2006–07 WHL season

The 2006–07 WHL season was the 41st season for the Western Hockey League. Twenty-one teams completed a 72 game season. The Everett Silvertips won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy, after having the best record in the WHL during the regular season. The Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup, defeating the Vancouver Giants in seven games. The Giants captured the 2007 Memorial Cup as tournament hosts, defeating the Tigers in the championship game.
==League notes==
* The Chilliwack Bruins joined the WHL as an expansion team, playing in the B.C. Division of the Western Conference.
* The Kootenay Ice returned to the Central Division of the Eastern Conference.
* The Swift Current Broncos moved to the East Division of the Eastern Conference.
* On October 23, three players with the Moose Jaw Warriors were struck by a suspected drunk driver while returning home following a road trip. Two players were treated and released from a Moose Jaw hospital, however Garrett Robinson was critically injured in the accident. 
* The WHL announced that the championship trophy would be renamed the Ed Chynoweth Cup in honour of Ed Chynoweth, who served as WHL president from 1972 until 1995, and two terms as Chairman of the Board following.
==Final standings==
===Eastern Conference===
East Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF 	GA
y Brandon Wheat Kings 	72	41	20	3 	8 	93 	258	214
x Regina Pats 	72	36	28	2 	6 	80 	234	220
x Swift Current Broncos	72	33	36	1 	2 	69 	199	241
x Prince Albert Raiders	72	27	39	3 	3 	60 	203	266
Moose Jaw Warriors 	72	28	41	3 	0 	59 	217	271
Saskatoon Blades 	72	27	41	2 	2 	58 	174	231
Central Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF 	GA
y Medicine Hat Tigers	72	52	17	3 	0 	107	264	175
x Kootenay Ice 	72	49	17	3 	3 	104	267	189
x Calgary Hitmen 	72	39	26	3 	4 	85 	251	205
x Red Deer Rebels 	72	35	28	4 	5 	79 	206	214
Lethbridge Hurricanes	72	33	34	2 	3 	71 	254	265
===Western Conference===
B.C. Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF 	GA
y Vancouver Giants 	72	45	17	3 	7 	100	245	143
x Kamloops Blazers 	72	40	26	4 	2 	86 	245	222
x Prince George Cougars	72	33	31	3 	5 	74 	221	217
x Chilliwack Bruins 	72	25	40	5 	2 	57 	169	260
Kelowna Rockets 	72	22	41	5 	4 	53 	156	245
U.S. Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF 	GA
y Everett Silvertips 	72	54	15	1 	2 	111	239	142
x Tri-City Americans 	72	47	23	1 	1 	96 	240	190
x Seattle Thunderbirds	72	37	21	3 	11 	88 	209	186
x Spokane Chiefs 	72	36	28	4 	4 	80 	232	217
Portland Winter Hawks 	72	17	52	1 	2 	37 	146	316
==Scoring leaders==
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player 	Team 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Zach Hamill 	Everett Silvertips 	69	32	61	93 	90
Steve DaSilva 	Kootenay Ice 	71	38	53	91 	108
Zach Boychuk 	Lethbridge Hurricanes	69	31	60	91 	52
Ryan White 	Calgary Hitmen 	72	34	55	89 	97
Codey Burki 	Brandon Wheat Kings 	70	36	49	85 	83
Martin Hanzal 	Red Deer Rebels 	60	26	59	85 	94
Mitch Fadden 	Lethbridge Hurricanes	71	36	48	84 	54
Riley Holzapfel	Moose Jaw Warriors 	72	39	43	82 	94
Mark Santorelli	Chilliwack Bruins 	72	29	53	82 	46
Mark Derlago 	Brandon Wheat Kings 	72	46	35	81 	34
===Goaltending leaders===
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Total ice time; W = Wins; L = Losses; SOL = Shootout losses ; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Player 	Team 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	SOL	GA 	SO	SV% 	GAA
Tyson Sexsmith	Vancouver Giants 	51	3047	31	14	8 	91 	10	.915	1.79
Leland Irving 	Everett Silvertips 	48	2802	34	10	2 	87 	11	.929	1.86
David Reekie 	Regina/Everett 	31	1796	21	9 	0 	59 	3 	.917	1.97
Derek Yeomans 	Seattle Thunderbirds	55	3304	30	15	9 	117	5 	.917	2.12
Taylor Dakers 	Kootenay Ice 	48	2831	33	12	2 	102	5 	.919	2.16
==WHL Playoffs==
===Overview===
*Note:For the first round, the first place team in each division plays the fourth place team; the second place team faces the third. After the first round, the four remaining teams in each conference are reseeded by regular season record.
