":"raw","term_order":"338"},{"term_id":1911,"name":"Penticton Vees","slug":"penticton-vees","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1911,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":131,"filter":"raw","term_order":"382"},{"term_id":1779,"name":"Alex Weiermair","slug":"alex-weiermair","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1779,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":12,"filter":"raw","term_order":"513"},{"term_id":25,"name":"brandon wheat kings","slug":"brandon-wheat-kings","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":165,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1045,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1220"},{"term_id":23,"name":"calgary hitmen","slug":"calgary-hitmen","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":75,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1059,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1258"},{"term_id":32,"name":"portland winterhawks","slug":"portland-winterhawks","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":181,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1184,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1811"}],"class_list":["post-267309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-nigel-boehm","tag-2026-whl-awards","tag-sean-burick","tag-ben-macbeath","tag-penticton-vees","tag-alex-weiermair","tag-brandon-wheat-kings","tag-calgary-hitmen","tag-portland-winterhawks","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/08092909\/Scholastic-Player-of-the-Year_Awards-1920_Finalists-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\/267309","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=267309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267309\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/267312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=267309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=267309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=267309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]