Mar
Eastern Conference
(1) Edmonton Oil Kings vs. (8) Kootenay Ice
Season Series Tied 3-3
Curtis Lazar – Centre, Edmonton
Lazar led Edmonton in goals (38) and game-winning goals (7). He recorded 23 goals & 11 assists in the final 34 games of the season and since January 11th, he hasn’t gone more than two games without netting a goal.
Cody Corbett – Defenceman, Edmonton
Corbett was the top offensive defenceman on his team, scoring 7 goals & 35 assists in 71 games. He recorded 1 goal & 2 assists in 6 games in the season series with the Ice.
Tristan Jarry – Goaltender, Edmonton
Jarry only played in 27 games for the Oil Kings, but his impact was undeniable. He finished with an 18-7-0-0 record, including 6 shutouts, and led the WHL in goals against average (1.61). He went 1-1 with a 0.50 GAA & .976 SV% vs. Kootenay this season.
(2) Saskatoon Blades vs. (7) Medicine Hat Tigers
Blades won season series 4-0
Nick Zajac – Left Wing, Saskatoon
Zajac scored 13 of his 26 points in the last 6 weeks of the season, helping the Blades offensively during their recent 18-game win streak. He scored 1 goal & 1 assist in 3 games vs. Medicine Hat.
Hunter Shinkaruk – Left Wing, Medicine Hat
If there is anyone that can help the Tigers upset the Blades in the first round of the playoffs, it’s Shinkaruk. He recorded 37 goals & 49 assists in 64 games, including 14 power play markers. Shinkaruk finished the season on a 7-game point streak, scoring 5 goals & 8 assists. In four games vs. Saskatoon, he netted 1 goal and added 5 assists.
(3) Calgary Hitmen vs. (6) Swift Current Broncos
Broncos won season series 3-1
Greg Chase – Centre, Calgary
Chase improved all his offensive stats from his rookie season, scoring 17 goals & 32 assists in 69 games. He recorded 3 power play & 3 game-winning goals in 2012/13.
Colby Cave – Centre, Swift Current
Cave finished 3rd in goals scored for the Broncos with 21, including 4 power play, 4 game-winning and 2 short-handed markers. He scored the game winner in the 3rd period in a win against Calgary on January 13th.
(4) Red Deer Rebels vs. (5) Prince Albert Raiders
Season series tied 2-2
Josh Morrissey – Defenceman, Prince Albert
Morrissey scored 15 goals this season, 6th among WHL defencemen. His 47 points was the most by a Raiders defenceman and his 4 game-winning goals tied for the most on his team. Morrissey scored 2 goals in 4 games vs. Prince Albert in 2012/13.
Western Conference
(1) Portland Winterhawks vs. (8) Everett Silvertips
Winterhawks won season series 9-1
Nicolas Petan – Centre, Portland
Petan finished with 120 points in 71 games this season, tying his teammate, Brendan Leipsic, for most in the CHL. His plus/minus rating of +68 was also tops among players in all three leagues. Petan scored 6 goals & 12 assists in the season series vs. Everett.
Sean Jones – Defenceman, Portland
Jones is ranked in the top 3 in this year’s NHL Entry Draft and he averaged almost a point per game in his first season in the WHL. He recorded 17 multi-point games and finished 4th in WHL defenceman scoring with 56 points. Jones scored 3 goals & 9 assists in 8 games vs. Everett in 2012/13.
Oliver Bjorkstrand – Right Wing, Portland
Bjorkstrand led all WHL rookies in goals (31) and points (63). He recorded 11 goals & 11 assists in the final 21 games of the season, which was highlighted by a 4-goal, 5-point game vs. Spokane on February 18th. He also scored 7 short-handed goals in 2012/13.
Mirco Mueller – Defenceman, Everett
Mueller scored 6 goals & 25 assists in 63 games for Everett, but it will be his defence that the Silvertips will desperately need. Portland averaged five goals per game in their season series. Mueller recorded 5 assists in 7 games vs. Portland.
(2) Kelowna Rockets vs. (7) Seattle Thunderbirds
Rockets won season series 3-1
Madison Bowey – Defenceman, Kelowna
Bowey scored 12 goals & 18 assists in 69 games this season and finished with a +41 rating. He also chipped in with 3 power play & 2 game-winning goals.
Shea Theodore – Defenceman, Seattle
Theodore scored 19 goals & 31 assists in 71 games, placing him 8th in scoring among WHL defencemen. He recorded 9 multi-point games this season, and three games of 3+ points.
(3) Kamloops Blazers vs. (6) Victoria Royals
Season series tied 1-1
Matthew Needham – Centre, Kamloops
Needham scored 12 goals & 21 assists this season, but averaged almost a point per game since December 7th. He recorded 5 goals & 4 assists in 7 games vs. Victoria this season.
(4) Spokane Chiefs vs. (5) Tri-City Americans
Spokane won season series 7-5
Riley Whittingham – Right Wing, Spokane
Whittingham only scored 6 goals this season, but they were at key times during games. He recorded 2 ‘first goals’, 1 power play and 2 game-winning goals.
Connor Rankin – Centre, Tri-City
Rankin was second on the Americans for goals with 32, including 9 power play & 6 game-winning goals. He scored 14 goals & 7 assists in the final 15 games of the season. Rankin recorded 4 goals & 6 assists in the 12-game season series vs. Spokane.