# 2015–16 WHL season

The 2015–16 WHL season was the 50th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began on September 24, 2015, and ended with the Eastern Conference tiebreaker game on March 22, 2016. The Victoria Royals won their first Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for best regular season record, becoming the first team based in Victoria to win the title since the 1980–81 Victoria Cougars. The playoffs began on March 24, 2016, and ended on May 13, 2016. The Brandon Wheat Kings won their third Ed Chynoweth Cup—their first since 1995–96—and a berth in the 2016 Memorial Cup tournament, which was held at the ENMAX Centrium in Red Deer, Alberta from May 19 to 29, 2016. The Red Deer Rebels qualified for the tournament as hosts.

## Standings

East Division :
| R | | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Brandon Wheat Kings xy | 72 | 48 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 319 | 197 | 102 |
| 2 | Prince Albert Raiders x | 72 | 38 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 222 | 223 | 84 |
| 3 | Moose Jaw Warriors x | 72 | 36 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 249 | 239 | 81 |
Central Division (Top 3) :
| R | | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Lethbridge Hurricanes xy | 72 | 46 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 304 | 218 | 94 |
| 2 | Red Deer Rebels x | 72 | 45 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 260 | 205 | 93 |
| 3 | Calgary Hitmen x | 72 | 42 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 246 | 219 | 88 |
Wild Card teams :
| R | (Top 2 qualify for playoffs) | Div | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Regina Pats x | EA | 72 | 36 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 243 | 253 | 80 |
| 2 | Edmonton Oil Kings x | CE | 72 | 29 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 197 | 238 | 65 |
| 3 | Medicine Hat Tigers | CE | 72 | 30 | 37 | 3 | 2 | 223 | 287 | 65 |
| 4 | Swift Current Broncos | EA | 72 | 24 | 38 | 7 | 3 | 189 | 249 | 58 |
| 5 | Saskatoon Blades | EA | 72 | 26 | 42 | 4 | 0 | 219 | 318 | 56 |
| 6 | Kootenay Ice | CE | 72 | 12 | 53 | 6 | 1 | 155 | 320 | 31 |
Divisions: EA – East, CE – Central
x – Clinched Playoff spot, y – Clinched Division, z - Clinched regular season title
B.C. Division :
| R | | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Victoria Royals xyz | 72 | 50 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 281 | 166 | 106 |
| 2 | Kelowna Rockets x | 72 | 48 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 269 | 218 | 100 |
| 3 | Kamloops Blazers x | 72 | 38 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 237 | 218 | 85 |
U.S. Division :
| R | | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Seattle Thunderbirds xy | 72 | 45 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 228 | 186 | 94 |
| 2 | Everett Silvertips x | 72 | 38 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 182 | 172 | 84 |
| 3 | Portland Winterhawks x | 72 | 34 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 228 | 227 | 75 |
Wild Card Teams :
| R | (Top 2 qualify for playoffs) | Div | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Prince George Cougars x | B.C. | 72 | 36 | 31 | 3 | 2 | 240 | 225 | 77 |
| 2 | Spokane Chiefs x | U.S. | 72 | 33 | 30 | 5 | 4 | 223 | 245 | 75 |
| 3 | Tri-City Americans | U.S. | 72 | 35 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 236 | 253 | 73 |
| 4 | Vancouver Giants | B.C. | 72 | 23 | 40 | 5 | 4 | 199 | 273 | 55 |
bold – Clinched Playoff spot, y – Clinched Division, z - Clinched regular season title
Divisions: B.C. – B.C., US – U.S.

## Eastern Conference Tiebreaker
### Medicine Hat Tigers vs. Edmonton Oil Kings

* Edmonton claims final playoff spot

## Statistical leaders
### Scoring leaders

Players are listed by points, then goals.
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts. = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Adam Brooks | Regina Pats | 72 | 38 | 82 | 120 | 30 |
| Dryden Hunt | Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 58 | 58 | 116 | 48 |
| Brayden Burke | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 27 | 82 | 109 | 44 |
| Jayce Hawryluk | Brandon Wheat Kings | 58 | 47 | 59 | 106 | 101 |
| Nolan Patrick | Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 41 | 61 | 102 | 41 |
| Parker Bowles | Tri-City Americans | 72 | 39 | 57 | 96 | 63 |
| Tyson Baillie | Kelowna Rockets | 70 | 43 | 52 | 95 | 66 |
| Reid Gardiner | Prince Albert Raiders | 71 | 43 | 49 | 92 | 46 |
| Alex Forsberg | Victoria Royals | 71 | 31 | 60 | 91 | 64 |
| Tyler Wong | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 43 | 46 | 89 | 42 |

