The return
of the WHL saw the Sudbury Wolves score
455 goals to win their 5th WHL
championship tying Bada Bing and
Anastasia Sea Dogs for the most
all-time. This ended the Anastasia Sea
Dogs era and denied them a record 4th
championship in a row and record 6th
all-time. Despite the Wolves current
streak of five years in a row in the
money standings this is their first
championship since 2011-2012. It also
marks a league record 17 seasons in the
money standings. Led by 1st round pick
McDavid's 44 goals the Wolves succeeded
this year because 13 players on their
roster had careers years, the only two
to have sub-par seasons were Schenn
24 and Werenski 11. Other factors in the
Wolves win were the early season trade
with the Reservoir Dogs acquiring
Robertson 41 goals for Benn 18 goals and
the three players picked up in the
re-entry draft Thompson 38, Barbashev 26
and Hagel 25 goals. And having the
defenseman of the year Cale Makar
scoring 28 goals helps too.
Coming in second place for the second year in a row was Big Three with 442 goals. They were led by an incredible 60 goal season from the MVP Auston Matthews, a bounce back and career year for Duchene 43 goals and the rookie of the year surprise picked up in the re-entry draft Jeannot 24 goals. Duchene by the way was selected in the 15th round and 155th overall, not bad! This is the sixth year in a row that Big Three is in the money standings and their 10th all-time. The Big Three may have had their third WHL championship if it weren't for some devastating injuries to Landeskog 30 goals, Ekblad 15 and later Scheifele 29 and Larkin 31 goals. They are the highest percentage team in the league at 83.33% for finishing in the money.
The Reservoir Dogs made a run for second place but ultimately fell short and had to settle for 3rd place with 430 goals. This year could have been their second WHL championship if it weren't for the trade that sent Robertson for Benn to the Sudbury Wolves which saw a loss of 23 goals! The Reservoir Dogs are one of two teams that had more goals from their original drafted teams than after trades and the re-entry draft (see below). Having impressive seasons by Draisaitl 55 goals, Lindholm 42 goals and the 12th round selection of Mangiapane's 35 goals the Reservoir Dogs return to the money standings for their 10th season all-time.
Bada Bing finished in 4th place with 402 goals marking their 12th season all-time in the money standings, second only to the Wolves 17 seasons. Led by second year player Kaprizov's 47 goals and career years by Barkov 39 and Hintz 37 the Bada Bing were able to stay ahead of Vandelay Industries and the Anastasia Sea Dogs to secure the top four finish.
Rounding out the money standings were the Vandelay Industries scoring 395 goals to finish in 5th place. After coming in dead last their rookie season the Vandelay Industries have placed in the money standings the following two years, two out of three ain't bad! Career years for Connor 47 goals, Gaudreau 40, Norris 35 goals and the 16th round selection Duclair with 31 goals proved they belong in the money! The remaining teams of the WHL will be looking at all aspects of their organizations to see where improvements can be made to possibly obtain the glory of winning a WHL championship! The Anastasia Sea Dogs, Fighting Imps, Helmut, Flyers, Winter is Coming and the Blackhawks, along with the rest of the teams will be planning, dreaming, drinking and you know... whatever it takes to draft their best team and win it all!
INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS
AWARDS FOR THE 2021-2022 WHL
Season
Most Valuable Player: Auston Matthews
60
goals - Big Three
Rookie of the Year: Tanner Jeannot
24 goals - Big Three
Defenseman of the Year: Cale Makar 28
goals - Sudbury Wolves
WHL PLAYOFFS
The second year of WHL Playoffs hockey sees the Sudbury Wolves defeating the Big Three in the finals 41 to 34. The Sudbury Wolves become the first team to win the regular season championship and the playoff championship in the same season. Led by the playoff MVP Cale Makar's 5 goals and 11 assists the Wolves were able to hold off the Big Three with strong outings from Stamkos and Landeskog.
STATISTICAL RECAPS
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