The 2009–10 WHL season was 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, featuring Team WHL versus Team Russia, took place mid-season from November 25 to 26, 2009. The Calgary Hitmen won their second consecutive and fourth overall Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for best regular season record. The playoffs took place from March 18 to May 7. The Hitmen followed up their regular season title by defeating the Tri-City Americans in the championship series to claim their second Ed Chynoweth Cup, and a berth in the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament.
League notes Off-season May 27, 2009 — The WHL announced an extended partnership with Shaw TV for an additional five years 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 expanded 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, including the hiring of a Director of Player Recruitment focusing on promoting the WHL Scholarship program and other benefits of playing in the WHL to top prospects in Western Canada and the United States. June 17, 2009 — The WHL Board of Governors announced the introduction of a series of new online post-secondary education initiatives to 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 graduates Invited to Hockey Canada's National Men's Team Orientation Camp in Calgary. July 20, 2009 — The 1989 Memorial Cup champion Swift Current Broncos team was inducted into the Swift Current Broncos Hall of Fame. July 29, 2009 — 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 Ivan Hlinka tournament, with a 9–2 win over Russia. August 17, 2009 — Former Prince Albert 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. Through this agreement the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge was renamed the Subway Super Series three years. September 9, 2009 — All 22 teams in the WHL unveiled new Reebok Edge jerseys.
Regular season September 17, 2009 — Due to enhanced in-house video production from all 22 teams, the WHL was able to show all 792 regular season games online for the first time. September 25, 2009 —The WHL and Hockey Alberta enhanced their partnership to include joint programming initiatives and additional financial support for minor hockey and high performance programs in Alberta. October 13, 2009 — The WHL launched WHL Mobile, a mobile-optimized version of its website designed specifically for users of web-enabled smartphones. December 3, 2009 — Ten players from the WHL were invited to Team Canada's Selection Camp roster for the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. December 23, 2009 — The WHL announced a multi-year deal with FSN Northwest to broadcast WHL games starting immediately. January 10, 2010 — WHL Trade Deadline ended with 15 trades. January 15, 2010 — The WHL and BC Hockey announced a new partnership providing 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 died in an automobile accident in the United States during a snow storm. For the remainder of the season, the Chilliwack Bruins—who were partly owned by Burke's father, Brian Burke, wore a commemorative patch on their jerseys.
Regular season The Western Hockey League opened the regular season on September 17, 2009, in Kelowna, with a game between the defending champion Kelowna Rockets and the Vancouver Giants.
Standings
Conference standings
Division standings
Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts. = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player2009–10 WHL Regular season: Scoring leaders . Retrieved on December 13, 2009. Team GP G A Pts. PIM Calgary Hitmen 65 32 75 107 50 Regina Pats 57 50 56 106 32 Regina Pats 72 35 67 102 54 Brandon Wheat Kings 68 47 52 99 70 Brandon Wheat Kings 59 34 65 99 55 Vancouver Giants 72 37 60 97 44 Spokane Chiefs 72 30 66 96 96 Kootenay Ice 68 35 58 93 41 Swift Current Broncos 70 47 44 91 71 Brandon Wheat Kings 66 32 57 89 50
Leading goaltenders 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
Player2009–10 WHL Regular season: Goaltending leaders . Retrieved on December 13, 2009. Team GP Mins W L OTL SOL SO GAA Sv% Calgary Hitmen 48 2851 36 11 0 1 8 2.21 .919 Everett Silvertips 34 1938 22 9 1 0 1 2.26 .925 Everett Silvertips 42 2415 24 12 2 2 4 2.34 .927 Spokane Chiefs 60 3514 38 16 3 2 5 2.41 .920 Tri-City Americans 50 2776 33 11 1 1 4 2.51 .918
Players
2009 NHL entry draft In total, 31 WHL players were selected at the 2009 NHL entry draft. 1st Round # Nat. Player WHL team NHL team 4 Evander Kane Vancouver Giants Atlanta Thrashers 5 Brayden Schenn Brandon Wheat Kings Los Angeles Kings 8 Scott Glennie Brandon Wheat Kings Dallas Stars 9 Jared Cowen Spokane Chiefs Ottawa Senators 29 Carter Ashton Lethbridge Hurricanes Tampa Bay Lightning
2nd Round # Nat. Player WHL team NHL team 32 Landon Ferraro Red Deer Rebels Detroit Red Wings 48 Brett Ponich Portland Winterhawks St. Louis Blues 49 Stefan Elliott Saskatoon Blades Colorado Avalanche
3rd Round # Nat. Player WHL team NHL team 64 Tyson Barrie Kelowna Rockets Colorado Avalanche 66 Brayden McNabb Kootenay Ice Buffalo Sabres 74 Ryan Howse Chilliwack Bruins Calgary Flames 81 Adam Morrison Saskatoon Blades Philadelphia Flyers 82 Cameron Abney Everett Silvertips Edmonton Oilers 85 Cody Eakin Swift Current Broncos Washington Capitals 86 Ryan Button Prince Albert Raiders Boston Bruins
4th Round # Nat. Player WHL team NHL team 96 Linden Vey Medicine Hat Tigers Los Angeles Kings 103 Kris Foucault Calgary Hitmen Minnesota Wild 105 Justin Weller Red Deer Rebels Phoenix Coyotes 108 Tyler Shattock Kamloops Blazers St. Louis Blues 119 Byron Froese Everett Silvertips Chicago Blackhawks
5th Round # Nat. Player WHL team NHL team 129 Tomas Vincour Edmonton Oil Kings Dallas Stars
6th Round # Nat. Player WHL team NHL team 155 Jimmy Bubnick Kamloops Blazers Atlanta Thrashers 157 Evan Bloodoff Kelowna Rockets Phoenix Coyotes 161 Darcy Kuemper Red Deer Rebels Minnesota Wild 175 Garrett Mitchell Regina Pats Washington Capitals 179 Brandon Kozun Calgary Hitmen Los Angeles Kings 180 Mitchell Callahan Kelowna Rockets Detroit Red Wings 7th Round # Nat. Player WHL team NHL team 185 Levko Koper Spokane Chiefs Atlanta Thrashers 189 Marek Viedensky Prince George Cougars San Jose Sharks 201 Gaelan Patterson Saskatoon Blades Calgary Flames 208 Tommi Kivisto Red Deer Rebels Carolina Hurricanes
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