2007–08 WHL season

2007–08 WHL season
2007–08 WHL season
League	Western Hockey League
Sport	Hockey
Duration	Preseason ; 2007-08-29 – 2007-09-15 ; Regular season ; 2007-09-20 – 2008-03-16 ; Playoffs ; 2008-03-21 – 2008-05-07
Number of teams	22
TV partner(s)	Shaw TV
Finals champions	Spokane Chiefs (2)
WHL seasons
	← 2006–07 2008–09 →

The 2007–08 WHL season was the 42nd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL).^[1] The regular season began on September 20, 2007,^[2] and ended on March 16, 2008.^[3] The WHL Playoffs began on March 21, 2008,^[4] and ended on May 7, 2008.^[5]

A new expansion team, the Edmonton Oil Kings, joined the league bringing the WHL to 22 teams that played a 72-game season. The Spokane Chiefs won the Ed Chynoweth Cup, defeating the Lethbridge Hurricanes in four games. Spokane would go on to capture the Memorial Cup.

League notes[]

The Oil Kings joined the Central Division of the Eastern Conference, bringing the Eastern Conference to twelve teams, while the Western Conference remained at ten. The new team in Alberta's capital is the fourth WHL team to represent the city of Edmonton, preceded by the original Oil Kings franchises that played in the 1960s and 1970s, and later the Edmonton Ice, who played two seasons from 1996 to 1998 before relocating to the Kootenays.
The playoff format was revised so that the top eight teams in the conference qualify for the playoffs, as opposed to the top four in each division. Division winners are guaranteed a top two seed in each conference.

Final standings[]

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; x = Clinched playoff berth; y = Clinched conference title

Eastern Conference[]

East Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA	Rank
x Regina Pats	72	44	22	4	2	94	217	206	2
x Brandon Wheat Kings	72	42	24	3	3	90	253	209	6
x Swift Current Broncos	72	41	24	1	6	89	244	205	7
x Moose Jaw Warriors	72	37	21	6	8	88	229	214	8
Saskatoon Blades	72	29	34	3	6	67	182	229	9
Prince Albert Raiders	72	26	41	3	2	57	196	248	10

Central Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA	Rank
y Calgary Hitmen	72	47	20	1	4	99	259	166	1
x Lethbridge Hurricanes	72	45	21	2	4	96	245	175	3
x Medicine Hat Tigers	72	43	22	5	2	93	234	198	4
x Kootenay Ice	72	42	22	5	3	92	229	214	5
Edmonton Oil Kings	72	22	39	4	7	55	162	241	11
Red Deer Rebels	72	18	47	4	3	43	145	255	12

Western Conference[]

B.C. Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA	Rank
x Vancouver Giants	72	49	15	2	6	106	250	155	2
x Kelowna Rockets	72	38	26	2	6	84	248	215	5
x Chilliwack Bruins	72	28	35	4	5	65	206	241	7
x Kamloops Blazers	72	27	41	2	2	58	197	253	8
Prince George Cougars	72	20	48	1	3	44	172	304	9

U.S. Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA	Rank
y Tri-City Americans	72	52	16	2	2	108	262	176	1
x Spokane Chiefs	72	50	15	1	6	107	251	160	3
x Seattle Thunderbirds	72	42	23	5	2	91	241	179	4
x Everett Silvertips	72	39	30	0	3	81	205	198	6
Portland Winter Hawks	72	11	58	2	1	25	132	318	10

Scoring leaders[]

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Mark Santorelli	Chilliwack Bruins	72	27	74	101	40
Colin Long	Kelowna Rockets	72	31	69	100	41
Colton Yellow Horn	Tri-City Americans	67	48	49	97	63
Tyler Ennis	Medicine Hat Tigers	70	43	48	91	42
Steve DaSilva	Kootenay Ice	68	40	49	89	47
	Lethbridge Hurricanes	72	34	55	89	72
Jordan Knackstedt	Moose Jaw Warriors	72	31	54	85	116
Dan Gendur	Everett Silvertips	60	29	55	84	68
Bud Holloway	Seattle Thunderbirds	70	43	40	83	55
Oscar Moller	Chilliwack Bruins	63	39	44	83	42

Leading goaltenders[]

