2005–06 WHL season
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 the President's Cup.
League notes
The WHL announced that it would adopt many of the new rules put in place by the NHL this season to increase scoring. They are:
- Shootouts: Ties no longer count in the standings, and are replaced with the shootout. Shootout losses will count as one point in the standings.
- Tighter standard of officiating, especially as it relates to obstruction fouls.
- Goaltender restriction zone or the "trapezoid", will be employed. Goaltenders will be 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.
It is worth noting that the WHL did not move 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. Thus, only the Calgary Hitmen, who share an arena with the Calgary Flames play using the new alignment. The new standard will be employed by the remaining teams beginning in 2006–07.
Regular season
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
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
2006 WHL Playoffs
Overview
Conference quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
| Moose Jaw vs. Brandon |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Brandon 1 | 5 Moose Jaw |
| March 25 | Brandon 2 | 1 Moose Jaw |
| March 27 | Moose Jaw 2 | 3 Brandon |
| March 30 | Moose Jaw 4 | 1 Brandon |
| April 2 | Brandon 0 | 1 Moose Jaw |
| April 4 | Moose Jaw 5 | 0 Brandon |
|
| Moose Jaw wins 4–2 |
|
| Saskatoon vs. Regina |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Regina 2 | 3 Saskatoon | OT |
| March 25 | Regina 1 | 4 Saskatoon |
| March 28 | Saskatoon 4 | 5 Regina | OT |
| March 29 | Saskatoon 5 | 3 Regina |
| March 31 | Regina 5 | 2 Saskatoon |
| April 4 | Saskatoon 5 | 1 Regina |
|
| Saskatoon wins 4–2 |
|
| Medicine Hat vs. Swift Current |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Swift Current 2 | 5 Medicine Hat |
| March 25 | Swift Current 1 | 7 Medicine Hat |
| March 28 | Medicine Hat 7 | 1 Swift Current |
| March 29 | Medicine Hat 3 | 2 Swift Current | OT |
|
| Medicine Hat wins 4–0 |
|
| Calgary vs. Lethbridge |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Calgary 3 | 2 Lethbridge |
| March 25 | Calgary 2 | 5 Lethbridge |
| March 28 | Lethbridge 6 | 4 Calgary |
| March 30 | Lethbridge 1 | 2 Calgary |
| April 1 | Lethbridge 2 | 3 Calgary | OT |
| April 2 | Calgary 3 | 2 Lethbridge | OT |
| Calgary wins 4–2 |
|
Western Conference
| Vancouver vs. Prince George |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Prince George 0 | 3 Vancouver |
| March 25 | Prince George 2 | 0 Vancouver |
| March 28 | Vancouver 6 | 0 Prince George |
| March 29 | Vancouver 3 | 2 Prince George | OT |
| April 1 | Prince George 2 | 5 Vancouver |
| Vancouver wins 4–1 |
|
| Kelowna vs. Kootenay |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Kootenay 3 | 2 Kelowna | 2OT |
| March 25 | Kootenay 1 | 5 Kelowna |
| March 28 | Kelowna 3 | 4 Kootenay |
| March 29 | Kelowna 5 | 4 Kootenay |
| March 31 | Kootenay 1 | 4 Kelowna |
| April 2 | Kelowna 5 | 2 Kootenay |
| Kelowna wins 4–2 |
|
| Everett vs. Tri-City |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Tri-City 0 | 4 Everett |
| March 25 | Tri-City 2 | 1 Everett |
| March 28 | Everett 2 | 1 Tri-City | OT |
| March 29 | Everett 4 | 1 Tri-City |
| March 31 | Tri-City 0 | 2 Everett |
| Everett wins 4–1 |
|
| Seattle vs Portland |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Portland 5 | 8 Seattle |
| March 25 | Portland 1 | 0 Seattle |
| March 28 | Seattle 1 | 2 Portland |
| March 31 | Seattle 6 | 3 Portland |
| April 1 | Portland 3 | 2 Seattle |
| April 4 | Seattle 5 | 2 Portland |
