2009–10 WHL season
Introduction The '''2009–10 WHL season''' is the 44th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began on September 17, 2009, and ended on March 14, 2010.The 2009 Subway Super Series (formerly ADT Canada-Russia Challenge), featuring Team WHL versus Team Russia, took place from November 25–26, 2009.
League notes ;Offseason* May 27, 2009 — The WHL announced that they have extended their partnership with Shaw TV for an additional five years commencing through the 2013–14 season. * May 28, 2009 — 13 WHL players were invited to Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Selections Camp. * May 29, 2009 — 11 WHL players were invited to the Hockey Canada's National Junior Team Development Camp. * June 17, 2009 — The WHL Board of Governors agreed to adopt video-replay during the regular season and playoffs commencing with the 2009–10 season. The WHL introduced video-replay during the 2009 playoffs. With the decision, The WHL will expand its officiating development program to include video training centres for referees and additional linesmen training camps throughout Western Canada. * June 17, 2009 — The WHL Board of Governors adopted a new player recruitment strategy which will include the hiring of a Director of Player Recruitment that will focus on promoting the WHL Scholarship program and other overall benefits of playing in the WHL to top prospects in Western Canada and the United States. * June 17, 2009 — The WHL Board of Governors also announced the introduction of a series of new online post-secondary education initiatives that will improve players' access to University courses while they are playing in the WHL starting in the 2009–10 season. The new initiative was done through the support of the WHL Alumni Association and the league's corporate sponsorship. * June 21, 2009 — Prince Albert Raiders broadcaster Morley Jaeger died at the age of 72. * July 3, 2009 —18 WHL Grads Invited to Hockey Canada's National Men's Team Orientation Camp in Calgary. * July 20, 2009 — The entire 1989 Memorial Cup Championship Team of the Swift Current Broncos were inducted into the Swift Current Broncos Hall of Fame. The first time that an entire team was inducted into the local Hall of Fame. * July 29, 2009 — The Province of Alberta announced $17.8 million to support the completion of Lethbridge's Enmax Centre Expansion project. * August 14, 2009 — Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team claimed first place at the 2009 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, with a 9–2 win over Russia. * August 17, 2009 — Two months after the passing of their broadcaster, longtime supporter and former Raiders team president, John Odnokon died at the age of 78.;Pre-season* August 31, 2009 — The Canadian Hockey League announced an expanded corporate sponsorship deal with Subway, which includes a new title sponsorship agreement that replaces ADT. Through this new agreement the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge is renamed the Subway Super Series for the next three years. * September 9, 2009 — All 22 teams in the WHL unveiled their new Reebok Edge jerseys, which have been used in the National Hockey League since the 2007-08 NHL season. ;Regular season* September 17, 2009 — Due to enhancement of in-house video production from all 22 teams, the WHL and its broadcast partner INSINC will be able to show all 792 WHL Regular-Season games on the internet during the '''2009-10 season'''. All games will be shown on WHL Web TV. * September 25, 2009 —The WHL and Hockey Alberta will enhance their longstanding partnership that will include joint programming initiatives and additional financial support for minor hockey and high performance programs in Alberta. Through this newly enhanced partnership, new province-wide programming initiatives will help enhance development opportunities for players, coaches, officials and trainers in the Alberta system. The partnership will also feature both the WHL and Hockey Alberta extensively promoting their respective programs through special events, member venues, and media platforms. * October 13, 2009 — The WHL launched WHL Mobile, which is a mobile-optimized version of its website designed specifically for users of Apple iPhone and iPod Touch, BlackBerry, HTC Touch, and other web-enabled smartphones. WHL Mobile will feature news and information from WHL.ca and will also provide full game summaries, full rosters, player profiles, news articles, etc. through smartphone devices. * December 3, 2009 — Ten players from the WHL have been invited to Team Canada's Selection Camp roster for the upcoming 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. * December 23, 2009 — The WHL announced a multi-year deal with FSN Northwest to broadcast WHL games starting with ten games in the '''2009-10 season''' til the 2011-12 season. * January 10, 2010 — WHL Trade Deadline ended with 15 trades. * January 15, 2010 — The WHL and BC Hockey announced a new long-term partnership which will provide additional financial support for the hockey system in the province of British Columbia and the Yukon territory. * January 20, 2010 — The 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game was held in Windsor, Ontario. * February 6, 2010 — Brendan Burke, who is the 21-year-old son of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager and Chilliwack Bruins owner, Brian Burke died in an automobile accident in the United States during the 2010 snow storms. For the remainder of the season the Chilliwack Bruins wore a special patch on their jerseys.
