2007–08 WHL season

2007–08 CHL season
2007–08 CHL season
League	Canadian Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Number of teams	60
OHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals champions	Spokane Chiefs (WHL) (2nd title)
Runners-up	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

2007–08 WHL season
2007–08 WHL season
League	Western Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	Regular season ; September 20, 2007 – March 16, 2008 ; Playoffs ; March 21 – May 7, 2008
Number of teams	22
TV partner(s)	Shaw TV
Regular season
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy	Tri-City Americans (1)
Season MVP	Karl Alzner (Calgary Hitmen)
Top scorer	Mark Santorelli (Chilliwack Bruins)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP	Tyler Johnson (Chiefs)
Finals champions	Spokane Chiefs (2)
Runners-up	Lethbridge Hurricanes
WHL seasons
	← 2006–07 2008–09 →

The 2007–08 WHL season was the 42nd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began on September 20, 2007, and ended on March 16, 2008. The Tri-City Americans won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record. The playoffs began on March 21, and ended on May 7, with the Spokane Chiefs defeating the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the championship series to claim their second Ed Chynoweth Cup and a berth at the 2008 Memorial Cup tournament, which Spokane would go on to win.^[1]

The Edmonton Oil Kings joined the league as an expansion club—their name paying homage to Edmonton's original WHL team—bringing the WHL to 22 teams.^[2]

League notes

The WHL had announced at the 2007 Memorial Cup tournament that it would rename its championship trophy—until then, known as the President's Cup—after Ed Chynoweth.^[3] The Chiefs 2008 championship was thus the first featuring the renamed trophy.
The Edmonton 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 playoff format was revised so that the top eight teams in each 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

Map of WHL, 2007–08 to 2010–11

200km
125miles

Wheat Kings

Pats

Warriors

Raiders

Blades

Broncos

Tigers

Hurricanes

Oil Kings

Rebels

Hitmen

Ice

Chiefs

Americans

Rockets

Blazers

Bruins

Silvertips

Thunderbirds

Winterhawks

Cougars

Giants

East Division

Central Division

BC Division

US Division

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
Mitch Fadden	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
Kevin Armstrong	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 Memorial Cup was held in Kitchener, Ontario.^[4]

WHL awards

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

All-Star Teams

Eastern Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Linden Rowat	Regina Pats	Dan Spence	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	Mitch Fadden	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	Dan Gendur	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^[5]

#	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	Shane McColgan (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

^ "Spokane Chiefs win Memorial Cup". CBC Sports. May 25, 2008. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
^ "Edmonton joins WHL as 22nd franchise". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. March 17, 2006. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
^ Vanstone, Rob (January 29, 2017). "Ed Chynoweth was an early architect of Canadian junior hockey". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
^ "Kitchener Rangers to Host 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup". Ontario Hockey League (OHL). May 9, 2007. Retrieved October 28, 2008.^{[dead link]}
^ "2008 WHL Bantam Draft: Round 1". WHL. Archived from the original on February 25, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2008.

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] "Spokane Chiefs win Memorial Cup". CBC Sports. May 25, 2008. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2024.

[2] "Edmonton joins WHL as 22nd franchise". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. March 17, 2006. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.

[3] Vanstone, Rob (January 29, 2017). "Ed Chynoweth was an early architect of Canadian junior hockey". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2024.

[2008_Memorial_Cup_in_Kitchener-4] "Kitchener Rangers to Host 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup". Ontario Hockey League (OHL). May 9, 2007. Retrieved October 28, 2008.^{[dead link]}

[5] "2008 WHL Bantam Draft: Round 1". WHL. Archived from the original on February 25, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2008.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

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

See also

Notes

References

External links