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SOL = Shootout losses ; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player	Team	GP	Min	W	L	OTL	SL	GA	SO	SV%	GAA
Tyson Sexsmith	Vancouver Giants	62	3678	43	11	2	6	116	9	.911	1.89
Juha Metsola	Lethbridge Hurricanes	30	1693	20	7	0	1	56	3	.916	1.98
Dustin Tokarski	Spokane Chiefs	45	2543	30	10	0	3	87	6	.922	2.05
Martin Jones	Calgary Hitmen	27	1529	18	8	0	1	54	1	.911	2.12
	Spokane Chiefs	33	1840	20	5	1	3	66	2	.915	2.15

2008 WHL Playoffs[]

Overview[]

Conference Quarter-finals			Conference Semi-finals			Conference Finals			WHL Championship

1	Calgary	4

8	Moose Jaw	2
			1	Calgary	4

			7	Swift Current	2
2	Regina	2

7	Swift Current	4
						1	Calgary	0
Eastern
						3	Lethbridge	4
3	Lethbridge	4

6	Brandon	2
			3	Lethbridge	4

			5	Kootenay	1
4	Medicine Hat	1

5	Kootenay	4
									E3	Lethbridge	0

									W3	Spokane	4
1	Tri-City	4

8	Kamloops	0
			1	Tri-City	4

			4	Seattle	1
4	Seattle	4

5	Kelowna	3
						1	Tri-City	3
Western
						3	Spokane	4
2	Vancouver	4

7	Chilliwack	0
			2	Vancouver	2

			3	Spokane	4
3	Spokane	4

6	Everett	0

Conference quarter-finals[]

Eastern Conference[]

Moose Jaw vs. Calgary
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Moose Jaw 1	5 Calgary
March 23	Moose Jaw 4	2 Calgary
March 25	Calgary 8	3 Moose Jaw
March 26	Calgary 3	1 Moose Jaw
March 28	Moose Jaw 4	2 Calgary
March 30	Calgary 4	2 Moose Jaw
Calgary wins 4–2

Swift Current vs. Regina
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Swift Current 1	2 Regina
March 22	Swift Current 5	3 Regina
March 25	(OT) Regina 4	3 Swift Current
March 26	Regina 4	5 Swift Current (2OT)
March 28	Swift Current 6	3 Regina
March 29	Regina 2	5 Swift Current
Swift Current wins 4–2

Brandon vs. Lethbridge
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Brandon 1	2 Lethbridge
March 22	Brandon 3	4 Lethbridge
March 25	Lethbridge 4	3 Brandon
March 26	Lethbridge 1	5 Brandon
March 28	Lethbridge 3	4 Brandon
March 30	Brandon 0	4 Lethbridge
Lethbridge wins 4–2

Kootenay vs. Medicine Hat
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Kootenay 5	2 Medicine Hat
March 22	(OT) Kootenay 4	3 Medicine Hat
March 25	Medicine Hat 1	2 Kootenay
March 26	Medicine Hat 5	3 Kootenay
March 28	Kootenay 3	1 Medicine Hat
Kootenay wins 4–1

Western Conference[]

Kamloops vs. Tri-City
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Kamloops 1	6 Tri-City
March 22	Kamloops 1	4 Tri-City
March 25	Tri-City 4	3 Kamloops
March 26	Tri-City 6	2 Kamloops
Tri-City wins 4–0

Chilliwack vs. Vancouver
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Chilliwack 1	2 Vancouver
March 22	Chilliwack 2	3 Vancouver
March 25	(3OT) Vancouver 4	3 Chilliwack
March 26	Vancouver 2	1 Chilliwack
Vancouver wins 4–0

Everett vs. Spokane
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Everett 2	5 Spokane
March 22	Everett 1	4 Spokane
March 26	Spokane 4	1 Everett
March 28	(OT) Spokane 3	2 Everett
Spokane wins 4–0

Kelowna vs. Seattle
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Kelowna 3	2 Seattle
March 22	Kelowna 3	1 Seattle
March 24	(OT) Seattle 3	2 Kelowna
March 25	Seattle 6	4 Kelowna
March 27	Kelowna 2	6 Seattle
March 29	Seattle 3	4 Kelowna (OT)
April 1	Kelowna 2	4 Seattle
Seattle wins 4–3

Conference semi-finals[]

Eastern Conference

Swift Current vs. Calgary
Date	Away	Home
April 4	Calgary 2	3 Swift Current
April 5	Calgary 5	2 Swift Current
April 8	Swift Current 5	6 Calgary (2OT)
April 9	Swift Current 2	3 Calgary
April 11	Swift Current 5	2 Calgary
April 12	Calgary 8	4 Swift Current
Calgary wins 4–2

