2005–06 WHL season
Junior ice hockey season
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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.
LeagueWestern Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationRegular season
September, 2005 – March, 2006
Playoffs
March – May, 2006
September, 2005 – March, 2006
Playoffs
March – May, 2006
Teams20
| 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 |
| Teams | 20 |
| TV partner | 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 |
| 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:[1]
- 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.[2] 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
Final standings
Eastern Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x – Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 44 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 278 | 205 | 96 |
| 2 | x – Saskatoon Blades | 72 | 41 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 232 | 217 | 88 |
| 3 | x – Regina Pats | 72 | 40 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 236 | 234 | 85 |
| 4 | x – Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 30 | 32 | 6 | 4 | 218 | 259 | 70 |
| 5 | Prince Albert Raiders | 72 | 25 | 36 | 1 | 10 | 167 | 228 | 61 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x – Medicine Hat Tigers | 72 | 47 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 257 | 171 | 103 |
| 2 | x – Calgary Hitmen | 72 | 47 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 195 | 155 | 101 |
| 3 | x – Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 27 | 36 | 3 | 6 | 195 | 250 | 63 |
| 4 | x – Swift Current Broncos | 72 | 24 | 34 | 6 | 8 | 175 | 242 | 62 |
| 5 | Red Deer Rebels | 72 | 26 | 40 | 1 | 5 | 166 | 220 | 58 |
Western Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x – Vancouver Giants | 72 | 47 | 19 | 0 | 6 | 252 | 156 | 100 |
| 2 | x – Kelowna Rockets | 72 | 46 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 243 | 188 | 96 |
| 3 | x – Kootenay Ice | 72 | 45 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 233 | 177 | 94 |
| 4 | x – Prince George Cougars | 72 | 35 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 195 | 195 | 76 |
| 5 | Kamloops Blazers | 72 | 34 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 179 | 196 | 73 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x – Everett Silvertips | 72 | 40 | 27 | 2 | 3 | 203 | 158 | 85 |
| 2 | x – Seattle Thunderbirds | 72 | 35 | 31 | 1 | 5 | 186 | 211 | 76 |
| 3 | x – Portland Winter Hawks | 72 | 32 | 32 | 3 | 5 | 204 | 258 | 72 |
| 4 | x – Tri-City Americans | 72 | 30 | 35 | 4 | 3 | 188 | 221 | 67 |
| 5 | Spokane Chiefs | 72 | 25 | 39 | 5 | 3 | 193 | 254 | 58 |
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
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Western Conference
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Conference semifinals
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Conference finals
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
All-Star teams
- 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 |