2006–07 WHL season

2006–07 WHL season
League	Western Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	Regular season September, 2007 – March, 2008 Playoffs March – May, 2008
Teams	21
TV partner	Shaw TV
Regular season
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy	Everett Silvertips (1)
Season MVP	Kris Russell (Medicine Hat Tigers)
Top scorer	Zach Hamill (Everett Silvertips)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP	Matt Keetley (Tigers)
Finals champions	Medicine Hat Tigers (5)
Runners-up	Vancouver Giants
WHL seasons
← 2005–06 2007–08 →

2006–07 CHL season
League	Canadian Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	September 2006 – March 2007
Teams	59
OHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals champions	Vancouver Giants (WHL) (1st title)
Runners-up	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

The 2006–07 WHL season was the 41st season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Twenty-one teams completed a 72-game season, with the Chilliwack Bruins competing in their inaugural season. The Everett Silvertips won their first Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record. The Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup, defeating the Vancouver Giants in seven games.^[1] However, the Giants captured the 2007 Memorial Cup as tournament hosts, defeating the Tigers in the championship game.^[2]

League notes

• The Chilliwack Bruins joined the WHL as an expansion team, playing in the B.C. Division of the Western Conference. The Kootenay Ice returned to the Central Division of the Eastern Conference, while the Swift Current Broncos moved to the East Division of the Eastern Conference.
• On October 23, three players with the Moose Jaw Warriors were struck by a suspected drunk driver while returning home following a road trip. Two players were treated and released from hospital; however, Garrett Robinson was critically injured in the accident, leaving him in a coma.^[3] After the accident, the Warriors established the Garrett Robinson Recovery Fund to provide financial assistance to Robinson's family.^[4]
• The WHL announced at the Memorial Cup tournament that the league's championship trophy—until then, known as the President's Cup—would be renamed in honour of Ed Chynoweth, who served as WHL president from 1972 until 1995.^[5] The Tigers' championship was thus the last one played for the President's Cup under that name.

Final standings

Eastern Conference

East Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
y Brandon Wheat Kings	72	41	20	3	8	93	258	214
x Regina Pats	72	36	28	2	6	80	234	220
x Swift Current Broncos	72	33	36	1	2	69	199	241
x Prince Albert Raiders	72	27	39	3	3	60	203	266
Moose Jaw Warriors	72	28	41	3	0	59	217	271
Saskatoon Blades	72	27	41	2	2	58	174	231

Central Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
y Medicine Hat Tigers	72	52	17	3	0	107	264	175
x Kootenay Ice	72	49	17	3	3	104	267	189
x Calgary Hitmen	72	39	26	3	4	85	251	205
x Red Deer Rebels	72	35	28	4	5	79	206	214
Lethbridge Hurricanes	72	33	34	2	3	71	254	265

Western Conference

B.C. Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
y Vancouver Giants	72	45	17	3	7	100	245	143
x Kamloops Blazers	72	40	26	4	2	86	245	222
x Prince George Cougars	72	33	31	3	5	74	221	217
x Chilliwack Bruins	72	25	40	5	2	57	169	260
Kelowna Rockets	72	22	41	5	4	53	156	245

U.S. Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
y Everett Silvertips	72	54	15	1	2	111	239	142
x Tri-City Americans	72	47	23	1	1	96	240	190
x Seattle Thunderbirds	72	37	21	3	11	88	209	186
x Spokane Chiefs	72	36	28	4	4	80	232	217
Portland Winter Hawks	72	17	52	1	2	37	146	316

Map of WHL, 2006–07

190km
118miles

Wheat Kings

Pats

Warriors

Raiders

Blades

Broncos

Tigers

Hurricanes

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
Zach Hamill	Everett Silvertips	69	32	61	93	90
Steve DaSilva	Kootenay Ice	71	38	53	91	108
Zach Boychuk	Lethbridge Hurricanes	69	31	60	91	52
Ryan White	Calgary Hitmen	72	34	55	89	97
Codey Burki	Brandon Wheat Kings	70	36	49	85	83
Martin Hanzal	Red Deer Rebels	60	26	59	85	94
Mitch Fadden	Lethbridge Hurricanes	71	36	48	84	54
Riley Holzapfel	Moose Jaw Warriors	72	39	43	82	94
Mark Santorelli	Chilliwack Bruins	72	29	53	82	46
Mark Derlago	Brandon Wheat Kings	72	46	35	81	34

