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. However, the Giants captured the 2007 Memorial Cup as tournament hosts, defeating the Tigers in the championship game.
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. After the accident, the Warriors established the Garrett Robinson Recovery Fund to provide financial assistance to Robinson's family. 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. 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 GF GA PtsBrandon Wheat Kingsy 724120 3 8258214 93Regina Patsx 723628 2 6234220 80Swift Current Broncosx723336 1 2199241 69Prince Albert Raidersx722739 3 3203266 60Moose Jaw Warriors 722841 3 0217271 59Saskatoon Blades 722741 2 2174231 58
Central Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PtsMedicine Hat Tigersy 725217 3 0264175 107Kootenay Icex 724917 3 3267189 104Calgary Hitmenx 723926 3 4251205 85Red Deer Rebelsx 723528 4 5206214 79Lethbridge Hurricanes 723334 2 3254265 71
Western Conference B.C. Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PtsVancouver Giantsy 724517 3 7245143 100Kamloops Blazersx 724026 4 2245222 86Prince George Cougarsx723331 3 5221217 74Chilliwack Bruinsx 722540 5 2169260 57Kelowna Rockets 722241 5 4156245 53
U.S. Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PtsEverett Silvertipsy 725415 1 2239142 111Tri-City Americansx 724723 1 1240190 96Seattle Thunderbirdsx 723721 311209186 88Spokane Chiefsx 723628 4 4232217 80Portland Winter Hawks 721752 1 2146316 37
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIMZach HamillEverett Silvertips 693261 93 90Steve DaSilvaKootenay Ice 713853 91 108Zach BoychukLethbridge Hurricanes 693160 91 52Ryan WhiteCalgary Hitmen 723455 89 97Codey Burki Brandon Wheat Kings 703649 85 83Martin HanzalRed Deer Rebels 602659 85 94Mitch Fadden Lethbridge Hurricanes 713648 84 54Riley HolzapfelMoose Jaw Warriors 723943 82 94Mark SantorelliChilliwack Bruins 722953 82 46Mark Derlago Brandon Wheat Kings 724635 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% GAATyson Sexsmith Vancouver Giants 51 3047 31 14 8 91 10 .915 1.79Leland Irving Everett Silvertips 48 2802 34 10 2 87 11 .929 1.86David Reekie Regina/Everett 31 1796 21 9 0 59 3 .917 1.97Derek Yeomans Seattle Thunderbirds 55 3304 30 15 9 117 5 .917 2.12Taylor Dakers Kootenay Ice 48 2831 33 12 2 102 5 .919 2.16
2007 WHL Playoffs
Overview
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 IceDefense Kris Russell Medicine Hat Tigers David Schlemko Medicine Hat Tigers Mike Busto Kootenay Ice Karl Alzner Calgary HitmenForward 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 RebelsWestern Conference First Team Second Team Goal Carey Price Tri-City Americans Leland Irving Everett SilvertipsDefense Cody Franson Vancouver Giants Ty Wishart Prince George Cougars Ray Macias Kamloops Blazers Thomas Hickey (tied) Seattle Thunderbirds Jason Fransoo (tied) Everett SilvertipsForward 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.