The WHL is a worldwide leader in developing professional hockey players and awarding academic scholarships. The WHL is the #1 choice for top players in the West. The WHL provides the best opportunity for players to not only develop into professional hockey players, but also achieve their academic goals while learning valuable life skills. The WHL is a leading supplier of players to the NHL, Canada s National Teams, and Canada West university hockey. Jake Virtanen Calgary Hitmen
With a consistent practice and off-ice workout schedule, along with a competitive game schedule, players are groomed to be professional hockey players. Each year, the WHL is a leader in the number of players selected in the NHL Entry Draft, including many first round selections. Additionally, the WHL is a leading supplier of player talent to Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Each season, virtually all players who compete for Team Canada play in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The WHL consists of 22 member clubs located across Canada s four western provinces and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. WHL Clubs play a highly competitive regular season schedule followed by four rounds of playoffs and the MasterCard Memorial Cup national championship. Over 20% of current NHL players are WHL graduates, while over 55% are CHL graduates. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Red Deer Rebels, Edmonton Oilers
WHL coaches have extensive international and in many cases NHL experience, and use this to prepare players for the next level. Exceptional coaching and a professionally-modeled practice and game schedule, combined with world-class facilities, offer the ideal environment for a player to develop. To become the best, a player must practice, play against, and be coached by the best. The WHL is pruod to be able to offer the highest calibre coaching each season. Former WHL coaches now in the NHL include Mike Babcock (Spokane Chiefs / Detroit Red Wings), and Ken Hitchcock (Kamloops Blazers / St. Louis Blues). Dave Lowry Head Coach Victoria Royals
WHL players get the opportunity each season to compete on the world stage. Many WHL games are televised nationally on Sportsnet as part of Friday Night Hockey broadcasts. Major International Events World Junior Championship World Under 18 Championship World Under 17 Hockey Challenge All CHL national events, such as the MasterCard Memorial Cup, the CHL Top Prospects Game, and the Subway Super Series are televised nationally on Sportsnet. The WHL regular season and playoffs are also broadcast on Shaw TV in Western Canada and Root Sports in the Pacific Northwest. All WHL Clubs have one goal in mind prior to the start of each season to capture the WHL Championship and represent the WHL at the MasterCard Memorial Cup. The MasterCard Memorial Cup is Canada s most prestigious national hockey championship, at which the champions of the WHL, Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), together with the host CHL Club battle for the CHL s top prize. On Team Canada rosters at all levels, players are almost exclusively selected from the WHL and other CHL leagues. Watch every game on WHL Live by visiting www.whl.ca. Sam Reinhart Kootenay Ice, Team Canada
The WHL has been the leading source of NHL talent for nearly 50 years. As one of the world s premiere development leagues, the WHL has produced some of the NHL s premiere players, including Shea Weber (Kelowna Rockets), Ryan Getzlaf (Calgary Hitmen), Carey Price (Tri-City Americans), Milan Lucic (Vancouver Giants), Jordan Eberle (Regina Pats), Patrick Marleau (Seattle Thunderbirds), and Jamie Benn (Kelowna Rockets) just to name a few. Some of these NHL stars will also represent their country at the Olympic Winter Games. In 2012, five WHL defensemen were selected in the first eight picks of the NHL Entry Draft. In 2013, the WHL had eight players selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. In 2014, four of the first ten picks in the NHL Entry Draft were WHL players. 2nd overall (Buffalo Sabres) Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice/WHL) 3rd overall (Edmonton Oilers) Leon Draisaitl (Kelowna Rockets/WHL) 6th overall (Carolina Hurricanes) Haydn Fleury (Red Deer Rebels/WHL) 7th overall (Vancouver Canucks) Jake Virtanen (Calgary Hitmen/WHL) Each season, over 100 WHL players are drafted by NHL teams or are invited to attend an NHL training camp. Shea Weber Kelowna Rockets, Nashville Predators
The WHL offers a guaranteed scholarship to all players. Play at the highest level in the Canadian hockey system without compromising your academic goals. For each season played in the WHL, a player receives a full year guaranteed scholarship, including tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees to an institution of his choice. The WHL is committed to recognizing academic excellence. Awards are presented annually to the WHL Scholastic Player and Team of the Year. The Most Comprehensive Hockey Scholarship in North America. All WHL Clubs are governed by league-wide education standards to ensure players achieve their academic goals in high school. The WHL tracks the academic progress of players, and tutoring is provided when necessary. Upon graduating from the WHL, a player can attend the institution of his choice university, college, trade school or any other career enhancing post secondary program in North America. While playing in the WHL, players also receive financial assistance for post-secondary courses. The WHL and Athabasca University have entered into a new partnership which allows WHL players in all centres to access online university credit courses. Annually, over 150 current WHL players take post-secondary courses during the season. The WHL Scholarship is for academic studies. There is no requirement for the player to continue playing hockey as the scholarship allows the player to focus entirely on his studies if he prefers. The WHL and Canada West Universities have teamed up to combine their financial assistance to offer WHL graduate players a full ride scholarship referred to as Western Canada s Premiere Hockey Scholarship. Jacob De Serres Seattle Thunderbirds, Brandon Wheat Kings, University of Calgary Each year, over 300 WHL Scholarships are awarded to graduate players.
WHL Players are Role Models in their communities. The WHL can help you raise your game in both hockey and academics while giving you invaluable lessons for success in life. WHL Players participate actively in a variety of community events in support of minor hockey and local charities. Players also make appearances at schools and hospitals, gaining invaluable public speaking experience. WHL Clubs assign players with a billet family, hand-picked to ensure both the players and the parents are comfortable. Additionally, clubs provide all players with hockey equipment, including skates and sticks, as well as a comprehensive medical and dental insurance program. All WHL Clubs offer a variety of professional development courses in areas such as sports psychology, fitness and nutrition, media training and career counseling. The WHL prides itself on offering the best possible experience for all players by combining a solid foundation of education and hockey development. This foundation, combined with other life skills acquired while playing in the WHL, prepares players for success in life. All WHL players also participate in the mandatory national Drug Education and Anti-Doping program. In hockey, in education and in everything you do, the WHL wants to help you RAISE YOUR GAME. Mathew Barzal Seattle Thunderbirds
@WHLProspects Western Hockey League 2424 University Drive, NW Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N3Y9 Tel: 403-693-3030 Fax: 403-693-3031 info@whl.ca Twitter: @TheWHL Facebook.com/WHLHockey