# 2007–08 WHL season

The 2007–08 WHL season was the 42nd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began on September 20, 2007, and ended on March 16, 2008. The Tri-City Americans won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record. The playoffs began on March 21, and ended on May 7, with the Spokane Chiefs defeating the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the championship series to claim their second Ed Chynoweth Cup and a berth at the 2008 Memorial Cup tournament, which Spokane would go on to win.
The Edmonton Oil Kings joined the league as an expansion club—their name paying homage to Edmonton's original WHL team—bringing the WHL to 22 teams.

## League notes

* The WHL had announced at the 2007 Memorial Cup tournament that it would rename its championship trophy—until then, known as the President's Cup—after Ed Chynoweth. The Chiefs 2008 championship was thus the first featuring the renamed trophy.
* The Edmonton Oil Kings joined the Central Division of the Eastern Conference, bringing the Eastern Conference to twelve teams, while the Western Conference remained at ten.
* The playoff format was revised so that the top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs, as opposed to the top four in each division. Division winners are guaranteed a top two seed in each conference.

## Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; x = Clinched playoff berth; y = Clinched conference title

### Eastern Conference

| East Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Rank |
| x Regina Pats | 72 | 44 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 94 | 217 | 206 | 2 |
| x Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 42 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 90 | 253 | 209 | 6 |
| x Swift Current Broncos | 72 | 41 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 89 | 244 | 205 | 7 |
| x Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 37 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 88 | 229 | 214 | 8 |
| Saskatoon Blades | 72 | 29 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 67 | 182 | 229 | 9 |
| Prince Albert Raiders | 72 | 26 | 41 | 3 | 2 | 57 | 196 | 248 | 10 |
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Rank |
| y Calgary Hitmen | 72 | 47 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 99 | 259 | 166 | 1 |
| x Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 45 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 96 | 245 | 175 | 3 |
| x Medicine Hat Tigers | 72 | 43 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 93 | 234 | 198 | 4 |
| x Kootenay Ice | 72 | 42 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 92 | 229 | 214 | 5 |
| Edmonton Oil Kings | 72 | 22 | 39 | 4 | 7 | 55 | 162 | 241 | 11 |
| Red Deer Rebels | 72 | 18 | 47 | 4 | 3 | 43 | 145 | 255 | 12 |

### Western Conference

| B.C. Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Rank |
| x Vancouver Giants | 72 | 49 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 106 | 250 | 155 | 2 |
| x Kelowna Rockets | 72 | 38 | 26 | 2 | 6 | 84 | 248 | 215 | 5 |
| x Chilliwack Bruins | 72 | 28 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 65 | 206 | 241 | 7 |
| x Kamloops Blazers | 72 | 27 | 41 | 2 | 2 | 58 | 197 | 253 | 8 |
| Prince George Cougars | 72 | 20 | 48 | 1 | 3 | 44 | 172 | 304 | 9 |
| U.S. Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Rank |
| y Tri-City Americans | 72 | 52 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 108 | 262 | 176 | 1 |
| x Spokane Chiefs | 72 | 50 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 107 | 251 | 160 | 3 |
| x Seattle Thunderbirds | 72 | 42 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 91 | 241 | 179 | 4 |
| x Everett Silvertips | 72 | 39 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 205 | 198 | 6 |
| Portland Winter Hawks | 72 | 11 | 58 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 132 | 318 | 10 |

## Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Mark Santorelli | Chilliwack Bruins | 72 | 27 | 74 | 101 | 40 |
| Colin Long | Kelowna Rockets | 72 | 31 | 69 | 100 | 41 |
| Colton Yellow Horn | Tri-City Americans | 67 | 48 | 49 | 97 | 63 |
| Tyler Ennis | Medicine Hat Tigers | 70 | 43 | 48 | 91 | 42 |
| Steve DaSilva | Kootenay Ice | 68 | 40 | 49 | 89 | 47 |
| Mitch Fadden | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 34 | 55 | 89 | 72 |
| Jordan Knackstedt | Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 31 | 54 | 85 | 116 |
| Dan Gendur | Everett Silvertips | 60 | 29 | 55 | 84 | 68 |
| Bud Holloway | Seattle Thunderbirds | 70 | 43 | 40 | 83 | 55 |
| Oscar Moller | Chilliwack Bruins | 63 | 39 | 44 | 83 | 42 |

