2005–06 WHL season

The 2005–06 WHL season was the 40th season for the Western Hockey League. Twenty teams completed a 72-game schedule. The Vancouver Giants won their first President's Cup, defeating the Moose Jaw Warriors in the championship series and earning a berth in the 2006 Memorial Cup tournament. The Medicine Hat Tigers won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record for the first time since 1985–86.

2005–06 WHL season
WHL 40th anniversary logo
League	Western Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	Regular season September, 2005 – March, 2006 Playoffs March – May, 2006
Number of teams	20
TV partner(s)	Shaw TV
Regular season
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy	Medicine Hat Tigers (2)
Season MVP	Justin Pogge (Calgary Hitmen)
Top scorer	Troy Brouwer (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP	Gilbert Brule (Giants)
Finals champions	Vancouver Giants (1)
Runners-up	Moose Jaw Warriors

2005–06 CHL season
League	Canadian Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	September 2005 – May 2006
Number of teams	58
OHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals champions	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) (2nd title)
Runners-up	Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

League notes

Following changes introduced by the National Hockey League following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the WHL announced that it would adopt many of the new rules put in place by the National Hockey League this season to increase scoring, including:

• Shootouts: Ties no longer possible, with games tied at the end of overtime proceeding to a shootout. Shootout losses count as one point in the standings.
• Tighter standards of officiating, especially as it relates to obstruction fouls.
• Introduction of the goaltender restriction zone, or the "trapezoid". Goaltenders are forbidden from playing the puck in the corners behind the goal line. A violation will merit a two-minute delay of game penalty.
• Tag-up offside rule will be used.
• The centre-ice red line will no longer be considered for the purpose of determining an offside (two-line) pass.
• Any player who shoots the puck over the glass and out of play from their defensive zone will receive a delay of game penalty.
• Any team called for icing the puck from within their defensive zone will not be permitted a line change. Unlike the NHL, any team that ices the puck from their half of the neutral zone will be permitted to change.

The WHL did not immediately modify the goal and blue lines to increase the size of the offensive zones like the NHL, as the league felt that the teams did not have enough time to modify their arenas. Only the Calgary Hitmen, sharing an arena with the NHL's Calgary Flames, played using the new alignment. The new standard was to be employed by the remaining teams beginning in the 2006–07 season.

Internet broadcasts

On September 14, 2005, Commissioner Ron Robison announced the league's intention to broadcast the entire 2005–06 season and playoffs live online on a pay-per-view basis. Partnering with streaming media company INSINC, this marked the first time in WHL history that fans, media and scouts were able to watch WHL action online.

Regular season

Eastern Conference

East Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
x Moose Jaw Warriors	72	44	20	5	3	96	278	205
x Saskatoon Blades	72	41	25	2	4	88	232	217
x Regina Pats	72	40	27	1	4	85	236	234
x Brandon Wheat Kings	72	30	32	6	4	70	218	259
Prince Albert Raiders	72	25	36	1	10	61	167	228

Central Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
x Medicine Hat Tigers	72	47	16	1	8	103	257	171
x Calgary Hitmen	72	47	18	3	4	101	195	155
x Lethbridge Hurricanes	72	27	36	3	6	63	195	250
x Swift Current Broncos	72	24	34	6	8	62	175	242
Red Deer Rebels	72	26	40	1	5	58	166	220

Western Conference

B.C. Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
x Vancouver Giants	72	47	19	0	6	100	252	156
x Kelowna Rockets	72	46	22	1	3	96	243	188
x Kootenay Ice	72	45	23	1	3	94	233	177
x Prince George Cougars	72	35	31	2	4	76	195	195
Kamloops Blazers	72	34	33	2	3	73	179	196

U.S. Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
x Everett Silvertips	72	40	27	2	3	85	203	158
x Seattle Thunderbirds	72	35	31	1	5	76	186	211
x Portland Winter Hawks	72	32	32	3	5	72	204	258
x Tri-City Americans	72	30	35	4	3	67	188	221
Spokane Chiefs	72	25	39	5	3	58	193	254