Goaltending leaders

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	SOL	GA	SO	SV%	GAA
Tyson Sexsmith	Vancouver Giants	51	3047	31	14	8	91	10	.915	1.79
Leland Irving	Everett Silvertips	48	2802	34	10	2	87	11	.929	1.86
David Reekie	Regina/Everett	31	1796	21	9	0	59	3	.917	1.97
Derek Yeomans	Seattle Thunderbirds	55	3304	30	15	9	117	5	.917	2.12
Taylor Dakers	Kootenay Ice	48	2831	33	12	2	102	5	.919	2.16

2007 WHL Playoffs

Overview

Conference Quarter-finals

Conference Semi-finals

Conference Finals

WHL Championship

C1

Medicine Hat

4

C4

Red Deer

3

C1

Medicine Hat

4

E2

Regina

0

E3

Swift Current

2

E2

Regina

4

C1

Medicine Hat

4

Eastern

C3

Calgary

1

E1

Brandon

4

E4

Prince Albert

1

E1

Brandon

2

C3

Calgary

4

C3

Calgary

4

C2

Kootenay

3

C1

Medicine Hat

4

B1

Vancouver

3

B1

Vancouver

4

B4

Chilliwack

1

B1

Vancouver

4

U3

Seattle

1

U3

Seattle

4

U2

Tri-City

2

B1

Vancouver

4

Western

B3

Prince George

1

U1

Everett

4

U4

Spokane

2

U1

Everett

2

B3

Prince George

4

B3

Prince George

4

B2

Kamloops

0

• Note: In the first round, the first place team in each division plays the fourth place team; the second place team faces the third. After the first round, the four remaining teams in each conference are re-seeded by regular season record.

Conference quarterfinals

Eastern Conference

Brandon vs. Prince Albert Date Away Home March 23 Prince Albert 3 4 Brandon OT March 24 Prince Albert 2 3 Brandon OT Mar 28 Brandon 0 2 Prince Albert Mar 29 Brandon 7 3 Prince Albert Mar 31 Brandon 4 2 Prince Albert Brandon wins 4–1	Regina vs. Swift Current Date Away Home March 23 Swift Current 0 4 Regina March 24 Swift Current 4 3 Regina March 27 Regina 5 4 Swift Current March 28 Regina 5 2 Swift Current March 30 Swift Current 3 2 Regina April 1 Regina 2 1 Swift Current OT Regina wins 4–2
Medicine Hat vs. Red Deer Date Away Home March 23 Red Deer 6 2 Medicine Hat March 24 Red Deer 0 5 Medicine Hat March 27 Medicine Hat 5 3 Red Deer March 28 Medicine Hat 4 6 Red Deer March 30 Red Deer 0 4 Medicine Hat April 1 Medicine Hat 5 6 Red Deer April 3 Red Deer 0 2 Medicine Hat Medicine Hat wins 4–3	Kootenay vs. Calgary Date Away Home March 23 Calgary 2 1 Kootenay March 24 Calgary 2 4 Kootenay March 28 Kootenay 2 3 Calgary March 29 Kootenay 4 5 Calgary OT March 31 Calgary 0 4 Kootenay April 2 Kootenay 4 3 Calgary April 4 Calgary 3 2 Kootenay OT Calgary wins 4–3

Western Conference

Vancouver vs. Chilliwack Date Away Home March 23 Chilliwack 4 5 Vancouver OT March 24 Chilliwack 3 1 Vancouver March 27 Vancouver 4 0 Chilliwack March 28 Vancouver 5 1 Chilliwack March 30 Chilliwack 1 3 Vancouver Vancouver wins 4–1	Kamloops vs. Prince George Date Away Home March 23 Prince George 3 2 Kamloops OT March 24 Prince George 5 4 Kamloops OT March 27 Kamloops 3 4 Prince George March 28 Kamloops 3 4 Prince George OT Prince George wins 4–0
Everett vs. Spokane Date Away Home March 23 Spokane 2 4 Everett March 24 Spokane 2 3 Everett OT March 27 Everett 2 3 Spokane March 28 Everett 1 3 Spokane March 30 Spokane 1 5 Everett April 1 Everett 4 1 Spokane Everett wins 4–2	Tri-City vs. Seattle Date Away Home March 23 Seattle 2 0 Tri-City March 24 Seattle 1 2 Tri-City March 27 Tri-City 1 3 Seattle March 28 Tri-City 0 2 Seattle March 30 Seattle 4 5 Tri-City OT March 31 Tri-City 2 7 Seattle Seattle wins 4–2

