2023–24 WHL season

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2023–24 WHL season
LeagueWestern Hockey League
SportHockey
DurationRegular season
September 22, 2023 – March 24, 2024
Playoffs
March 28, 2024 – May 2024
Number of teams22
TV partner(s)
WHL seasons
2023–24 CHL seasons
LeagueCanadian Hockey League
SportHockey
DurationOHL
September 2023–May 2024
QMJHL
September 2023–May 2024
WHL
September 2023–May 2024
Number of teams60
TV partner(s)

The 2023–24 WHL season is the 58th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season started on September 22, 2023, and ended on March 24, 2024. The playoffs began on March 28 and end in May 2024.[1]

The Winnipeg Ice relocated to Wenatchee, Washington, and became the Wenatchee Wild. This season is their inaugural season.

Standings[edit]

Conference standings[edit]

Team GP W L OTL SL GF GA Pts
Prince George Cougars xy 68 49 15 1 3 316 187 102
Portland Winterhawks xy 68 48 15 4 1 330 204 101
Everett Silvertips x 68 45 18 2 3 296 208 95
Wenatchee Wild x 68 34 30 4 0 249 268 72
Kelowna Rockets x 68 33 30 4 1 250 255 71
Vancouver Giants x 68 32 32 4 0 222 249 68
Victoria Royals x 68 29 30 5 4 221 272 67
Spokane Chiefs x 68 30 32 5 1 268 283 66
Seattle Thunderbirds e 68 27 38 2 1 191 260 57
Tri-City Americans e 68 23 42 2 1 206 306 49
Kamloops Blazers e 68 20 42 3 3 180 295 46
Team GP W L OTL SL GF GA Pts
Saskatoon Blades xyz 68 50 13 2 3 255 163 105
Swift Current Broncos xy 68 40 22 4 2 286 239 86
Moose Jaw Warriors x 68 44 21 0 3 297 228 91
Medicine Hat Tigers x 68 37 23 6 2 280 231 82
Red Deer Rebels x 68 33 26 3 6 213 217 75
Brandon Wheat Kings x 68 33 28 6 1 225 244 73
Lethbridge Hurricanes x 68 33 28 7 0 214 210 73
Prince Albert Raiders x 68 31 32 2 3 214 211 67
Calgary Hitmen e 68 28 31 8 1 255 250 65
Edmonton Oil Kings e 68 27 37 3 1 227 301 58
Regina Pats e 68 22 40 4 2 208 300 50

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

Statistical leaders[edit]

Scoring leaders[edit]

Players are listed by points, then goals.[2]

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Jagger Firkus Moose Jaw Warriors 63 61 65 126 30
Zac Funk Prince George Cougars 68 67 56 123 63
Riley Heidt Prince George Cougars 66 37 80 117 42
Berkly Catton Spokane Chiefs 68 54 62 116 41
Andrew Cristall Kelowna Rockets 62 40 71 111 46
Conner Roulette Spokane Chiefs 68 45 63 108 40
Gabe Klassen Portland Winterhawks 67 35 71 106 28
Terik Parascak Prince George Cougars 68 43 62 105 41
James Stefan Portland Winterhawks 67 50 51 101 51
Trevor Wong Saskatoon Blades 68 15 86 101 39

Goaltenders[edit]

These are the goaltenders that lead the league in GAA that have played at least 420 minutes.[3]

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

Player Team GP Mins W L OTL SOL SO GAA Sv%
Evan Gardner Saskatoon Blades 30 1,665 21 5 0 2 4 1.91 .927
Jan Spunar Portland Winterhawks 35 2,009 25 6 2 1 2 2.12 .913
Austin Elliott Saskatoon Blades 43 2,437 29 8 2 1 4 2.39 .904
Joshua Ravensbergen Prince George Cougars 38 2,072 26 4 1 1 6 2.46 .907
Tyler Palmer Everett Silvertips 46 2,615 30 9 2 3 1 2.57 .907

2024 WHL Playoffs[edit]

Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals WHL Championship
            
E1 Saskatoon 4
E8 Prince Albert 1
E1 Saskatoon 4
E5 Red Deer 0
E2 Swift Current 4
E7 Lethbridge 0
E1 Saskatoon 0
Eastern
E3 Moose Jaw 1
E3 Moose Jaw 4
E6 Brandon 0
E2 Swift Current 1
E3 Moose Jaw 4
E4 Medicine Hat 1
E5 Red Deer 4
 
Note: Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.
 