Map of WHL, 2003–04 to 2005–06

200km
125miles

Wheat Kings

Pats

Warriors

Raiders

Blades

Broncos

Tigers

Hurricanes

Rebels

Hitmen

Ice

Chiefs

Americans

Rockets

Blazers

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 = Penalties in minutes

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Troy Brouwer	Moose Jaw Warriors	72	49	53	102	122
Adam Cracknell	Kootenay Ice	72	42	51	93	85
Ian McDonald	Tri-City Americans	71	37	55	92	16
Dustin Boyd	Moose Jaw Warriors	64	48	42	90	34
Justin Keller	Kelowna Rockets	72	51	37	88	82
Blair Jones	Moose Jaw Warriors	72	35	50	85	85
Devin Setoguchi	Saskatoon Blades	65	36	47	83	69
Darren Helm	Medicine Hat Tigers	70	41	38	79	37
Ryan Russell	Kootenay Ice	72	33	42	75	30
Chad Klassen	Spokane/Saskatoon	68	27	48	75	61

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
Justin Pogge	Calgary Hitmen	54	3237	38	12	4	93	11	.926	1.72
Dustin Slade	Vancouver Giants	55	3319	36	13	5	105	11	.912	1.90
Leland Irving	Everett Silvertips	67	3791	37	23	3	121	4	.925	1.91
Matt Keetley	Medicine Hat Tigers	62	3741	42	14	5	130	6	.916	2.09
Taylor Dakers	Kootenay Ice	47	2671	30	15	1	94	8	.926	2.11

2006 WHL Playoffs

Overview

Conference Quarter-finals

Conference Semi-finals

Conference Finals

WHL Championship

C1

Medicine Hat

4

C4

Swift Current

0

C1

Medicine Hat

4

E2

Saskatoon

0

E3

Regina

2

E2

Saskatoon

4

C1

Medicine Hat

1

Eastern

E1

Moose Jaw

4

C2

Calgary

4

C3

Lethbridge

2

C2

Calgary

3

E1

Moose Jaw

4

E4

Brandon

2

E1

Moose Jaw

4

E1

Moose Jaw

0

B1

Vancouver

4

B1

Vancouver

4

B4

Prince George

1

B1

Vancouver

4

U3

Portland

1

U3

Portland

4

U2

Seattle

3

B1

Vancouver

4

Western

U1

Everett

0

B2

Kelowna

4

B3

Kootenay

2

B2

Kelowna

2

U1

Everett

4

U4

Tri-City

1

U1

Everett

4

Conference quarterfinals

Eastern Conference

Moose Jaw vs. Brandon Date Away Home March 24 Brandon 1 5 Moose Jaw March 25 Brandon 2 1 Moose Jaw March 27 Moose Jaw 2 3 Brandon March 30 Moose Jaw 4 1 Brandon April 2 Brandon 0 1 Moose Jaw April 4 Moose Jaw 5 0 Brandon Moose Jaw wins 4–2	Saskatoon vs. Regina Date Away Home March 24 Regina 2 3 Saskatoon OT March 25 Regina 1 4 Saskatoon March 28 Saskatoon 4 5 Regina OT March 29 Saskatoon 5 3 Regina March 31 Regina 5 2 Saskatoon April 4 Saskatoon 5 1 Regina Saskatoon wins 4–2
Medicine Hat vs. Swift Current Date Away Home March 24 Swift Current 2 5 Medicine Hat March 25 Swift Current 1 7 Medicine Hat March 28 Medicine Hat 7 1 Swift Current March 29 Medicine Hat 3 2 Swift Current OT Medicine Hat wins 4–0	Calgary vs. Lethbridge Date Away Home March 24 Calgary 3 2 Lethbridge March 25 Calgary 2 5 Lethbridge March 28 Lethbridge 6 4 Calgary March 30 Lethbridge 1 2 Calgary April 1 Lethbridge 2 3 Calgary OT April 2 Calgary 3 2 Lethbridge OT Calgary wins 4–2

