2001–02 WHL season

(Redirected from 2001-02 WHL season)

The 2001–02 WHL season was the 36th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The league expanded to nineteen teams with the addition of the Vancouver Giants. The Red Deer Rebels won their second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for posting the best regular season record; the Rebels also returned to the championship series for a second straight here. However, the Kootenay Ice defeated the Rebels to win their second President's Cup and a berth in the 2002 Memorial Cup, where the Ice would win their first Memorial Cup title.

2001–02 WHL season
LeagueWestern Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams19
Regular season
Scotty Munro Memorial TrophyRed Deer Rebels (2)
Season MVPDan Hamhuis (Prince George Cougars)
Top scorerNathan Barrett (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPDuncan Milroy (Ice)
Finals championsKootenay Ice (2)
  Runners-upRed Deer Rebels
WHL seasons
2001–02 CHL season
LeagueCanadian Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams55
OHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals championsKootenay Ice (WHL) (1st title)
  Runners-upVictoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

League notes

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  • The Vancouver Giants joined the WHL as its 19th franchise. This precipitated a new standings format, with the league moving from three divisions to four, divided into Eastern and Western Conferences. The Swift Current Broncos moved from the East to the Central division, and the Kootenay Ice movied from the Central to the new B.C. Division—the old West Division was divided into the B.C. and U.S. Divisions.
  • The top four teams in each division qualified for the playoffs, with the caveat that the 5th place team in the B.C. Division could qualify in place of the 4th place team in the U.S. Division if they had a better record.

Regular season

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Final standings

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Eastern Conference

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East Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Brandon Wheat Kings 72 43 23 4 2 92 261 210
x Regina Pats 72 40 20 4 8 92 252 192
x Moose Jaw Warriors 72 30 34 6 2 68 226 239
x Saskatoon Blades 72 27 37 5 3 62 216 257
Prince Albert Raiders 72 26 41 2 3 57 234 324
Central Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Red Deer Rebels 72 46 18 7 1 100 264 184
x Swift Current Broncos 72 42 17 6 7 97 274 218
x Calgary Hitmen 72 33 33 5 1 72 271 281
x Lethbridge Hurricanes 72 33 33 6 0 72 266 247
Medicine Hat Tigers 72 30 36 4 2 66 277 316

Western Conference

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B.C. Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Kamloops Blazers 72 38 25 5 4 85 263 230
x Kootenay Ice 72 38 27 7 0 83 276 223
x Prince George Cougars 72 34 27 9 2 79 244 215
x Kelowna Rockets 72 31 26 10 5 77 257 232
Vancouver Giants 72 13 49 6 4 36 198 365
U.S. Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Portland Winter Hawks 72 36 25 5 6 83 269 243
x Spokane Chiefs 72 33 25 11 3 80 223 206
x Tri-City Americans 72 31 31 10 0 72 260 271
x Seattle Thunderbirds 72 21 40 6 5 53 235 313
Map of WHL, 2001–02 to 2002–03
 
 
200km
125miles
Wheat Kings
Pats
Warriors
Raiders
Blades
Broncos
Tigers
Hurricanes
Rebels
Hitmen
Ice
Chiefs
Americans
Rockets
Blazers
Thunderbirds
Winterhawks
Cougars
Giants
   East Division
   Central Division
   BC Division
   US Division

Scoring leaders

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Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Nathan Barrett Lethbridge Hurricanes 72 45 62 107 100
Joffrey Lupul Medicine Hat Tigers 72 56 50 106 95
Eric Johansson Tri-City Americans 69 44 59 103 73
Tyler Beechey Kootenay/Calgary 70 44 55 99 104
Josef Balej Portland Winter Hawks 65 51 41 92 52
Jeremy Jackson Vancouver/Lethbridge 71 38 53 91 91
Mikhail Yakubov Red Deer Rebels 71 32 57 89 54
Josh Olson Portland Winter Hawks 72 40 48 88 85
Duncan Milroy Swift Current/Kootenay 64 45 42 87 44
Justin Kelly Saskatoon Blades 72 39 47 86 47

Goaltending leaders

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Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties ; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA
Cam Ward Red Deer Rebels 46 2695 30 11 4 102 1 .911 2.27
Josh Harding Regina Pats 42 3289 27 13 1 95 4 .906 2.39
Shane Bendera Red Deer/Kelowna 50 3030 24 15 11 125 1 .912 2.47
Barry Brust Spokane Chiefs 60 3542 28 21 10 152 1 .912 2.57
Billy Thompson Prince George Cougars 42 2378 20 17 2 108 2 .913 2.72