Regular season The Western Hockey League opened its 44th regular season on September 17, 2009, in Kelowna, British Columbia between defending WHL Champions, Kelowna Rockets and the Vancouver Giants.The 2009–10 WHL season was also highlighted with the Subway Super Series (formerly Canada-Russia Challenge), an annual CHL showcase event. The 2009 Subway Super Series, featured a two-game series between ''Team WHL'' versus ''Team Russia'', on November 25, 2009, in Victoria, British Columbia, and the second game took place on November 26, 2009, in Kelowna, British Columbia.=== Standings ==='''''Note:''' GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes''====Conference standings===='''x''' - team clinched Western Hockey League Playoff spot'''y''' - team is division leader'''z''' - team has clinched division====Division standings====; Eastern Conference; Western Conference'''x''' - team clinched Western Hockey League Playoff spot'''y''' - team is division leader'''z''' - team has clinched division=== Scoring leaders ===''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts. = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes'' '''Player''' Team GP G A Pts. PIM Brandon Kozun Calgary Hitmen  65  32  75  107  50 Jordan Eberle Regina Pats  57  50  56  106  32 Jordan Weal Regina Pats  72  35  67  102  54 Matt Calvert Brandon Wheat Kings  68  47  52  99  70 Brayden Schenn Brandon Wheat Kings  59  34  65  99  55 Craig Cunningham Vancouver Giants  72  37  60  97  44 Mitch Wahl Spokane Chiefs  72  30  66  96  96 Dustin Sylvester Kootenay Ice  68  35  58  93  41 Cody Eakin Swift Current Broncos  70  47  44  91  71 Scott Glennie Brandon Wheat Kings  66  32  57  89  50=== Goaltending leaders ===''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% Martin Jones Calgary Hitmen  48  2851  36  11  0  1  8  2.21  .919 Kent Simpson Everett Silvertips  34  1938  22  9  1  0  1  2.26  .925 Thomas Heemskerk Everett Silvertips  42  2415  24  12  2  2  4  2.34  .927 James Reid Spokane Chiefs  60  3514  38  16  3  2  5  2.41  .920 Drew Owsley Tri-City Americans  50  2776  33  11  1  1  4  2.51  .918 Mark Segal Vancouver Giants  36  1915  18  12  1  1  4  2.66  .910 Andrew Hayes Brandon Wheat Kings  42  2440  25  12  0  2  5  2.68  .906 Steven Stanford Saskatoon Blades1  44  2424  28  8  3  1  1  2.72  .902 Darcy Kuemper Red Deer Rebels  61  3234  28  23  0  4  3  2.73  .908 Todd Mathews Kootenay Ice  55  3116  33  14  3  2  1  2.75  .907:1 Previously played with Prince Albert Raiders
Players === 2009 NHL Entry Draft ===In total, 31 WHL players were selected at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.=== Contracts and scholarships ===* May 15, 2009 — Steven Hodges and Kade Pilton sign WHL Player Contracts with the Chilliwack Bruins. * May 18, 2009 — Derrick Pouliot signs a WHL Players Contract with the Portland Winterhawks. * May 18, 2009 — Morgan Rielly signs a WHL Players Contract with the Moose Jaw Warriors. * May 22, 2009 — Mike Winther signs a WHL Players Contract with the Prince Albert Raiders. * May 24, 2009 — Ryan Olsen signs a WHL Players Contract with the Saskatoon Blades. * May 27, 2009 — Griffin Reinhart signs a WHL Players Contract with the Edmonton Oil Kings. * May 30, 2009 — WHL Grads Jesse Deckert and Brandon Lockerby commits to the Manitoba Bisons. * June 3, 2009 — WHL Grad Justin McCrae commits to the UBC Thunderbirds. * June 3, 2009 — Josh Smith signs a WHL Players Contract with the Prince George Cougars. * June 6, 2009 — Connor Rankin signs a WHL Players Contract with the Tri-City Americans. * June 8, 2009 — Troy Bourke signs a WHL Players Contract with the Prince George Cougars. * June 8, 2009 — WHL Grad Carter Smith commits to the Regina Cougars. * June 10, 2009 — Dave Hunchak signs a WHL Players Contract with the Moose Jaw Warriors. * June 16, 2009 — WHL Grad Ian Duval commits to the Manitoba Bisons. * June 19, 2009 — Nicholas Walters signs a WHL Educational Contract with the Everett Silvertips. * June 25, 2009 — WHL Grads Eric Frere, Graham Potuer, Luke Egener commits to the Calgary Dinos. * June 29, 2009 — WHL Grad Chad Erb commits to the Manitoba Bisons. * July 8, 2009 — WHL Grad Tyler Swystun commits to the Calgary Dinos. * July 11, 2009 — Taylor Aronson, Spencer Bennett, and