W1 Prince George 4
W8 Spokane 0
W1 Prince George 4
W5 Kelowna 1
W2 Portland 4
W7 Victoria 0
W1 Prince George 1
Western
W2 Portland 0
W3 Everett 4
W6 Vancouver 1
W2 Portland 4
W3 Everett 0
W4 Wenatchee 2
W5 Kelowna 4

Conference Quarter-finals[edit]

Eastern Conference[edit]

(E1) Saskatoon Blades vs. (E8) Prince Albert Raiders[edit]

March 28 Prince Albert Raiders 4–3 Saskatoon Blades SaskTel Centre Recap  
No scoring First period 19:40 - pp - Egor Sidorov (1)
Aiden Oiring (1) - 8:41
Easton Kovacs (1) - 10:53
Ryder Ritchie (1) - pp - 14:19
Second period 0:59 - Alexander Suzdalev (1)
Niall Crocker (1) - pp - 8:13 Third period 16:45 - Egor Sidorov (2)
Max Hildebrand (1-0) (41 saves / 44 shots) Goalie stats Austin Elliott (0-1) (16 saves / 20 shots)
March 29 Prince Albert Raiders 1–4 Saskatoon Blades SaskTel Centre Recap
April 2 Saskatoon Blades 4–3 OT Prince Albert Raiders Art Hauser Centre Recap
April 3 Saskatoon Blades 4–1 Prince Albert Raiders Art Hauser Centre Recap
April 5 Prince Albert Raiders 2–6 Saskatoon Blades SaskTel Centre Recap
Saskatoon wins series 4–1


(E2) Swift Current Broncos vs. (E7) Lethbridge Hurricanes[edit]

March 29 Lethbridge Hurricanes 0–3 Swift Current Broncos InnovationPlex Recap
March 30 Lethbridge Hurricanes 3–4 Swift Current Broncos InnovationPlex Recap
April 2 Swift Current Broncos 5–3 Lethbridge Hurricanes Enmax Centre Recap
April 3 Swift Current Broncos 5–4 2OT Lethbridge Hurricanes Enmax Centre Recap
Swift Current wins series 4–0


(E3) Moose Jaw Warriors vs. (E6) Brandon Wheat Kings[edit]

March 29 Brandon Wheat Kings 4–7 Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw Events Centre Recap
March 30 Brandon Wheat Kings 4–5 OT Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw Events Centre Recap
April 3 Moose Jaw Warriors 6–4 Brandon Wheat Kings Westoba Place Recap
April 4 Moose Jaw Warriors 6–2 Brandon Wheat Kings Westoba Place Recap
Moose Jaw wins series 4–0


(E4) Medicine Hat Tigers vs. (E5) Red Deer Rebels[edit]

March 29 Red Deer Rebels 5–4 2OT Medicine Hat Tigers Co-op Place Recap
March 30 Red Deer Rebels 1–3 Medicine Hat Tigers Co-op Place Recap
April 2 Medicine Hat Tigers 3–4 OT Red Deer Rebels Peavey Mart Centrium Recap
April 3 Medicine Hat Tigers 2–3 Red Deer Rebels Peavey Mart Centrium Recap
April 5 Red Deer Rebels 5–2 Medicine Hat Tigers Co-op Place Recap
Red Deer wins series 4–1


Western Conference[edit]

(W1) Prince George Cougars vs. (W8) Spokane Chiefs[edit]

March 29 Spokane Chiefs 1–6 Prince George Cougars CN Centre Recap
March 30 Spokane Chiefs 4–7 Prince George Cougars CN Centre Recap
April 2 Prince George Cougars 4–2 Spokane Chiefs Spokane Arena Recap
April 3 Prince George Cougars 3–2 Spokane Chiefs Spokane Arena Recap
Prince George wins series 4–0


(W2) Portland Winterhawks vs. (W7) Victoria Royals[edit]

March 29 Victoria Royals 3–4 Portland Winterhawks Veterans Memorial Coliseum Recap
March 30 Victoria Royals 1–5 Portland Winterhawks Veterans Memorial Coliseum Recap
April 2 Portland Winterhawks 6–5 Victoria Royals Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Recap
April 3 Portland Winterhawks 4–1 Victoria Royals Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Recap
Portland wins series 4–0


(W3) Everett Silvertips vs. (W6) Vancouver Giants[edit]

March 29 Vancouver Giants 6–4 Everett Silvertips Angel of the Winds Arena Recap
March 30 Vancouver Giants 1–2 Everett Silvertips Angel of the Winds Arena Recap
April 3 Everett Silvertips 3–1 Vancouver Giants Langley Events Centre Recap
April 5 Everett Silvertips 4–1 Vancouver Giants Langley Events Centre Recap
April 7 Vancouver Giants 0–5 Everett Silvertips Angel of the Winds Arena Recap
Everett wins series 4–1