### Leading goaltenders

These are the goaltenders that lead the league in GAA that have played at least 1380 minutes.
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
| Player | Team | GP | Mins | W | L | OTL | SOL | SO | GAA | SV% |
| Griffen Outhouse | Victoria Royals | 27 | 1487 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1.82 | .937 |
| Carter Hart | Everett Silvertips | 63 | 3693 | 35 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2.14 | .918 |
| Coleman Vollrath | Victoria Royals | 51 | 2854 | 32 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2.40 | .912 |
| Landon Bow | Swift Current/Seattle | 53 | 2886 | 25 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 2.49 | .923 |
| Jackson Whistle | Kelowna Rockets | 27 | 1559 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2.54 | .920 |

## 2016 WHL playoffs

| Conference Quarter-finals | Conference Quarter-finals | Conference Quarter-finals | | | Conference Semi-finals | Conference Semi-finals | Conference Semi-finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | | WHL Championship | WHL Championship | WHL Championship |
| E1 | Brandon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| W2 | Edmonton | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| W2 | Edmonton | 2 | | | E1 | Brandon | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | E3 | Moose Jaw | 1 | | | | | | | |
| E2 | Prince Albert | 1 | | | E3 | Moose Jaw | 1 | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Moose Jaw | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Moose Jaw | 4 | | | | | | E1 | Brandon | 4 | | | | |
| Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | E1 | Brandon | 4 | | | | |
| Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | C2 | Red Deer | 1 | | | | |
| C1 | Lethbridge | 1 | | | | | | | | | C2 | Red Deer | 1 | | | | |
| W1 | Regina | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| W1 | Regina | 4 | | | W1 | Regina | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | C2 | Red Deer | 4 | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Red Deer | 4 | | | C2 | Red Deer | 4 | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Calgary | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Calgary | 1 | | | | | | | | | | E1 | Brandon | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | U1 | Seattle | 1 |
| B1 | Victoria | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | U1 | Seattle | 1 |
| W2 | Spokane | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| W2 | Spokane | 2 | | | B1 | Victoria | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | B2 | Kelowna | 4 | | | | | | | |
| B2 | Kelowna | 4 | | | B2 | Kelowna | 4 | | | | | | | |
| B3 | Kamloops | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| B3 | Kamloops | 3 | | | | | | B2 | Kelowna | 0 | | | | |
| Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | B2 | Kelowna | 0 | | | | |
| Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | U1 | Seattle | 4 | | | | |
| U1 | Seattle | 4 | | | | | | | | | U1 | Seattle | 4 | | | | |
| W1 | Prince George | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| W1 | Prince George | 0 | | | U1 | Seattle | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | U2 | Everett | 1 | | | | | | | |
| U2 | Everett | 4 | | | U2 | Everett | 1 | | | | | | | |
| U3 | Portland | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Conference Quarter-finals
### Eastern Conference
#### (E1) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. (W2) Edmonton Oil Kings

* Brandon won series 4 – 2
* Note: Series was played in a 2-3-2 format due to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair taking place at the Westman Communications Group Place from March 28 to April 2.

#### (E2) Prince Albert Raiders vs. (E3) Moose Jaw Warriors

* Moose Jaw won series 4 – 1

#### (C1) Lethbridge Hurricanes vs. (W1) Regina Pats

* Regina won series 4 – 1

#### (C2) Red Deer Rebels vs (C3) Calgary Hitmen

* Red Deer won series 4 – 1
* Note: Game 4 was played at the Stampede Corral due to the 2016 Juno Awards taking place at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

### Western Conference
#### (B1) Victoria Royals vs. (W2) Spokane Chiefs

* Victoria won series 4 – 2

#### (B2) Kelowna Rockets vs. (B3) Kamloops Blazers

* Kelowna won series 4 – 3
* Note: Game 3 was played at the Kamloops Memorial Arena due to the 2016 IIHF Women's World Championship being played at the Sandman Centre.

#### (U1) Seattle Thunderbirds vs. (W1) Prince George Cougars

* Seattle won series 4 – 0

#### (U2) Everett Silvertips vs. (U3) Portland Winterhawks

* Everett won series 4 – 0

## Conference Semi-finals
### Eastern Conference
#### (E1) Brandon Wheat Kings vs (E3) Moose Jaw Warriors

* Brandon won series 4 – 1

#### (C2) Red Deer Rebels vs (W1) Regina Pats

* Red Deer won series 4 – 3

### Western Conference
#### (B1) Victoria Royals vs (B2) Kelowna Rockets

* Kelowna won series 4 – 3

#### (U1) Seattle Thunderbirds vs (U2) Everett Silvertips

* Seattle won series 4 – 1

## Conference Finals
### Eastern Conference
#### (E1) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. (C2) Red Deer Rebels