2002 WHL Playoffs

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Conference Quarter-finals Conference Semi-finals Conference Finals WHL Championship
            
E1 Brandon 4
E4 Saskatoon 3
C1 Red Deer 4
E3 Moose Jaw 2
E2 Regina 2
E3 Moose Jaw 4
E1 Brandon 3
Eastern
C1 Red Deer 4
C1 Red Deer 4
C4 Lethbridge 0
E1 Brandon 4
C2 Swift Current 1
C2 Swift Current 4
C3 Calgary 3
C1 Red Deer 2
B2 Kootenay Ice 4
B1 Kamloops 0
B4 Kelowna 4
B2 Kootenay 4
U4 Seattle 0
B2 Kootenay 4
B3 Prince George 3
B2 Kootenay 4
Western
B4 Kelowna 1
U1 Portland 3
U4 Seattle 4
U2 Spokane 2
B4 Kelowna 4
U2 Spokane 4
U3 Tri-City 1

Conference quarterfinals

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Eastern Conference

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Brandon vs. Saskatoon
Date Away Home
March 23 Brandon 1 2 Saskatoon OT
March 24 Brandon 2 0 Saskatoon
March 26 Saskatoon 1 3 Brandon
March 27 Saskatoon 2 1 Brandon 2OT
March 31 Brandon 2 3 Saskatoon OT
April 2 Saskatoon 1 4 Brandon
April 3 Saskatoon 1 2 Brandon
Brandon wins series 4–3
Regina vs. Moose Jaw
Date Away Home
March 22 Moose Jaw 3 2 Regina OT
March 23 Moose Jaw 3 5 Regina
March 26 Regina 2 1 Moose Jaw
March 27 Regina 1 3 Moose Jaw
March 29 Moose Jaw 2 1 Regina
March 31 Regina 2 5 Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw wins series 4–2
Red Deer vs. Lethbridge
Date Away Home
March 22 Lethbridge 2 4 Red Deer
March 23 Lethbridge 3 5 Red Deer
March 26 Red Deer 5 2 Lethbridge
March 27 Red Deer 3 2 Lethbridge
Red Deer wins series 4–0
Swift Current vs. Calgary
Date Away Home
March 22 Calgary 4 2 Swift Current
March 23 Calgary 2 4 Swift Current
March 26 Swift Current 5 1 Calgary
March 27 Swift Current 1 3 Calgary
March 29 Calgary 4 5 Swift Current
March 31 Swift Current 2 5 Calgary
April 2 Calgary 1 3 Swift Current
Swift Current wins series 4–3

Western Conference

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Kamloops vs. Kelowna
Date Away Home
March 22 Kelowna 4 1 Kamloops
March 23 Kelowna 3 0 Kamloops
March 27 Kamloops 2 4 Kelowna
March 28 Kamloops 1 3 Kelowna
Kelowna wins series 4–0
Kootenay vs. Prince George
Date Away Home
March 22 Prince George 4 1 Kootenay
March 23 Prince George 3 1 Kootenay
March 26 Kootenay 6 0 Prince George
March 27 Kootenay 4 2 Prince George
March 29 Kootenay 5 3 Prince George
April 1 Prince George 6 3 Kootenay
April 2 Prince George 1 5 Kootenay
Kootenay wins series 4–3
Portland vs. Seattle
Date Away Home
March 22 Seattle 3 4 Portland
March 23 Seattle 6 2 Portland
March 26 Portland 2 3 Seattle
March 28 Portland 3 2 Seattle
March 29 Seattle 1 0 Portland
March 30 Portland 4 0 Seattle
April 2 Seattle 3 2 Portland
Seattle wins series 4–3
Spokane vs. Tri-City
Date Away Home
March 22 Tri-City 1 4 Spokane
March 23 Tri-City 3 7 Spokane
March 27 Spokane 2 1 Tri-City
March 29 Spokane 2 3 Tri-City OT
March 30 Tri-City 1 Spokane 2 OT
Spokane wins series 4–1