Seth Swenson sign WHL Players Contracts with the Portland Winterhawks. * July 16, 2009 — WHL Grad Partik Bhungal commits to the Regina Cougars. * July 21, 2009 — WHL Grad Scott Wasden commits to the UBC Thunderbirds. * July 21, 2009 — WHL Grads Joey Perricone, Spencer McAvoy, and Brennen Wray commits to the StFX X-Men. * July 29, 2009 — Kevin Connauton signs a WHL Players Contract with the Vancouver Giants. * August 4, 2009 — Taylor Leier and Nino Niederreiter sign WHL Player Contracts with the Portland Winterhawks. * August 7, 2009 — Andrew Bailey, Brennan Bosch, Kyle Bortis, Kyle Ross, Cody Hobbs, Brett Ward, and David Reekie commits to the Saskatchewan Huskies. * August 9, 2009 — WHL Grads Colin Joe, Ian Barteaux, Travis Yonkman, Sean Ringrose and Michael MacAngus commits to the Alberta Golden Bears. * August 9, 2009 — WHL Grads Taylor Procyshen, Jeff Lee and Ben Wright commits to the UNB Varsity Reds. * August 12, 2009 — Josh Hanson signs a WHL Players Contract with the Portland Winterhawks. * August 18, 2009 — WHL Grad Mike Reich commits to the STU Tommies. * August 19, 2009 — Ryan Johansen signs a WHL Players Contract with the Portland Winterhawks. * August 24, 2009 — Dalton Sward and Matthieu Bellerive sign WHL Players Contracts with the Vancouver Giants. * August 25, 2009 — Brett Cote, Turner Popoff, Brandon Magee, Zane Jones, Matt Bissett, and Travis Belhorad sign Standard WHL Education Contracts with the Chilliwack Bruins. * August 25, 2009 — Chandler Stephenson and Tayler Balog sign WHL Players Contracts with the Regina Pats. * August 27, 2009 — WHL Grad Cale Jefferies commits to the Guelph Gryphons. * August 27, 2009 — Andrew Sullivan, Andy Blanke, Adam Lowry and Shea Howorko sign WHL Players Contracts with the Swift Current Broncos. * August 28, 2009 — Mitchell Moroz signs WHL Players Contract with the Edmonton Oil Kings. * August 31, 2009 — Dane Muench and Graeme Craig sign WHL Players Contracts with the Swift Current Broncos.=== Trades ===
Subway Super Series The Subway Super Series (formerly known as ADT Canada Russia Challenge) is a six-game series featuring four teams: three from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) versus Russia's National Junior hockey team. Within the Canadian Hockey League umbrella, one team from each of its three leagues — the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League — compete in two games against the Russian junior team.The 2009 Subway Super Series was held in six cities across Canada, with two cities for each league within the Canadian Hockey League. The series begun on November 16, 2009, and concluded on November 26, 2009.Both Western Hockey League games were held in the province of British Columbia. Former Victoria Cougar goaltender and Hall of Famer, Grant Fuhr was named Honorary Captain for the first game in the series, held in Victoria on November 25, 2009.The next night, retired Kelowna fire chief, Gerry Zimmermann, was named Honorary Captain for the final game of the series, who was a popular local citizen who led Kelowna through the devastating Okanagan Mountain Park Fire that burned 200 homes in 2003.All six games were televised nationwide on Rogers Sportsnet, which broadcast both games from the Western Hockey League.=== Results ===In the first game of the two part series between Team WHL and Team Russia, Team WHL scored two goals en route to a 2–1 win in front of 6,695 fans at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, British Columbia. Goaltender, Igor Bobkov of Team Russia and forward Levko Koper of Team WHL, were named Players of the Game for their respective teams. The next night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia, Team WHL defeated Team Russia 4–2 to end the series and give the CHL a clean 6–0 sweep. Goaltender Igor Bobkov was named Team Russia's Player of the Game for the second straight night, while Brandon McMillan was named Team WHL's Player of the Game. Date  Location  Winner  Loser November 16  Drummondville, Quebec  QMJHL all-stars 3  1 Team Russia November 18  Shawinigan, Quebec  QMJHL all-stars 8  3 Team Russia November 19  Barrie, Ontario  OHL all-stars 5  2 Team Russia November 23  Windsor, Ontario  OHL all-stars 5  2 Team Russia November 25  Victoria, British Columbia  WHL all-stars 2  1 Team Russia November 26  Kelowna, British Columbia   WHL all-stars 4  2 Team Russia '''''CHL wins series 6-0'''''
