WHL Radio Show Podcast

WHL This Week - Radio Edition, features two Aboriginal WHL players as the league honours and observes National Truth & Reconciliation Day.  Hear from Zachary Shantz of the Regina Pats and Jett Lajoie of the Prince George Cougars on what the Orange Shirt movement means to them.  Find out what the WHL is doing this weekend in recognition. 

Nathan Behm of the Kamloops Blazers is the Tempo WHL Player of the Week. The 2025 NHL Draft eligible forward is building quite the sports resume after winning a National long drive championship and two appearances for Canada on the International baseball stage. Hear his story.

The Victoria Royals are off to a good start. Head Coach James Patrick discusses the changes he made heading into the season and the emergence of 16 year-old D Keaton Verhoeff.  

Finally, it wasn't cowbells in Everett last weekend, it was wedding bells.  Two members of the Everett Silvertips ice crew were married at the rink. Hear that story to close out the show. 

WHL This Week - Radio Edition, features WHL Commisioner Dan Near.  He talks his first full season on the job, opening weekend, the state of the WHL, and what changes we are in store for in the months ahead. 

The Portland Winterhawks have a new front man.  Kyle Gustafson was promoted from Associate to Head Coach in the off-season.  He joins us to talk about the job promotion, and just where the Winterhawks are at after advancing to last season's Ed Chynoweth Cup Championship Series.

What an opening weekend for Brandon Wheat Kings F Roger McQueen. The top prospect for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is the WHL Player of the Week after a huge four-goal opening night. He'll round out the show.  

We are back for another season on the WHL Radio Show.  The new 2024-25 season is here and it's Opening Weekend!

WHL Vice-President of Hockey Richard Doerksen joins us to discuss some new rules and some modifications that teams and fans should be aware of.  

15 year-old exceptional status D Landon DuPont begins his WHL career in Everett.  We put hockey on the back burner and learn more about what Landon is all about.

The Medicine Hat Tigers are ranked number one in the fist edition of the CHL Top 10. With a deep and talented roster led by Gavin McKenna, Tigers Head Coach & General Manager Willie Desjardins joins us to talk about his team and the challenges that lie ahead. 

WHL This Week - Radio Edition, takes you back to Moose Jaw for the Championship moment.  The finish, the celebration, the post-game interviews.  Hear from several key members of the Warriors following a series sweep to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup.  Also, we'll get a Portland perspective from Head Coach / GM Mike Johnston.  

Our guests this week include Moose Jaw Warriors F & Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Brayden Yager.  He's celebrating a WHL Championship with his teammates and the City of Moose Jaw.  We will get his thoughts on the playoffs and the several key moments that led to the Warriors winning it all. We will also get his take on the 2024 Memorial Cup in Saginaw, MI as the team opens the tournament Friday, May 24th vs the host team.

The Warriors General Manager will also breakdown the season and playoffs and what lies ahead in Saginaw.  Jason Ripplinger made several key moves to bolster an already strong roster both at and before the WHL trade deadline.  We will hear from the WHL veteran manager on fulfilling his vision.
 

WHL This Week - Radio Edition, takes a look at the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft that saw 237 players drafted into the league on Thursday.  We'll have a recap of some of the top picks including 1st overall pick Landon Dupont to the Everett Silvertips.

The WHL Conference Championships wrapped up in sudden death fashion. We will take you back to Saskatoon and Prince George for a pair of series clinching games that now sees the Moose Jaw Warriors match-up with the Portland Winterhawks for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. 

He's played overtime hero three times for the Moose Jaw Warriors including in both game six and seven in the Eastern Conference Championship. We track down Warriors F Lynden Lackovic who's becoming Mr. Clutch in the WHL Playoffs.

Finally, a look at the WHL talent who helped Canada to a gold medal at the IIHF World U-18 Championship in Finland. 

WHL This Week - Radio Edition, updates the 2024 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.  Both Conference Championship series hit the weekend looking like they could go the distance. We will update an overtime filled Eastern Championship and take a look at the Western Championship as the series heads back North to Prince George for a game six and a possible game seven in necessary.

Next week, the WHL hosts both it's US Prospects Draft and the WHL Prospects Draft.  Providing a preview of some of the top prospects that will be selected early is Taylor Green - Manager of Hockey Operations for the WHL.  Taylor previews the potential top six selections in the draft.

The Prince Albert Raiders have the 2nd and 9th overall pick in the WHL Prospects Draft a year after drafting 1st, 2nd and 7th overall last year.  Raiders General Manager Curtis Hunt joins us to talk about what they are building in P.A. 

WHL This Week - Radio Edition, previews the WHL's Eastern & Western Conference Championships presented by Nutrien. We are down to four teams in the chase for the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

Moose Jaw Warriors Head Coach Mark O'Leary is our guest.  He talks about their playoff run so far and what it will take to advance past the Saskatoon Blades.  Mark also has his dad - a former longtime Coach along for the ride so far in the WHL Playoffs.

The Saskatoon Blades open the series on home ice. Hear from Head Coach Brennan Sonne, captain Trevor Wong & F Fraser Minten.

The Prince George Cougars open the Western Conference Championship on home ice against the Prince George Cougars. Head Coach / GM Mark Lamb gives his thoughts going into the series and hear from F Zach Funk who's picked up 15 points in nine playoff games so far. 

WHL This Week - Radio Edition, updates the 2024 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.  We take a look at some of the remaining second round series heading into the weekend.

The Saskatoon Blades have advanced to the Western Conference Championship.  F Fraser Minten weighs in on the series with Red Deer and what lies ahead.   

The Portland Winterhawks begin the weekend with a chance to advance to the Western Conference Championship in their series with Everett.  Winterhawks Captain Gabe Klassen is our guest.

WHL Official Cianna Leiffers is fresh off officiating the gold medal game at the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship in Utica, New York.  The WHL's Cami Kepke spoke with her about her start in the game, refereeing on the world stage and what the next goal might be.

Episode 29 of this WHL Radio Show Podcast features Landon Dupont. After receiving Exceptional Player status from Hockey Canada, the standout defenseman is headed to the WHL in the fall.  He sits down with a chat with the WHL's Cami Kepke on all things hockey and the WHL.  

The Saskatoon Blades head into the 2nd round of the WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.  Head Coach Brennan Sonne talks about their opponent in the Red Deer Rebels, laser focus and... wildlife.

Kelowna Rockets F and top prospect for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft Tij Iginla had a massive first round series against the Wenatchee Wild.  His eight goals led him to be the Tempo WHL Player of the Week.  He'll wrap up the show. 

WHL This Week - Radio Edition, takes a look at the WHL Awards Finalists for the upcoming announcements.  The WHL has announced the finalists for each award which will be announced between April 30th to May 9th.

The WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien continue with four series in the first round.  Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Portland and Prince George have all advanced, leaving four series into the second weekend of the post-season.  Hear from Prince George Cougars F Carlin Dezainde, Portland Winterhawks D Luca Cagnoni & Swift Current Broncos F Clarke Caswell.  We also update the remaining series.