===Conference quarterfinals===
====Eastern Conference====
{| class="wikitable"	Brandon vs. Prince Albert	Brandon vs. Prince Albert	Brandon vs. Prince Albert	Brandon vs. Prince Albert
Date 	Away 	Home 	 	
March 23 	Prince Albert 3 	4 Brandon 	OT 	
March 24 	Prince Albert 2 	3 Brandon 	OT 	
Mar 28 	Brandon 0 	2 Prince Albert 	 	
Mar 29 	Brandon 7 	3 Prince Albert 	 	
Mar 31 	Brandon 4 	2 Prince Albert 	 	
Brandon wins 4–1	Brandon wins 4–1 	Brandon wins 4–1 	Brandon wins 4–1 	
====Western Conference====
{| class="wikitable"	Vancouver vs. Chilliwack	Vancouver vs. Chilliwack	Vancouver vs. Chilliwack	Vancouver vs. Chilliwack
Date 	Away 	Home 	 	
March 23 	Chilliwack 4 	5 Vancouver 	OT 	
March 24 	Chilliwack 3 	1 Vancouver 	 	
March 27 	Vancouver 4 	0 Chilliwack 	 	
March 28 	Vancouver 5 	1 Chilliwack 	 	
March 30 	Chilliwack 1 	3 Vancouver 	 	
Vancouver wins 4–1	Vancouver wins 4–1 	Vancouver wins 4–1 	Vancouver wins 4–1 	
===Conference semifinals===
Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	 	 	
{| class="wikitable"	Medicine Hat vs. Regina	Medicine Hat vs. Regina	Medicine Hat vs. Regina	Medicine Hat vs. Regina
Date 	Away 	Home 	 	
April 7 	Regina 1 	4 Medicine Hat 	 	
April 9 	Regina 2 	7 Medicine Hat 	 	
April 11 	Medicine Hat 2 	1 Regina 	OT 	
April 13 	Medicine Hat 6 	3 Regina 	 	
Medicine Hat wins 4–0	Medicine Hat wins 4–0 	Medicine Hat wins 4–0 	Medicine Hat wins 4–0 	
Western Conference 	Western Conference 	 	 	
{| class="wikitable" 	Everett vs. Prince George	Everett vs. Prince George	Everett vs. Prince George	Everett vs. Prince George
Date 	Away 	Home 	 	
April 6 	Prince George 2 	3 Everett 	 	
April 7 	Prince George 2 	3 Everett 	OT 	
April 10 	Everett 1 	5 Prince George 	 	
April 11 	Everett 3 	4 Prince George 	OT 	
April 14 	Prince George 4 	3 Everett 	 	
April 16 	Everett 2 	8 Prince George 	 	
Prince George wins 4–2	Prince George wins 4–2 	Prince George wins 4–2 	Prince George wins 4–2 	
===Conference finals===
Eastern Conference 	Western Conference 	 	 	
{| class="wikitable"	Medicine Hat vs. Calgary	Medicine Hat vs. Calgary	Medicine Hat vs. Calgary	Medicine Hat vs. Calgary
Date 	Away 	Home 	 	
April 20 	Calgary 0 	2 Medicine Hat 	 	
April 21 	Calgary 1 	4 Medicine Hat 	 	
April 23 	Medicine Hat 2 	4 Calgary 	 	
April 25 	Medicine Hat 3 	1 Calgary 	 	
April 27 	Calgary 3 	4 Medicine Hat 	OT 	
Medicine Hat wins 4–1	Medicine Hat wins 4–1 	Medicine Hat wins 4–1 	Medicine Hat wins 4–1 	
===WHL Championship===
{| class="wikitable"	Vancouver vs. Medicine Hat	Vancouver vs. Medicine Hat	Vancouver vs. Medicine Hat	Vancouver vs. Medicine Hat
Date 	Away 	Home 	 	
May 4 	Vancouver 1 	0 Medicine Hat 	 	
May 5 	Vancouver 2 	3 Medicine Hat 	 	
May 8 	Medicine Hat 3 	2 Vancouver 	OT 	
May 9 	Medicine Hat 0 	4 Vancouver 	 	
May 11 	Medicine Hat 0 	3 Vancouver 	 	
May 13 	Vancouver 3 	4 Medicine Hat 	 	
May 14 	Vancouver 2 	3 Medicine Hat 	2OT 	
Medicine Hat wins 4–3	Medicine Hat wins 4–3 	Medicine Hat wins 4–3 	Medicine Hat wins 4–3 	
===Memorial Cup===
See 2007 Memorial Cup
The Vancouver Giants hosted the 2007 Memorial Cup tournament, which also featured the WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers. The Plymouth Whalers represented the Ontario Hockey League, and the Lewiston Maineiacs represented the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The Tigers earned a spot in the Championship game with a 2–1 round robin record, falling 3–1 to the Maineiacs before defeating the Whalers 4–1, and the Giants 1–0.