* Brandon won series 4 – 1

### Western Conference
#### (B2) Kelowna Rockets vs. (U1) Seattle Thunderbirds

* Seattle won series 4 – 0

## WHL Championship
### (E1) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. (U1) Seattle Thunderbirds

* Brandon won series 4 – 1

## Playoff scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Nolan Patrick | Brandon Wheat Kings | 21 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 16 |
| Jayce Hawryluk | Brandon Wheat Kings | 21 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 39 |
| John Quenneville | Brandon Wheat Kings | 21 | 16 | 11 | 27 | 8 |
| Tim McGauley | Brandon Wheat Kings | 21 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 8 |
| Mathew Barzal | Seattle Thunderbirds | 18 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 16 |
| Reid Duke | Brandon Wheat Kings | 21 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 24 |
| Adam Brooks | Regina Pats | 12 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 6 |
| Ethan Bear | Seattle Thunderbirds | 18 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 8 |
| Adam Helewka | Red Deer Rebels | 17 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 18 |
| Jake DeBrusk | Red Deer Rebels | 17 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 20 |

## Playoff leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | Team | GP | Mins | W | L | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
| Mario Petit | Everett Silvertips | 4 | 185 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | .953 | 1.30 |
| Jayden Sittler | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 2 | 102 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .940 | 1.76 |
| Landon Bow | Seattle Thunderbirds | 18 | 1131 | 13 | 5 | 37 | 2 | .927 | 1.96 |
| Connor Ingram | Kamloops Blazers | 7 | 424 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 1 | .938 | 2.12 |
| Carter Hart | Everett Silvertips | 6 | 352 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 1 | .929 | 2.39 |

## WHL awards

| Ed Chynoweth Cup | WHL Champions | Brandon Wheat Kings | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy | Regular season champions | Victoria Royals | Victoria Royals |
| Four Broncos Memorial Trophy | Player of the Year | Dryden Hunt | Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Bob Clarke Trophy | Top Scorer | Adam Brooks | Regina Pats |
| Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy | Top Defenceman | Ivan Provorov | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy | Rookie of the year | Matthew Phillips | Victoria Royals |
| Del Wilson Trophy | Top Goaltender | Carter Hart | Everett Silvertips |
| WHL Plus-Minus Award | Top Plus-Minus Rating | Ivan Provorov | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Brad Hornung Trophy | Most Sportsmanlike Player | Tyler Soy | Victoria Royals |
| Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy | Scholastic Player of the Year | Tanner Kaspick | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy | Scholastic team of the Year | Spokane Chiefs | Spokane Chiefs |
| Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy | Coach of the Year | Dave Lowry | Victoria Royals |
| Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy | Executive of the Year | Peter Anholt | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy | Top Official | Chris Schlenker | Chris Schlenker |
| St. Clair Group Trophy | Marketing/Public Relations Award | Victoria Royals | Victoria Royals |
| Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy | Humanitarian of the Year | Tyler Wong | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| WHL Playoff MVP | WHL Finals Most Valuable Player | Nolan Patrick | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Professional Hockey Achievement Academic Recipient | Alumni Achievement Awards | TBD | |

### All-Star Teams
#### Eastern Conference

| First Team | First Team | Pos. | Second Team | Second Team |
| Player | Team | Pos. | Player | Team |
| Zach Sawchenko | Moose Jaw Warriors | G | Rylan Parenteau | Prince Albert Raiders |
| Ivan Provorov* | Brandon Wheat Kings | D | Jake Bean | Calgary Hitmen |
| Andrew Nielsen | Lethbridge Hurricanes | D | Travis Sanheim | Calgary Hitmen |
| Dryden Hunt | Moose Jaw Warriors | F | Brayden Burke | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| Brayden Point | Moose Jaw Warriors | F | Nolan Patrick | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Adam Brooks | Regina Pats | F | Jayce Hawryluk | Brandon Wheat Kings |
* - unanimous selection

#### Western Conference

| First Team | First Team | Pos. | Second Team | Second Team |
| Player | Team | Pos. | Player | Team |
| Carter Hart | Everett Silvertips | G | Connor Ingram | Kamloops Blazers |
| Joe Hicketts* | Victoria Royals | D | Noah Juulsen | Everett Silvertips |
| Ethan Bear | Seattle Thunderbirds | D | Jason Fram | Spokane Chiefs |
| Tyson Baillie | Kelowna Rockets | F | Tyler Soy | Victoria Royals |
| Mathew Barzal | Seattle Thunderbirds | F | Chase Witala | Prince George Cougars |
| Parker Bowles | Tri-City Americans | F | Collin Shirley | Kamloops Blazers |
* - unanimous selection