2010 WHL Playoffs === Overview ===
Conference Quarter-finals === Eastern Conference =======(1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (8) Moose Jaw Warriors==== ====(2) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. (7) Swift Current Broncos==== ====(3) Saskatoon Blades vs. (6) Red Deer Rebels==== ====(4) Kootenay Ice vs. (5) Medicine Hat Tigers==== === Western Conference =======(1) Tri-City Americans vs. (8) Chilliwack Bruins==== ====(2) Vancouver Giants vs. (7) Kamloops Blazers==== ====(3) Everett Silvertips vs. (6) Kelowna Rockets==== ====(4) Spokane Chiefs vs. (5) Portland Winterhawks====
Conference Semi-finals ===Eastern Conference=======(1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (5) Medicine Hat Tigers==== ====(2) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. (3) Saskatoon Blades==== ===Western Conference=======(1) Tri-City Americans vs. (6) Kelowna Rockets==== ====(2) Vancouver Giants vs. (5) Portland Winterhawks====
Conference Finals ===Eastern Conference=======(1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (2) Brandon Wheat Kings==== ===Western Conference=======(1) Tri-City Americans vs. (2) Vancouver Giants====
WHL Championship ===(E1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (W1) Tri-City Americans===
Memorial Cup The 92nd MasterCard Memorial Cup was held in Brandon, Manitoba.
WHL awards  Regular season champions Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy Calgary Hitmen Player of the Year Four Broncos Memorial Trophy Jordan Eberle Regina Pats Top Scorer Bob Clarke Trophy Brandon Kozun  Calgary Hitmen  Top Defenseman Bill Hunter Trophy Tyson Barrie Kelowna Rockets Rookie of the Year Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy Ryan Nugent-Hopkins  Red Deer Rebels Top Goaltender Del Wilson Trophy Martin Jones Calgary Hitmen Top Plus-Minus Rating WHL Plus-Minus Award  Colby Robak   Brandon Wheat Kings Most Sportsmanlike Player Brad Hornung Trophy Jason Bast Moose Jaw Warriors Scholastic Player of the Year Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy Adam Lowry  Swift Current Broncos Coach of the Year Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy Mark Holick Kootenay Ice Executive of the Year Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy Kelly McCrimmon Brandon Wheat Kings Top Official Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy Chris Savage Marketing/Public Relations Award St. Clair Group Trophy Zoran Rajcic Everett Silvertips Humanitarian of the Year Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy Matt Fraser Kootenay Ice WHL Finals Most Valuable Player AirBC Trophy Martin Jones Calgary Hitmen Alumni Achievement Awards Professional Hockey AchievementAcademic Recipient Joe SakicGavin McLeod===All-Star Teams=======Eastern Conference====First TeamPos.Second TeamPlayerTeamPlayerTeamMartin JonesCalgary HitmenGDarcy KuemperRed Deer RebelsMichael StoneCalgary HitmenDTravis HamonicBrandon Wheat KingsBrayden McNabbKootenay IceDColby RobakBrandon Wheat KingsJordan Eberle*Regina PatsFDustin SylvesterKootenay IceBrayden SchennBrandon Wheat KingsFMatt CalvertBrandon Wheat KingsBrandon KozunCalgary HitmenFCody EakinSwift Current Broncos==== Western Conference ==== First Team Pos. Second Team Player  Team  Player  TeamCalvin PickardSeattle Thunderbirds  GDrew Owsley Tri-City Americans Tyson Barrie Kelowna Rockets  DJared Cowen Spokane Chiefs Kevin Connauton Vancouver Giants  DRadko Gudas Everett Silvertips Craig Cunningham*Vancouver Giants  FShane Harper Everett Silvertips Kyle Beach Spokane Chiefs  FNino NiederreiterPortland Winterhawks Mitch Wahl Spokane Chiefs  FPrab Rai Seattle Thunderbirds *denotes unanimous selection
See also * 2010 Memorial Cup* List of WHL seasons* 2009–10 OHL season* 2009–10 QMJHL season* 2009 NHL Entry Draft* 2009 in ice hockey* 2010 in ice hockey
References
External links *  Official website of the Western Hockey League*  Official website of the Canadian Hockey League*  Official website of the MasterCard Memorial Cup*  Official website of the Home Hardware Top Prospects Game*  Official website of the Subway Super Series