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference
Medicine Hat vs. Regina Date Away Home April 7 Regina 1 4 Medicine Hat April 9 Regina 2 7 Medicine Hat April 11 Medicine Hat 2 1 Regina OT April 13 Medicine Hat 6 3 Regina Medicine Hat wins 4–0	Brandon vs. Calgary Date Away Home April 6 Calgary 3 4 Brandon OT April 7 Calgary 2 3 Brandon April 10 Brandon 1 8 Calgary April 11 Brandon 1 5 Calgary April 13 Calgary 5 4 Brandon OT April 15 Brandon 1 4 Calgary Calgary wins 4–2

Western Conference
Everett vs. Prince George Date Away Home April 6 Prince George 2 3 Everett April 7 Prince George 2 3 Everett OT April 10 Everett 1 5 Prince George April 11 Everett 3 4 Prince George OT April 14 Prince George 4 3 Everett April 16 Everett 2 8 Prince George Prince George wins 4–2	Vancouver vs. Seattle Date Away Home April 6 Seattle 4 3 Vancouver OT April 7 Seattle 1 3 Vancouver April 10 Vancouver 9 2 Seattle April 11 Vancouver 3 1 Seattle April 13 Seattle 1 5 Vancouver Vancouver wins 4–1

Conference finals

Eastern Conference	Western Conference
Medicine Hat vs. Calgary Date Away Home April 20 Calgary 0 2 Medicine Hat April 21 Calgary 1 4 Medicine Hat April 23 Medicine Hat 2 4 Calgary April 25 Medicine Hat 3 1 Calgary April 27 Calgary 3 4 Medicine Hat OT Medicine Hat wins 4–1	Vancouver vs. Prince George Date Away Home April 20 Prince George 2 3 Vancouver April 21 Prince George 2 6 Vancouver April 24 Vancouver 4 1 Prince George April 25 Vancouver 2 3 Prince George OT April 27 Prince George 1 5 Vancouver Vancouver wins 4–1

WHL Championship

Vancouver vs. Medicine Hat Date Away Home May 4 Vancouver 1 0 Medicine Hat May 5 Vancouver 2 3 Medicine Hat May 8 Medicine Hat 3 2 Vancouver OT May 9 Medicine Hat 0 4 Vancouver May 11 Medicine Hat 0 3 Vancouver May 13 Vancouver 3 4 Medicine Hat May 14 Vancouver 2 3 Medicine Hat 2OT Medicine Hat wins 4–3

Memorial Cup

The Vancouver Giants hosted the 2007 Memorial Cup tournament, which also featured the WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers. The Plymouth Whalers represented the Ontario Hockey League, and the Lewiston Maineiacs represented the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The Tigers earned a spot in the Championship game with a 2–1 round robin record, falling 3–1 to the Maineiacs before defeating the Whalers 4–1, and the Giants 1–0. The Giants also finished 2–1, defeating Plymouth 4–3 in overtime and Lewiston 2–1. Their loss to Medicine Hat dropped them into a semifinal game. The Giants prevailed in the semifinal to meet the Tigers in the final, and defeated Medicine Hat 3–1 to take the title.

2006 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge

On November 29, the WHL defeated the Russian Selects 5–3 before a crowd of 4,404 at Chilliwack, British Columbia.

On November 30, the WHL defeated the Russian Selects 8–1 before a crowd of 4,136 at Kamloops, British Columbia.

WHL awards

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy	Player of the Year	Kris Russell	Medicine Hat Tigers
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy	Scholastic Player of the Year	Keith Aulie	Brandon Wheat Kings
Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy	Scholastic team of the Year	Kamloops Blazers
Bob Clarke Trophy	Top Scorer	Zach Hamill	Everett Silvertips
Brad Hornung Trophy	Most Sportsmanlike Player	Aaron Gagnon	Seattle Thunderbirds
Bill Hunter Trophy	Top Defenseman	Kris Russell	Medicine Hat Tigers
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy	Rookie of the Year	Kyle Beach	Everett Silvertips
Del Wilson Trophy	Top Goaltender	Carey Price	Tri-City Americans
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy	Coach of the Year	Cory Clouston	Kootenay Ice
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy	Executive of the Year	Bob Tory	Tri-City Americans
Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy	Top Official	Andy Thiessen
St. Clair Group Trophy	Marketing/Public Relations Award	Bruce Vance	Prince Albert Raiders
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy	Humanitarian of the Year	Kyle Moir	Swift Current Broncos
WHL Plus-Minus Award	Top +/- Statistic, individual	Jonathon Blum	Vancouver Giants
WHL Playoff MVP	Playoff Most Valuable Player	Matt Keetley	Medicine Hat Tigers