## Leading goaltenders

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 | OTL | SL | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
| Tyson Sexsmith | Vancouver Giants | 62 | 3678 | 43 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 116 | 9 | .911 | 1.89 |
| Juha Metsola | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 30 | 1693 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 3 | .916 | 1.98 |
| Dustin Tokarski | Spokane Chiefs | 45 | 2543 | 30 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 87 | 6 | .922 | 2.05 |
| Martin Jones | Calgary Hitmen | 27 | 1529 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 1 | .911 | 2.12 |
| Kevin Armstrong | Spokane Chiefs | 33 | 1840 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 66 | 2 | .915 | 2.15 |

## 2008 WHL Playoffs
### Overview

| 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 |
| 1 | Calgary | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Moose Jaw | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Moose Jaw | 2 | | | 1 | Calgary | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 7 | Swift Current | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Regina | 2 | | | 7 | Swift Current | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Swift Current | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Swift Current | 4 | | | | | | 1 | Calgary | 0 | | | | |
| Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | 1 | Calgary | 0 | | | | |
| Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | 3 | Lethbridge | 4 | | | | |
| 3 | Lethbridge | 4 | | | | | | | | | 3 | Lethbridge | 4 | | | | |
| 6 | Brandon | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Brandon | 2 | | | 3 | Lethbridge | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Kootenay | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Medicine Hat | 1 | | | 5 | Kootenay | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Kootenay | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Kootenay | 4 | | | | | | | | | | E3 | Lethbridge | 0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | W3 | Spokane | 4 |
| 1 | Tri-City | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | W3 | Spokane | 4 |
| 8 | Kamloops | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Kamloops | 0 | | | 1 | Tri-City | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Seattle | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Seattle | 4 | | | 4 | Seattle | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Kelowna | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Kelowna | 3 | | | | | | 1 | Tri-City | 3 | | | | |
| Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | 1 | Tri-City | 3 | | | | |
| Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | 3 | Spokane | 4 | | | | |
| 2 | Vancouver | 4 | | | | | | | | | 3 | Spokane | 4 | | | | |
| 7 | Chilliwack | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Chilliwack | 0 | | | 2 | Vancouver | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Spokane | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Spokane | 4 | | | 3 | Spokane | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Everett | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Conference quarter-finals
#### Eastern Conference

Moose Jaw vs. Calgary :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Moose Jaw 1 | 5 Calgary |
| March 23 | Moose Jaw 4 | 2 Calgary |
| March 25 | Calgary 8 | 3 Moose Jaw |
| March 26 | Calgary 3 | 1 Moose Jaw |
| March 28 | Moose Jaw 4 | 2 Calgary |
| March 30 | Calgary 4 | 2 Moose Jaw |
| Calgary wins 4–2 ||||
Swift Current vs. Regina :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Swift Current 1 | 2 Regina |
| March 22 | Swift Current 5 | 3 Regina |
| March 25 | (OT) Regina 4 | 3 Swift Current |
| March 26 | Regina 4 | 5 Swift Current (2OT) |
| March 28 | Swift Current 6 | 3 Regina |
| March 29 | Regina 2 | 5 Swift Current |
| Swift Current wins 4–2 ||||
Brandon vs. Lethbridge :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Brandon 1 | 2 Lethbridge |
| March 22 | Brandon 3 | 4 Lethbridge |
| March 25 | Lethbridge 4 | 3 Brandon |
| March 26 | Lethbridge 1 | 5 Brandon |
| March 28 | Lethbridge 3 | 4 Brandon |
| March 30 | Brandon 0 | 4 Lethbridge |
| Lethbridge wins 4–2 ||||
Kootenay vs. Medicine Hat :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Kootenay 5 | 2 Medicine Hat |
| March 22 | (OT) Kootenay 4 | 3 Medicine Hat |
| March 25 | Medicine Hat 1 | 2 Kootenay |
| March 26 | Medicine Hat 5 | 3 Kootenay |
| March 28 | Kootenay 3 | 1 Medicine Hat |
| Kootenay wins 4–1 ||||