Kootenay vs. Lethbridge
Date	Away	Home
April 4	Kootenay 3	2 Lethbridge
April 5	Kootenay 4	5 Lethbridge (OT)
April 8	Lethbridge 5	2 Kootenay
April 9	(2OT) Lethbridge 2	1 Kootenay
April 11	Kootenay 0	3 Lethbridge
Lethbridge wins 4–1

Western Conference

Vancouver vs. Spokane
Date	Away	Home
April 4	Vancouver 4	1 Spokane
April 6	Vancouver 1	4 Spokane
April 9	Spokane 3	2 Vancouver
April 11	Spokane 1	3 Vancouver
April 12	Spokane 4	0 Vancouver
April 14	Vancouver 1	3 Spokane
Spokane wins 4–2

Seattle vs. Tri-City
Date	Away	Home
April 4	Seattle 7	1 Tri-City
April 5	Seattle 0	4 Tri-City
April 8	Tri-City 3	2 Seattle
April 9	(OT) Tri-City 3	2 Seattle
April 11	Seattle 0	4 Tri-City
Tri-City wins 4–1

Conference finals[]

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Lethbridge vs. Calgary
Date	Away	Home
April 17	Lethbridge 5	2 Calgary
April 18	(OT) Lethbridge 4	3 Calgary
April 22	Calgary 0	6 Lethbridge
April 23	Calgary 2	4 Lethbridge
Lethbridge wins 4–0

Spokane vs. Tri-City
Date	Away	Home
April 18	(2OT) Spokane 1	0 Tri-City
April 20	Spokane 0	1 Tri-City (2OT)
April 21	Tri-City 0	2 Spokane
April 22	(OT) Tri-City 3	2 Spokane
April 26	(2OT) Spokane 4	3 Tri-City
April 28	(OT) Tri-City 2	1 Spokane
April 29	Spokane 4	1 Tri-City
Spokane wins 4–3

WHL Championship[]

Lethbridge vs. Spokane
Date	Away	Home
May 2	Lethbridge 1	4 Spokane
May 3	Lethbridge 2	5 Spokane
May 6	(OT) Spokane 2	1 Lethbridge
May 7	Spokane 4	1 Lethbridge
Spokane wins 4-0

Memorial Cup[]

The 90th MasterCard Memorial Cup was held in Kitchener, Ontario.^[6] It began on May 16, and concluded on May 25, 2008.

WHL awards[]

Player of the Year	Four Broncos Memorial Trophy	Karl Alzner	Calgary Hitmen
Scholastic Player of the Year	Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy	Jordan Eberle	Regina Pats
Top Scorer	Bob Clarke Trophy	Mark Santorelli	Chilliwack Bruins
Most Sportsmanlike Player	Brad Hornung Trophy	Tyler Ennis	Medicine Hat Tigers
Top Defenseman	Bill Hunter Trophy	Karl Alzner	Calgary Hitmen
Rookie of the Year	Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy	Brayden Schenn	Brandon Wheat Kings
Top Goaltender	Del Wilson Trophy	Chet Pickard	Tri-City Americans
Coach of the Year	Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy	Don Nachbaur	Tri-City Americans
Executive of the Year	Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy		Tri-City Americans
Regular season Champions	Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy	Tri-City Americans
Top Official	Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy	Andy Thiessen
Marketing/Public Relations Award	St. Clair Group Trophy	Kip Reghenas	Calgary Hitmen
Humanitarian of the Year	Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy		Prince Albert Raiders
	WHL Plus-Minus Award	Greg Scott	Seattle Thunderbirds
WHL Finals Most Valuable Player	AirBC Trophy	Tyler Johnson	Spokane Chiefs
Alumni Achievement Awards	Professional Hockey Achievement Academic Recipient	Lanny McDonald

All-Star Teams[]