The Giants also finished 2–1, defeating Plymouth 4–3 in Overtime and Lewiston 2–1. Their loss to Medicine Hat dropped them into a semi-final game.
The Giants prevailed in the semi-final to meet the Tigers in the Cup Final, and defeated Medicine Hat 3–1 to take the title.
==2006 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge==
On November 29, the WHL defeated the Russian Selects 5–3 before a crowd of 4,404 at Chilliwack, British Columbia.
On November 30, the WHL defeated the Russian Selects 8–1 before a crowd of 4,136 at Kamloops, British Columbia.
All time, the WHL has a 8–0 lead in the series which began in 2003.
==WHL awards==
Player of the Year 	Four Broncos Memorial Trophy 	Kris Russell 	Medicine Hat Tigers
Scholastic Player of the Year 	Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy 	Keith Aulie 	Brandon Wheat Kings
Top Scorer 	Bob Clarke Trophy 	Zach Hamill 	Everett Silvertips
Most Sportsmanlike Player 	Brad Hornung Trophy 	Aaron Gagnon 	Seattle Thunderbirds
Top Defenseman 	Bill Hunter Trophy 	Kris Russell 	Medicine Hat Tigers
Rookie of the Year 	Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy 	Kyle Beach 	Everett Silvertips
Top Goaltender 	Del Wilson Trophy 	Carey Price 	Tri-City Americans
Coach of the Year 	Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy 	Cory Clouston	Kootenay Ice
Executive of the Year 	Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy 	Bob Tory 	Tri-City Americans
Top Official 	Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy 	Andy Thiessen	
Marketing/Public Relations Award	St. Clair Group Trophy 	Bruce Vance 	Prince Albert Raiders
Humanitarian of the Year 	Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy	Kyle Moir 	Swift Current Broncos
Top +/- Statistic, Individual 	WHL Plus-Minus Award 	Jonathon Blum	Vancouver Giants
Playoff Most Valuable Player 	airBC Trophy 	Matt Keetley 	Medicine Hat Tigers
==All-Star Teams==
 	 	Jason Fransoo (tied)	Everett Silvertips	
Forward	Aaron Gagnon 	Seattle Thunderbirds	Reid Jorgensen 	Kamloops Blazers
Forward	Peter Mueller	Everett Silvertips 	Colton Yellow Horn	Tri-City Americans
Forward	Zach Hamill 	Everett Silvertips 	Brock Nixon 	Kamloops Blazers
==2007 Bantam draft==
The 2007 WHL Bantam Draft was the 18th Bantam Draft. It was hosted by the Stampede Park Round-Up Centre on Thursday May 3rd, 2007, via the internet. 
:List of first round picks in the bantam draft. 
# 	Player 	Nationality	WHL Team
1 	Quinton Howden (LW) 	Canadian 	Moose Jaw Warriors (via Portland)
2 	Luke Moffatt (C) 	American 	Kelowna Rockets
3 	Mark Pysyk (D) 	Canadian 	Edmonton Oil Kings
4 	Charles Inglis (C) 	Canadian 	Saskatoon Blades
5 	Bradley Ross (LW) 	Canadian 	Portland Winter Hawks (via Moose Jaw)
6 	Alex Theriau (D) 	Canadian 	Lethbridge Hurricanes
7 	Kevin Sundher (C) 	Canadian 	Chilliwack Bruins
8 	Ryan Aasman (D) 	Canadian 	Prince Albert Raiders
9 	Christian Magnus (C)	Canadian 	Swift Current Broncos
10	Brett Connolly (C) 	Canadian 	Prince George Cougars
11	Connor Redmond (LW) 	Canadian 	Red Deer Rebels
12	Michael Betz (LW) 	Canadian 	Spokane Chiefs
13	Dominick Favreau (C)	Canadian 	Regina Pats
14	Austin Madaisky (D) 	Canadian 	Calgary Hitmen
15	Brendan Ranford (LW)	Canadian 	Kamloops Blazers
16	Erik Fleming (D) 	Canadian 	Seattle Thunderbirds
17	Brandon Regier (RW) 	Canadian 	Brandon Wheat Kings
18	Mark Reners (RW) 	Canadian 	Lethbridge Hurricanes (via Tri-City)
19	Mitch Spooner (D) 	Canadian 	Vancouver Giants
20	Drew Czerwonka (LW) 	Canadian 	Kootenay Ice
21	Tyler Bunz (G) 	Canadian 	Medicine Hat Tigers
22	Kent Simpson (G) 	Canadian 	Everett Silvertips
==Team Photos==
06-07BraWK.jpg|Brandon Wheat Kings
06-07EveSil.jpg|Everett Silvertips
06-07PorWH.jpg|Portland Winterhawks
==References==
*whl.ca
WHL
Category:Western Hockey League seasons