#### Western Conference

Kamloops vs. Tri-City :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Kamloops 1 | 6 Tri-City |
| March 22 | Kamloops 1 | 4 Tri-City |
| March 25 | Tri-City 4 | 3 Kamloops |
| March 26 | Tri-City 6 | 2 Kamloops |
| Tri-City wins 4–0 ||||
Chilliwack vs. Vancouver :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Chilliwack 1 | 2 Vancouver |
| March 22 | Chilliwack 2 | 3 Vancouver |
| March 25 | (3OT) Vancouver 4 | 3 Chilliwack |
| March 26 | Vancouver 2 | 1 Chilliwack |
| Vancouver wins 4–0 ||||
Everett vs. Spokane :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Everett 2 | 5 Spokane |
| March 22 | Everett 1 | 4 Spokane |
| March 26 | Spokane 4 | 1 Everett |
| March 28 | (OT) Spokane 3 | 2 Everett |
| Spokane wins 4–0 ||||
Kelowna vs. Seattle :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Kelowna 3 | 2 Seattle |
| March 22 | Kelowna 3 | 1 Seattle |
| March 24 | (OT) Seattle 3 | 2 Kelowna |
| March 25 | Seattle 6 | 4 Kelowna |
| March 27 | Kelowna 2 | 6 Seattle |
| March 29 | Seattle 3 | 4 Kelowna (OT) |
| April 1 | Kelowna 2 | 4 Seattle |
| Seattle wins 4–3 ||||

### Conference semi-finals

Eastern Conference :
Swift Current vs. Calgary :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 4 | Calgary 2 | 3 Swift Current |
| April 5 | Calgary 5 | 2 Swift Current |
| April 8 | Swift Current 5 | 6 Calgary (2OT) |
| April 9 | Swift Current 2 | 3 Calgary |
| April 11 | Swift Current 5 | 2 Calgary |
| April 12 | Calgary 8 | 4 Swift Current |
| Calgary wins 4–2 ||||
Kootenay vs. Lethbridge :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 4 | Kootenay 3 | 2 Lethbridge |
| April 5 | Kootenay 4 | 5 Lethbridge (OT) |
| April 8 | Lethbridge 5 | 2 Kootenay |
| April 9 | (2OT) Lethbridge 2 | 1 Kootenay |
| April 11 | Kootenay 0 | 3 Lethbridge |
| Lethbridge wins 4–1 ||||
Western Conference :
Vancouver vs. Spokane :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 4 | Vancouver 4 | 1 Spokane |
| April 6 | Vancouver 1 | 4 Spokane |
| April 9 | Spokane 3 | 2 Vancouver |
| April 11 | Spokane 1 | 3 Vancouver |
| April 12 | Spokane 4 | 0 Vancouver |
| April 14 | Vancouver 1 | 3 Spokane |
| Spokane wins 4–2 ||||
Seattle vs. Tri-City :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 4 | Seattle 7 | 1 Tri-City |
| April 5 | Seattle 0 | 4 Tri-City |
| April 8 | Tri-City 3 | 2 Seattle |
| April 9 | (OT) Tri-City 3 | 2 Seattle |
| April 11 | Seattle 0 | 4 Tri-City |
| Tri-City wins 4–1 ||||

### Conference finals

| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
| Lethbridge vs. Calgary DateAwayHome April 17Lethbridge 52 Calgary April 18(OT) Lethbridge 43 Calgary April 22Calgary 06 Lethbridge April 23Calgary 24 Lethbridge Lethbridge wins 4–0 | Spokane vs. Tri-City DateAwayHome April 18(2OT) Spokane 10 Tri-City April 20Spokane 01 Tri-City (2OT) April 21Tri-City 02 Spokane April 22(OT) Tri-City 32 Spokane April 26(2OT) Spokane 43 Tri-City April 28(OT) Tri-City 21 Spokane April 29Spokane 41 Tri-City Spokane wins 4–3 |

### WHL Championship

Lethbridge vs. Spokane :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 2 | Lethbridge 1 | 4 Spokane |
| May 3 | Lethbridge 2 | 5 Spokane |
| May 6 | (OT) Spokane 2 | 1 Lethbridge |
| May 7 | Spokane 4 | 1 Lethbridge |
| Spokane wins 4-0 ||||

## Memorial Cup

The 90th Memorial Cup was held in Kitchener, Ontario.