Eastern Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Linden Rowat	Regina Pats		Calgary Hitmen
Defense	Karl Alzner	Calgary Hitmen	Ty Wishart	Moose Jaw Warriors
Defense	Logan Pyett	Regina Pats	Daryl Boyle	Brandon Wheat Kings
Forward	Steve DaSilva	Kootenay Ice		Lethbridge Hurricanes
	Tyler Ennis	Medicine Hat Tigers	Zach Boychuk	Lethbridge Hurricanes
	Jordan Eberle	Regina Pats	Ryan White	Calgary Hitmen
Western Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Chet Pickard	Tri-City Americans	Tyson Sexsmith	Vancouver Giants
Defense	T.J. Fast	Tri-City Americans	Jonathon Blum	Vancouver Giants
Defense	Thomas Hickey	Seattle Thunderbirds	Luke Schenn	Kelowna Rockets
Forward	Colton Yellow Horn	Tri-City Americans		Everett Silvertips
	Colin Long	Kelowna Rockets	Mark Santorelli	Chilliwack Bruins
	Oscar Moller	Chilliwack Bruins	Drayson Bowman	Spokane Chiefs

source: Western Hockey League press release

2008 Bantam Draft[]

First Round^[7]

#	Player	Nationality	WHL Team
1	Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (C)	Canada	Red Deer Rebels
2	Ty Rattie (LW)	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks
3	Duncan Siemens (D)	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (from Prince George)
4	Michael St. Croix (C)	Canada	Edmonton Oil Kings
5	Mark McNeill (C)	Canada	Prince Albert Raiders
6	Brent Benson (C)	Canada	Saskatoon Blades
7	Colin Smith (C)	Canada	Kamloops Blazers
8	Mitch Topping (D)	Canada	Chilliwack Bruins
9	Ryan Murray (D)	Canada	Everett Silvertips
10	Klarc Wilson (RW)	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings
11	Jesse Forsberg (D)	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors (from Prince George)
12	Reece Scarlett (D)	Canada	Swift Current Broncos
13	(C)	United States	Kelowna Rockets
14	Connor Sanvido (C)	Canada	Seattle Thunderbirds
15	Brendan Hurley (LW)	Canada	Kootenay Ice
16	Dylan Busenius (D)	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers
17	Myles Bell (D)	Canada	Regina Pats
18	Phil Tot (C)	Canada	Lethbridge Hurricanes
19	Peter Kosterman (D)	Canada	Calgary Hitmen
20	Zach Hodder (D)	Canada	Vancouver Giants
21	Mitch Holmberg (RW)	Canada	Spokane Chiefs
22	Zac Yuen (D)	Canada	Tri-City Americans

Notes[]

^ "Edmonton Expansion Franchise Opens 2007-08 WHL Season". WHL. 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}
^ "WHL and SHAW Announce 2007-08 Schedule". WHL. 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}
^ "HAWKS END SEASON ON WINNING NOTE". WHL. 2008-03-17. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}
^ "WHL Announces 2008 Playoffs Opening-Round Schedule". WHL. 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}
^ "SPOKANE CHIEFS CAPTURE ED CHYNOWETH CUP". WHL. 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}
^ "Kitchener Rangers to Host 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup". Ontario Hockey League (OHL). 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}
^ "2008 WHL Bantam Draft: Round 1". WHL. Archived from the original on February 25, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-11.

References[]

2006–07 WHL Guide (2007). Western Hockey League. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.

External links[]

Preceded by 2006–07 WHL season	WHL seasons	Succeeded by 2008–09 WHL season

[1] "Edmonton Expansion Franchise Opens 2007-08 WHL Season". WHL. 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}

[2] "WHL and SHAW Announce 2007-08 Schedule". WHL. 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}

[3] "HAWKS END SEASON ON WINNING NOTE". WHL. 2008-03-17. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}

[4] "WHL Announces 2008 Playoffs Opening-Round Schedule". WHL. 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}

[5] "SPOKANE CHIEFS CAPTURE ED CHYNOWETH CUP". WHL. 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}

[2008_Memorial_Cup_in_Kitchener-6] "Kitchener Rangers to Host 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup". Ontario Hockey League (OHL). 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2008-10-28.^{[dead link]}

[7] "2008 WHL Bantam Draft: Round 1". WHL. Archived from the original on February 25, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-11.

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2007–08 WHL season

Contents

League notes[]

Final standings[]

Eastern Conference[]

Western Conference[]

Scoring leaders[]

Leading goaltenders[]

2008 WHL Playoffs[]

Overview[]

Conference quarter-finals[]

Eastern Conference[]

Western Conference[]

Conference semi-finals[]

Conference finals[]

WHL Championship[]

Memorial Cup[]

WHL awards[]

All-Star Teams[]

2008 Bantam Draft[]

Notes[]

See also[]

References[]

External links[]