Sports season
Sports season
The 2022–23 WHL season was the 57th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season started on September 23, 2022, and ended on March 26, 2023, with the 2023 WHL Playoffs beginning on March 31 and ending on May 19. Teams went back to inter-conference games for first time since the 2019–20 season .[ 1]
The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the regular season-champion Winnipeg Ice 4 games to 1 in the finals to win their second Ed Chynoweth Cup and earn a spot in the 2023 Memorial Cup tournament, which was hosted by the Kamloops Blazers .[ 2]
Standings
Conference standings
x – team has clinched playoff spot y – team has clinched division z – team has clinched best regular season record
e – team is eliminated from playoff contention
Map of WHL, 2019–20 to 2022–23
200km 125miles
Ice
Wheat Kings
Pats
Warriors
Raiders
Blades
Broncos
Tigers
Hurricanes
Oil Kings
Rebels
Hitmen
Chiefs
Americans
Rockets
Blazers
Silvertips
Thunderbirds
Winterhawks
Cougars
Giants
Royals
East Division
Central Division
BC Division
US Division
Statistical leaders
Scoring leaders
Players are listed by points, then goals.[ 3]
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts. = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Leading goaltenders
These are the goaltenders that lead the league in GAA that played at least 1,200 minutes.[ 4]
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; Sv% = Save percentage
2023 WHL Playoffs
Conference Quarter-finals
Eastern Conference
(E1) Winnipeg Ice vs. (E8) Medicine Hat Tigers
(E2) Red Deer Rebels vs. (E7) Calgary Hitmen
(E3) Saskatoon Blades vs. (E6) Regina Pats
Saskatoon wins series 4–3
(E4) Moose Jaw Warriors vs. (E5) Lethbridge Hurricanes
Moose Jaw wins series 4–0
Western Conference
(W1) Seattle Thunderbirds vs. (W8) Kelowna Rockets
(W2) Kamloops Blazers vs. (W7) Vancouver Giants
(W3) Portland Winterhawks vs. (W6) Everett Silvertips
(W4) Prince George Cougars vs. (W5) Tri-City Americans
Prince George wins series 4–2
Conference Semi-finals
Eastern Conference
(E1) Winnipeg Ice vs. (E4) Moose Jaw Warriors
(E2) Red Deer Rebels vs. (E3) Saskatoon Blades
Saskatoon wins series 4–3
Western Conference
(W1) Seattle Thunderbirds vs. (W4) Prince George Cougars
(W2) Kamloops Blazers vs. (W3) Portland Winterhawks
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
(E1) Winnipeg Ice vs. (E3) Saskatoon Blades
Western Conference
(W1) Seattle Thunderbirds vs. (W2) Kamloops Blazers
WHL Championship
(E1) Winnipeg Ice vs. (W1) Seattle Thunderbirds
Playoff scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Playoff leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; SV& = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
WHL awards
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy
Regular season champions
Winnipeg Ice
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy
Player of the Year
Connor Bedard , Regina Pats
Bob Clarke Trophy
Top Scorer
Connor Bedard , Regina Pats
Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
Top Defenceman
Olen Zellweger , Kamloops Blazers
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
Rookie of the Year
Ryder Ritchie , Prince Albert Raiders
Del Wilson Trophy
Top Goaltender
Thomas Milic , Seattle Thunderbirds
WHL Plus-Minus Award
Top Plus-Minus Rating
Jeremy Hanzel , Seattle Thunderbirds
Brad Hornung Trophy
Most Sportsmanlike Player
Brayden Yager , Moose Jaw Warriors
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy
Scholastic player of the Year
Quinn Mantei , Brandon Wheat Kings
Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy
Scholastic team of the Year
Portland Winterhawks
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
Coach of the Year
Brennan Sonne , Saskatoon Blades
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
Executive of the Year
Bil La Forge , Seattle Thunderbirds
Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy
Top Official
Chris Crich
St. Clair Group Trophy
Marketing/Public Relations Award
Spokane Chiefs
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy
Humanitarian of the Year
Logan Stankoven , Kamloops Blazers
WHL Playoff MVP
WHL Finals Most Valuable Player
Thomas Millic , Seattle Thunderbirds
Professional Hockey Achievement Academic Recipient
Alumni Achievement Awards
All-Star Teams
Eastern Conference
Central Division
East Division
Western Conference
B.C. Division
U.S. Division
Attendance
Team
Home average[ 13]
Edmonton
6,500
Spokane
5,842
Everett
5,839
Kamloops
4,902
Calgary
4,874
Portland
4,508
Saskatoon
4,506
Regina
4,500
Seattle
4,342
Kelowna
4,304
Red Deer
4,163
Victoria
3,559
Lethbridge
3,525
Tri-City
3,510
Vancouver
3,462
Brandon
3,178
Moose Jaw
2,883
Prince George
2,755
Medicine Hat
2,651
Prince Albert
2,392
Swift Current
1,837
Winnipeg
1,649
Total Average
3,895
Total
2,913,612
total games
748
Playoffs
Home Team
Home Games
Average Attendance
Total Attendance [ 14]
Saskatoon Blades
10
8,780
87,801
Regina Pats
3
6,499
19,497
Kamloops Blazers
7
5,173
36,216
Red Deer Rebels
6
5,062
30,375
Seattle Thunderbirds
10
4,867
48,677
Prince George Cougars
5
4,609
23,046
Everett Silvertips
2
3,946
7,892
Portland Winterhawks
5
3,891
19,455
Kelowna Rockets
2
3,456
6,912
Medicine Hat Tigers
2
3,239
6,479
Calgary Hitmen
2
3,217
6,434
Moose Jaw Warriors
5
3,210
16,051
Lethbridge Hurricanes
2
2,953
5,906
Vancouver Giants
2
2,909
5,818
Tri-City Americans
3
2,750
8,251
Winnipeg Ice
9
2,536
22,827
League
75
4,701
352,637
See also
References
External links
Links to related articles
Western Conference Eastern Conference
B.C. Division U.S. Division
Central Division East Division