## WHL awards

| Four Broncos Memorial Trophy | Player of the Year | Karl Alzner | Calgary Hitmen |
| Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy | Scholastic Player of the Year | Jordan Eberle | Regina Pats |
| Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy | Scholastic team of the Year | Chilliwack Bruins | Chilliwack Bruins |
| Bob Clarke Trophy | Top Scorer | Mark Santorelli | Chilliwack Bruins |
| Brad Hornung Trophy | Most Sportsmanlike Player | Tyler Ennis | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Bill Hunter Trophy | Top Defenseman | Karl Alzner | Calgary Hitmen |
| Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy | Rookie of the Year | Brayden Schenn | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Del Wilson Trophy | Top Goaltender | Chet Pickard | Tri-City Americans |
| Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy | Coach of the Year | Don Nachbaur | Tri-City Americans |
| Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy | Executive of the Year | Bob Tory | Tri-City Americans |
| Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy | Regular season champions | Tri-City Americans | Tri-City Americans |
| Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy | Top Official | Andy Thiessen | |
| St. Clair Group Trophy | Marketing/Public Relations Award | Kip Reghenas | Calgary Hitmen |
| Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy | Humanitarian of the Year | Ashton Hewson | Prince Albert Raiders |
| WHL Plus-Minus Award | | Greg Scott | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| WHL Playoff MVP | WHL Finals Most Valuable Player | Tyler Johnson | Spokane Chiefs |
| Professional Hockey Achievement Academic Recipient | Alumni Achievement Awards | Lanny McDonald Blair St. Martin | Lanny McDonald Blair St. Martin |

## All-Star Teams

Eastern Conference :
| | First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| Goal | Linden Rowat | Regina Pats | Dan Spence | Calgary Hitmen |
| Defense | Karl Alzner | Calgary Hitmen | Ty Wishart | Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Defense | Logan Pyett | Regina Pats | Daryl Boyle | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Forward | Steve DaSilva | Kootenay Ice | Mitch Fadden | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| Forward | Tyler Ennis | Medicine Hat Tigers | Zach Boychuk | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| Forward | Jordan Eberle | Regina Pats | Ryan White | Calgary Hitmen |
| Western Conference |||||
| | First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| Goal | Chet Pickard | Tri-City Americans | Tyson Sexsmith | Vancouver Giants |
| Defense | T.J. Fast | Tri-City Americans | Jonathon Blum | Vancouver Giants |
| Defense | Thomas Hickey | Seattle Thunderbirds | Luke Schenn | Kelowna Rockets |
| Forward | Colton Yellow Horn | Tri-City Americans | Dan Gendur | Everett Silvertips |
| Forward | Colin Long | Kelowna Rockets | Mark Santorelli | Chilliwack Bruins |
| Forward | Oscar Moller | Chilliwack Bruins | Drayson Bowman | Spokane Chiefs |
* source: Western Hockey League press release

## 2008 Bantam Draft

First round
| # | Player | Nationality | WHL Team |
| 1 | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (C) | Canada | Red Deer Rebels |
| 2 | Ty Rattie (LW) | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks |
| 3 | Duncan Siemens (D) | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (from Prince George) |
| 4 | Michael St. Croix (C) | Canada | Edmonton Oil Kings |
| 5 | Mark McNeill (C) | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders |
| 6 | Brent Benson (C) | Canada | Saskatoon Blades |
| 7 | Colin Smith (C) | Canada | Kamloops Blazers |
| 8 | Mitch Topping (D) | Canada | Chilliwack Bruins |
| 9 | Ryan Murray (D) | Canada | Everett Silvertips |
| 10 | Klarc Wilson (RW) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| 11 | Jesse Forsberg (D) | Canada | Moose Jaw Warriors (from Prince George) |
| 12 | Reece Scarlett (D) | Canada | Swift Current Broncos |
| 13 | Shane McColgan (C) | United States | Kelowna Rockets |
| 14 | Connor Sanvido (C) | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| 15 | Brendan Hurley (LW) | Canada | Kootenay Ice |
| 16 | Dylan Busenius (D) | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| 17 | Myles Bell (D) | Canada | Regina Pats |
| 18 | Phil Tot (C) | Canada | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| 19 | Peter Kosterman (D) | Canada | Calgary Hitmen |
| 20 | Zach Hodder (D) | Canada | Vancouver Giants |
| 21 | Mitch Holmberg (RW) | Canada | Spokane Chiefs |
| 22 | Zac Yuen (D) | Canada | Tri-City Americans |