Western Conference

Vancouver vs. Prince George Date Away Home March 24 Prince George 0 3 Vancouver March 25 Prince George 2 0 Vancouver March 28 Vancouver 6 0 Prince George March 29 Vancouver 3 2 Prince George OT April 1 Prince George 2 5 Vancouver Vancouver wins 4–1	Kelowna vs. Kootenay Date Away Home March 24 Kootenay 3 2 Kelowna 2OT March 25 Kootenay 1 5 Kelowna March 28 Kelowna 3 4 Kootenay March 29 Kelowna 5 4 Kootenay March 31 Kootenay 1 4 Kelowna April 2 Kelowna 5 2 Kootenay Kelowna wins 4–2
Everett vs. Tri-City Date Away Home March 24 Tri-City 0 4 Everett March 25 Tri-City 2 1 Everett March 28 Everett 2 1 Tri-City OT March 29 Everett 4 1 Tri-City March 31 Tri-City 0 2 Everett Everett wins 4–1	Seattle vs Portland Date Away Home March 24 Portland 5 8 Seattle March 25 Portland 1 0 Seattle March 28 Seattle 1 2 Portland March 31 Seattle 6 3 Portland April 1 Portland 3 2 Seattle April 4 Seattle 5 2 Portland April 5 Portland 4 3 Seattle OT Portland wins 4–3

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference
Medicine Hat vs. Saskatoon Date Away Home April 7 Saskatoon 1 5 Medicine Hat April 8 Saskatoon 3 4 Medicine Hat 3OT April 11 Medicine Hat 3 2 Saskatoon OT April 12 Medicine Hat 3 1 Saskatoon Medicine Hat wins 4–0	Calgary vs. Moose Jaw Date Away Home April 8 Moose Jaw 0 3 Calgary April 9 Moose Jaw 3 2 Calgary OT April 11 Calgary 2 4 Moose Jaw April 12 Calgary 2 0 Moose Jaw April 14 Moose Jaw 3 4 Calgary OT April 16 Calgary 1 3 Moose Jaw April 19 Moose Jaw 3 1 Calgary Moose Jaw wins 4–3

Western Conference
Kelowna vs. Everett Date Away Home April 7 Everett 5 3 Kelowna April 9 Everett 2 3 Kelowna April 11 Kelowna 0 2 Everett April 12 Kelowna 2 3 Everett April 14 Everett 2 3 Kelowna 2OT April 16 Kelowna 2 6 Everett Everett wins 4–2	Vancouver vs. Portland Date Away Home April 7 Portland 1 0 Vancouver April 8 Portland 1 7 Vancouver April 12 Vancouver 4 3 Portland OT April 13 Vancouver 3 1 Portland April 16 Portland 0 2 Vancouver Vancouver wins 4–1

Conference finals

Eastern Conference	Western Conference
Medicine Hat vs. Moose Jaw Date Away Home April 21 Moose Jaw 3 2 Medicine Hat April 22 Moose Jaw 4 3 Medicine Hat OT April 25 Medicine Hat 5 3 Moose Jaw April 26 Medicine Hat 1 3 Moose Jaw April 28 Moose Jaw 4 3 Medicine Hat OT Moose Jaw wins 4–1	Vancouver vs. Everett Date Away Home April 21 Everett 2 4 Vancouver April 22 Everett 0 2 Vancouver April 25 Vancouver 5 0 Everett April 27 Vancouver 5 0 Everett Vancouver wins 4–0

WHL Championship

Vancouver vs. Moose Jaw
Date	Away	Home
May 5	Moose Jaw 1	5 Vancouver
May 6	Moose Jaw 5	7 Vancouver
May 8	Vancouver 2	1 Moose Jaw
May 9	Vancouver 6	3 Moose Jaw
Vancouver wins 4–0

ADT Canada-Russia Challenge

On November 30, Team WHL defeated the Russian Selects 9–2 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan before a crowd of 5,572.