| April 5 | Portland 4 | 3 Seattle | OT |
| Portland wins 4–3 |
|
Conference semifinals
| Eastern Conference |
|---|
| Medicine Hat vs. Saskatoon |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 7 | Saskatoon 1 | 5 Medicine Hat |
| April 8 | Saskatoon 3 | 4 Medicine Hat | 3OT |
| April 11 | Medicine Hat 3 | 2 Saskatoon | OT |
| April 12 | Medicine Hat 3 | 1 Saskatoon |
| Medicine Hat wins 4–0 |
|
| Calgary vs. Moose Jaw |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 8 | Moose Jaw 0 | 3 Calgary |
| April 9 | Moose Jaw 3 | 2 Calgary | OT |
| April 11 | Calgary 2 | 4 Moose Jaw |
| April 12 | Calgary 2 | 0 Moose Jaw |
| April 14 | Moose Jaw 3 | 4 Calgary | OT |
| April 16 | Calgary 1 | 3 Moose Jaw |
| April 19 | Moose Jaw 3 | 1 Calgary |
| Moose Jaw wins 4–3 |
|
| Western Conference |
|---|
| Kelowna vs. Everett |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 7 | Everett 5 | 3 Kelowna |
| April 9 | Everett 2 | 3 Kelowna |
| April 11 | Kelowna 0 | 2 Everett |
| April 12 | Kelowna 2 | 3 Everett |
| April 14 | Everett 2 | 3 Kelowna | 2OT |
| April 16 | Kelowna 2 | 6 Everett |
| Everett wins 4–2 |
|
| Vancouver vs. Portland |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 7 | Portland 1 | 0 Vancouver |
| April 8 | Portland 1 | 7 Vancouver |
| April 12 | Vancouver 4 | 3 Portland | OT |
| April 13 | Vancouver 3 | 1 Portland |
| April 16 | Portland 0 | 2 Vancouver |
| Vancouver wins 4–1 |
|
Conference finals
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|
| Medicine Hat vs. Moose Jaw |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 21 | Moose Jaw 3 | 2 Medicine Hat |
| April 22 | Moose Jaw 4 | 3 Medicine Hat | OT |
| April 25 | Medicine Hat 5 | 3 Moose Jaw |
| April 26 | Medicine Hat 1 | 3 Moose Jaw |
| April 28 | Moose Jaw 4 | 3 Medicine Hat | OT |
| Moose Jaw wins 4–1 |
|
| Vancouver vs. Everett |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 21 | Everett 2 | 4 Vancouver |
| April 22 | Everett 0 | 2 Vancouver |
| April 25 | Vancouver 5 | 0 Everett |
| April 27 | Vancouver 5 | 0 Everett |
| Vancouver wins 4–0 |
|
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 |
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.
The WHL has an all time record of 6–0 against the Russian Selects since the tournament began in 2003–04.
WHL awards
| Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Justin Pogge, Calgary Hitmen |
| Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Brennen Wray, Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Troy Brouwer, Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Kris Russell, Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Kris Russell, Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Peter Mueller, Everett Silvertips |
| Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Justin Pogge, Calgary Hitmen |
| Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Willie Desjardins, Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Scott Bonner, Vancouver Giants |
| Regular season Champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Kyle Rehman |
| Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Dave Andjelic, Medicine Hat Tigers |
| Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy - Wacey Rabbit, Saskatoon Blades |
| WHL Plus-Minus Award: Paul Albers, Vancouver Giants |
| Playoff Most Valuable Player - airBC Trophy: Gilbert Brule, Vancouver Giants |
2006 Bantam draft
The 2006 WHL Bantam Draft took place in Calgary, Alberta on Thursday May 4. It was the 17th annual draft to take place.
- List of first round picks in the bantam draft.
See also
References
Canada