(W4) Wenatchee Wild vs. (W5) Kelowna Rockets[edit]

March 29 Kelowna Rockets 6–8 Wenatchee Wild Town Toyota Center Recap
March 30 Kelowna Rockets 3–1 Wenatchee Wild Town Toyota Center Recap
April 2 Wenatchee Wild 1–5 Kelowna Rockets Prospera Place Recap
April 3 Wenatchee Wild 1–3 Kelowna Rockets Prospera Place Recap
April 5 Kelowna Rockets 4–5 OT Wenatchee Wild Town Toyota Center Recap
April 7 Wenatchee Wild 2–4 Kelowna Rockets Prospera Place Recap
Kelowna wins series 4–2


Conference Semi-finals[edit]

Eastern Conference[edit]

(E1) Saskatoon Blades vs. (E5) Red Deer Rebels[edit]

April 12 Red Deer Rebels 1–4 Saskatoon Blades SaskTel Centre Recap
April 14 Red Deer Rebels 1–2 OT Saskatoon Blades SaskTel Centre Recap
April 16 Saskatoon Blades 8–5 Red Deer Rebels Peavey Mart Centrium Recap
April 17 Saskatoon Blades 7–0 Red Deer Rebels Peavey Mart Centrium Recap
Saskatoon wins series 4–0


(E2) Swift Current Broncos vs. (E3) Moose Jaw Warriors[edit]

April 12 Swift Current Broncos 7–2 Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw Events Centre Recap
April 13 Swift Current Broncos 2–7 Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw Events Centre Recap
April 16 Moose Jaw Warriors 5–3 Swift Current Broncos InnovationPlex Recap
April 17 Moose Jaw Warriors 5–2 Swift Current Broncos InnovationPlex Recap
April 19 Swift Current Broncos 2–4 Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw Events Centre Recap
Moose Jaw wins series 4–1


Western Conference[edit]

(W1) Prince George Cougars vs. (W5) Kelowna Rockets[edit]

April 12 Kelowna Rockets 0–4 Prince George Cougars CN Centre Recap
April 13 Kelowna Rockets 0–5 Prince George Cougars CN Centre Recap
April 16 Prince George Cougars 4–3 OT Kelowna Rockets Prospera Place Recap
April 17 Prince George Cougars 1–2 Kelowna Rockets Prospera Place Recap
April 19 Kelowna Rockets 3–6 Prince George Cougars CN Centre Recap
Prince George wins series 4–1


(W2) Portland Winterhawks vs. (W3) Everett Silvertips[edit]

April 12 Everett Silvertips 2–8 Portland Winterhawks Veterans Memorial Coliseum Recap
April 13 Everett Silvertips 1–6 Portland Winterhawks Veterans Memorial Coliseum Recap
April 15 Portland Winterhawks 4–3 OT Everett Silvertips Angel of the Winds Arena Recap
April 19 Portland Winterhawks 5–0 Everett Silvertips Angel of the Winds Arena Recap
Portland wins series 4–0


Conference Finals[edit]

Eastern Conference[edit]

(E1) Saskatoon Blades vs. (E3) Moose Jaw Warriors[edit]

April 26 Moose Jaw Warriors 4–3 OT Saskatoon Blades SaskTel Centre Recap
April 27 Moose Jaw Warriors 7:00 pm CST Saskatoon Blades SaskTel Centre
April 30 Saskatoon Blades 7:00 pm CST Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw Events Centre
May 1 Saskatoon Blades 7:00 pm CST Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw Events Centre
May 3* Moose Jaw Warriors 7:00 pm CST Saskatoon Blades SaskTel Centre
May 5* Saskatoon Blades 2:00 pm CST Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw Events Centre
May 7* Moose Jaw Warriors 7:00 pm CST Saskatoon Blades SaskTel Centre
Moose Jaw leads series 1–0


Western Conference[edit]

(W1) Prince George Cougars vs. (W2) Portland Winterhawks[edit]

April 26 Portland Winterhawks 0–5 Prince George Cougars CN Centre Recap
April 27 Portland Winterhawks 6:00 pm PDT Prince George Cougars CN Centre
April 29 Prince George Cougars 7:00 pm PDT Portland Winterhawks Veterans Memorial Coliseum
May 1 Prince George Cougars 7:00 pm PDT Portland Winterhawks Veterans Memorial Coliseum
May 2* Prince George Cougars 7:00 pm PDT Portland Winterhawks Veterans Memorial Coliseum
May 6* Portland Winterhawks 7:00 pm PDT Prince George Cougars CN Centre
May 7* Portland Winterhawks 7:00 pm PDT Prince George Cougars CN Centre
Prince George leads series 1–0