On December 1, Team WHL defeated the Russian Selects 3–1 in Regina, Saskatchewan before a crowd of 4,662.

WHL awards

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Justin Pogge, Calgary Hitmen

Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Brennen Wray, Moose Jaw Warriors

Scholastic Team of the Year: Kootenay Ice

Bob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Troy Brouwer, Moose Jaw Warriors

Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Kris Russell, Medicine Hat Tigers

Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Kris Russell, Medicine Hat Tigers

Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Peter Mueller, Everett Silvertips

Del Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Justin Pogge, Calgary Hitmen

Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Willie Desjardins, Medicine Hat Tigers

Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Scott Bonner, Vancouver Giants

Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Best regular season record): Medicine Hat Tigers

Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Kyle Rehman

St. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Dave Andjelic, Medicine Hat Tigers

Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year): Wacey Rabbit, Saskatoon Blades

WHL Plus-Minus Award: Paul Albers, Vancouver Giants

WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Gilbert Brule, Vancouver Giants

All-Star Teams

Eastern Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Justin Pogge	Calgary Hitmen	Matt Keetley	Medicine Hat Tigers
Defense	Kris Russell	Medicine Hat Tigers	Kyle Deck	Regina Pats
	Brett Carson	Calgary Hitmen	Jeff Schultz	Calgary Hitmen
Forward	Dustin Boyd	Moose Jaw Warriors	Kyle Chipchura	Prince Albert Raiders
	Troy Brouwer	Moose Jaw Warriors	Blair Jones	Moose Jaw Warriors
	Darren Helm	Medicine Hat Tigers	Devin Setoguchi	Saskatoon Blades
Western Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Dustin Slade	Vancouver Giants	Leland Irving	Everett Silvertips
Defense	Paul Albers	Vancouver Giants	Cody Franson	Vancouver Giants
	Shaun Heshka	Everett Silvertips	Logan Stephenson	Tri-City Americans
Forward	Blake Comeau	Kelowna Rockets	Gilbert Brule	Vancouver Giants
	Justin Keller	Kelowna Rockets	Adam Cracknell	Kootenay Ice
	Ian McDonald	Tri-City Americans	Brandon Dubinsky	Portland Winter Hawks

• source: Western Hockey League press release

2006 Bantam draft

The 2006 WHL Bantam Draft took place in Calgary on Thursday, May 4. It was the 17th annual draft to take place.

List of first round picks in the bantam draft.

#	Player	Nationality	WHL Team
1	Jared Cowen (D)	Canada	Spokane Chiefs
2	Landon Ferraro (C)	Canada	Red Deer Rebels
3	Ryan Howse (LW)	Canada	Chilliwack Bruins
4	Cole Penner (LW)	Canada	Prince Albert Raiders
5	Jimmy Bubnick (C)	Canada	Kamloops Blazers
6	Cody Eakin (C)	Canada	Swift Current Broncos
7	Carter Ashton (LW)	Canada	Lethbridge Hurricanes
8	Jason Gardiner (C/LW)	Canada	Tri-City Americans
9	Brayden Schenn (C)	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings
10	Riley Boychuk (LW)	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks
11	Steve Chaffin (D)	Canada	Seattle Thunderbirds
12	Stefan Elliott (D)	Canada	Prince George Cougars
13	Kellan Tochkin (RW)	Canada	Everett Silvertips
14	Brett Miller (RW)	Canada	Regina Pats
15	Mitch Berg (D)	Canada	Saskatoon Blades
16	Nathan Lieuwen (G)	Canada	Kootenay Ice
17	Justin Maylan (RW)	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors
18	Tyson Barrie (D)	Canada	Kelowna Rockets
19	Evander Kane (LW)	Canada	Vancouver Giants
20	Chase Schaber (LW)	Canada	Calgary Hitmen
21	Cody Carlson (D)	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers

See also

• 2005–06 OHL season
• 2005–06 QMJHL season
• 2006 NHL Entry Draft
• 2005 in ice hockey
• 2006 in ice hockey