Conference semifinals

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Eastern Conference
Red Deer vs. Moose Jaw
Date Away Home
April 5 Moose Jaw 4 0 Red Deer
April 6 Moose Jaw 3 5 Red Deer
April 9 Red Deer 2 3 Moose Jaw OT
April 10 Red Deer 2 1 Moose Jaw OT
April 12 Moose Jaw 0 6 Red Deer
April 14 Red Deer 4 2 Moose Jaw
Red Deer wins series 4–2
Swift Current vs. Brandon
Date Away Home
April 5 Brandon 2 3 Swift Current
April 6 Brandon 3 2 Swift Current OT
April 9 Swift Current 1 4 Brandon
April 10 Swift Current 3 4 Brandon OT
April 12 Brandon 4 3 Swift Current
Brandon wins series 4–1
Western Conference
Kootenay vs Seattle
Date Away Home
April 5 Seattle 1 3 Kootenay
April 6 Seattle 1 7 Kootenay
April 9 Kootenay 5 2 Seattle
April 11 Kootenay 5 3 Seattle
Kootenay wins series 4–0
Spokane vs. Kelowna
Date Away Home
April 5 Kelowna 2 3 Spokane
April 7 Spokane 3 2 Kelowna OT
April 8 Spokane 1 2 Kelowna
April 10 Kelowna 8 2 Spokane
April 11 Kelowna 2 1 Spokane 2OT
April 13 Spokane 0 2 Kelowna
Kelowna wins series 4–2

Conference finals

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Eastern Conference Western Conference
Red Deer vs. Brandon
Date Away Home
April 19 Brandon 2 1 Red Deer OT
April 20 Brandon 2 4 Red Deer
April 23 Red Deer 4 5 Brandon 2OT
April 24 Red Deer 2 5 Brandon
April 26 Brandon 0 4 Red Deer
April 28 Red Deer 3 2 Brandon 2OT
April 30 Brandon 2 5 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–3
Kootenay vs. Kelowna
Date Away Home
April 19 Kelowna 2 3 Kootenay
April 20 Kelowna 4 5 Kootenay
April 23 Kootenay 1 5 Kelowna
April 24 Kootenay 4 2 Kelowna
April 26 Kelowna 0 3 Kootenay
Kootenay wins series 4–1

WHL Championship

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Red Deer vs. Kootenay
Date Away Home
May 3 Kootenay 2 1 Red Deer OT
May 4 Kootenay 1 2 Red Deer
May 7 Red Deer 2 3 Kootenay OT
May 8 Red Deer 3 2 Kootenay
May 11 Kootenay 4 3 Red Deer
May 13 Red Deer 2 3 Kootenay 2OT
Kootenay wins series 4–2

All-Star games

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On January 24, the WHL Eastern All-Stars were defeated by the OHL Western All-Stars 7–2 at Red Deer, Alberta before a crowd of 6,259.

On February 6, the WHL Western All-Stars defeated the QMJHL Dilio All-Stars 9–4 at Rimouski, Quebec before a crowd of 4,762.

WHL awards

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Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Dan Hamhuis, Prince George Cougars
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Tyler Metcalfe, Seattle Thunderbirds
Scholastic Team of the Year: Portland Winterhawks
Bob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Nathan Barrett, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Ian White, Swift Current Broncos
Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Dan Hamhuis, Prince George Cougars
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Braydon Coburn, Portland Winter Hawks
Del Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Cam Ward, Red Deer Rebels
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Bob Lowes, Regina Pats
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Brad McEwan, Swift Current Broncos
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Best regular season record): Red Deer Rebels
Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Kevin Acheson
St. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Greg McConkey, Red Deer Rebels
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year): Brandin Cote, Spokane Chiefs
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Matt Hubbauer, Regina Pats
WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Duncan Milroy, Kootenay Ice

All-Star Teams

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Eastern Conference
First Team Second Team
Goal Cam Ward Red Deer Rebels Josh Harding Regina Pats
Defense Filip Novak Regina Pats Ian White Swift Current Broncos
Jay Bouwmeester Medicine Hat Tigers Jeff Woywitka Red Deer Rebels
Forward Joffrey Lupul Medicine Hat Tigers Matt Hubbauer Regina Pats
Nathan Barrett Lethbridge Hurricanes Mikhail Yakubov Red Deer Rebels
Tyler Beechey Calgary Hitmen Justin Kelly Saskatoon Blades
Western Conference
First Team Second Team
Goal Barry Brust Spokane Chiefs Shane Bendera Kelowna Rockets
Defense Dan Hamhuis Prince George Cougars Craig Weller Kootenay Ice
Kurt Sauer Spokane Chiefs Jesse Ferguson Kelowna Rockets
Forward Jarret Stoll Kootenay Ice Eric Johansson Tri-City Americans
Jozef Balej Portland Winter Hawks Scottie Upshall Kamloops Blazers
Jared Aulin Kamloops Blazers Marek Svatos Kootenay Ice
  • source: Western Hockey League press release

See also

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References

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  • 2005–06 WHL Guide
Preceded by WHL seasons Succeeded by