Playoff scoring leaders[edit]

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Denton Mateychuk Moose Jaw Warriors 10 5 16 21 0
Jagger Firkus Moose Jaw Warriors 10 9 10 19 9
Riley Heidt Prince George Cougars 10 3 15 18 10
Egor Sidorov Saskatoon Blades 10 12 4 16 10
Zac Funk Prince George Cougars 10 7 9 16 8
Tij Iginla Kelowna Rockets 11 9 6 15 0
Matthew Savoie Moose Jaw Warriors 9 8 7 15 2
Brayden Yager Moose Jaw Warriors 10 8 7 15 6
Andrew Cristall Kelowna Rockets 11 4 11 15 10
Trevor Wong Saskatoon Blades 10 3 11 14 0

Playoff leading goaltenders[edit]

Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; SV& = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Mins W L GA SO Sv% GAA
Ethan Eskit Brandon Wheat Kings 2 61 0 0 1 0 .976 0.98
Evan Gardner Saskatoon Blades 8 432 7 0 12 1 .928 1.66
Joshua Ravensbergen Prince George Cougars 7 421 7 0 13 2 .931 1.85
Jan Spunar Portland Winterhawks 8 496 8 0 16 1 .931 1.94
Ethan Chadwick Everett Silvertips 2 61 0 1 2 0 .933 1.95

WHL awards[edit]

Regular season Champions Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy Saskatoon Blades
Player of the Year Four Broncos Memorial Trophy
Top Scorer Bob Clarke Trophy Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors
Top Defenceman Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
Rookie of the Year Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
Top Goaltender Del Wilson Trophy
Top Plus-Minus Rating WHL Plus-Minus Award Zac Funk, Prince George Cougars
Most Sportsmanlike Player Brad Hornung Trophy
Scholastic player of the Year Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy
Coach of the Year Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
Executive of the Year Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
Top Official Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy
Marketing/Public Relations Award St. Clair Group Trophy
Humanitarian of the Year Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy
WHL Finals Most Valuable Player airBC Trophy
Alumni Achievement Awards Professional Hockey Achievement
Academic Recipient

Attendance[edit]

Regular Season[edit]

Home Team Home Games Average Attendance Total Attendance[4]
Edmonton Oil Kings 34 7,403 251,728
Everett Silvertips 34 6,069 206,358
Spokane Chiefs 34 6,044 205,500
Saskatoon Blades 34 5,165 175,642
Portland Winterhawks 34 4,855 165,098
Seattle Thunderbirds 34 4,653 158,228
Calgary Hitmen 34 4,529 153,994
Kamloops Blazers 34 4,400 149,617
Kelowna Rockets 34 4,355 148,081
Red Deer Rebels 34 4,277 145,439
Tri-City Americans 34 3,998 135,935
Victoria Royals 34 3,824 130,018
Lethbridge Hurricanes 34 3,729 126,786
Vancouver Giants 34 3,672 124,877
Prince George Cougars 34 3,519 119,655
Medicine Hat Tigers 34 3,304 112,346
Regina Pats 34 3,219 109,447
Moose Jaw Warriors 34 3,149 107,092
Wenatchee Wild 34 3,032 103,120
Brandon Wheat Kings 34 2,818 95,814
Prince Albert Raiders 34 2,385 81,116
Swift Current Broncos 34 2,169 73,775
League 748 4,107 3,072,600

Playoffs[edit]

Home Team Home Games Average Attendance Total Attendance [4]
Saskatoon Blades 6 8,374 50,247
Prince George Cougars 6 5,853 35,120
Portland Winterhawks 4 5,602 22,410
Medicine Hat Tigers 3 4,653 13,960
Everett Silvertips 5 4,649 23,246
Red Deer Rebels 4 4,308 17,233
Moose Jaw Warriors 5 4,200 21,002
Kelowna Rockets 5 3,829 19,149
Spokane Chiefs 2 3,520 7,040
Lethbridge Hurricanes 2 3,516 7,033
Victoria Royals 2 3,112 6,224
Prince Albert Raiders 2 2,928 5,856
Swift Current Broncos 4 2,890 11,560
Vancouver Giants 2 2,877 5,754
Wenatchee Wild 3 2,344 7,033
Brandon Wheat Kings 2 2,056 4,113
League 57 4,508 256,980

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "WHL unveils 2023-24 Regular Season schedule".
  2. ^ "WHL Regular season: Scoring leaders". Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  3. ^ WHL Regular season: Goaltending leaders. Retrieved on September 29, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "WHL Schedule". CHL.ca/WHL. Retrieved June 16, 2023.

External links[edit]