All-Star teams

Eastern Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Matt Keetley	Medicine Hat Tigers	Taylor Dakers	Kootenay Ice
Defense	Kris Russell	Medicine Hat Tigers	David Schlemko	Medicine Hat Tigers
	Mike Busto	Kootenay Ice	Karl Alzner	Calgary Hitmen
Forward	Ryan White	Calgary Hitmen	Zach Boychuk	Lethbridge Hurricanes
	Steve DaSilva	Kootenay Ice	Darren Helm	Medicine Hat Tigers
	Riley Holzapfel	Moose Jaw Warriors	Martin Hanzal	Red Deer Rebels
Western Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Carey Price	Tri-City Americans	Leland Irving	Everett Silvertips
Defense	Cody Franson	Vancouver Giants	Ty Wishart	Prince George Cougars
	Ray Macias	Kamloops Blazers	Thomas Hickey (tied)	Seattle Thunderbirds
			Jason Fransoo (tied)	Everett Silvertips
Forward	Aaron Gagnon	Seattle Thunderbirds	Reid Jorgensen	Kamloops Blazers
	Peter Mueller	Everett Silvertips	Colton Yellow Horn	Tri-City Americans
	Zach Hamill	Everett Silvertips	Brock Nixon	Kamloops Blazers

• source: Western Hockey League press release

2007 Bantam draft

The 2007 WHL Bantam Draft was the 18th Bantam Draft. It was hosted by the Stampede Park Round-Up Centre on Thursday May 3, 2007, via the internet.

List of first round picks in the bantam draft.

#	Player	Nationality	WHL Team
1	Quinton Howden (LW)	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors (via Portland)
2	Luke Moffatt (C)	United States	Kelowna Rockets
3	Mark Pysyk (D)	Canada	Edmonton Oil Kings
4	Charles Inglis (C)	Canada	Saskatoon Blades
5	Ross Brad Ross (LW)	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks (via Moose Jaw)
6	Alex Theriau (D)	Canada	Lethbridge Hurricanes
7	Kevin Sundher (C)	Canada	Chilliwack Bruins
8	Ryan Aasman (D)	Canada	Prince Albert Raiders
9	Christian Magnus (C)	Canada	Swift Current Broncos
10	Brett Connolly (C)	Canada	Prince George Cougars
11	Connor Redmond (LW)	Canada	Red Deer Rebels
12	Michael Betz (LW)	Canada	Spokane Chiefs
13	Dominick Favreau (C)	Canada	Regina Pats
14	Austin Madaisky (D)	Canada	Calgary Hitmen
15	Brendan Ranford (LW)	Canada	Kamloops Blazers
16	Erik Fleming (D)	Canada	Seattle Thunderbirds
17	Brandon Regier (RW)	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings
18	Mark Reners (RW)	Canada	Lethbridge Hurricanes (via Tri-City)
19	Mitch Spooner (D)	Canada	Vancouver Giants
20	Drew Czerwonka (LW)	Canada	Kootenay Ice
21	Tyler Bunz (G)	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers
22	Kent Simpson (G)	Canada	Everett Silvertips

See also

• 2006–07 OHL season
• 2006–07 QMJHL season
• 2007 NHL Entry Draft
• 2006 in ice hockey
• 2007 in ice hockey

References

1. "Dorsett sends Tigers to Memorial Cup final". CBC Sports. May 24, 2007. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
2. "Giants capture franchise's first Memorial Cup". CBC Sports. May 27, 2007. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
3. "Critically injured hockey player opens eyes". CBC News. October 30, 2006. Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
4. Maki, Allan (November 8, 2006). "Rallying around Garrett Robinson". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
5. 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.

Preceded by 2005–06 WHL season

WHL seasons

Succeeded by 2007–08 WHL season