Twenty WHL Alumni set to compete in 2018 Stanley Cup Final
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League is pleased to announce that 20 WHL Alumni are set to compete in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, which begins Monday, May 28 (8:00 p.m. ET) when the Vegas Golden Knights play host to the Washington Capitals.
The defensive play of the Golden Knights has been well-documented throughout the first three rounds of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, allowing 27 goals through their first 15 games. A defensive core that includes former Moose Jaw Warrior Deryk Engelland and Seattle Thunderbird Shea Theodore among other WHL Alumni has risen to the challenge of the NHL’s post-season.
The Capitals charged into the Stanley Cup Final thanks to the play of former Saskatoon Blades goaltender Braden Holtby, who recorded back-to-back shutouts in Games Six and Seven against the Tampa Bay Lightning, stopping all 51 shots as his team survived two straight elimination games. A coaching staff that includes former Regina Pat Barry Trotz, Prince George Cougar coach Lane Lambert, and former Calgary Hitmen coach Blaine Forsythe, has helped guide the team to their second ever Stanley Cup Final appearance.
The Golden Knights boast 12 of the 20 WHL Alumni participating in the final round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs while the Capitals have eight to their name. Of the 20 with ties to the WHL, 11 are players while nine are involved with the hockey operations or coaching staff on their respective teams.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (12)
| Name | Position | Former WHL Club | Hometown |
| Cody Eakin | Forward | Swift Current Broncos | Winnipeg, Man. |
| Ryan Reaves | Forward | Brandon Wheat Kings | Winnipeg, Man. |
| Deryk Engelland | Defence | Moose Jaw Warriors | Edmonton, Alta. |
| Brayden McNabb | Defence | Kootenay ICE | Davidson, Sask. |
| Luca Sbisa | Defence | Lethbridge Hurricanes | Ozieri, Italy |
| Clayton Stoner | Defence | Tri-City Americans | Port McNeil, B.C. |
| Shea Theodore | Defence | Seattle Thunderbirds | Langley, B.C. |
| Murray Craven | Senior Vice President | Medicine Hat Tigers | Medicine Hat, Alta. |
| Ryan Craig | Assistant Coach | Brandon Wheat Kings | Abbotsford, B.C. |
| Kelly McCrimmon | Executive Vice President, Assistant General Manager | Brandon Wheat Kings | Plenty, Sask. |
| Ryan McGill | Assistant Coach | Kootenay ICE | Sherwood Park, Alta. |
| Mike Kelly | Assistant Coach | Brandon Wheat Kings | Oakville, Ont. |
WASHINGTON CAPITALS (8)
| Name | Position | Former WHL Club | Hometown |
| Brett Connolly | Forward | Prince George Cougars | Campbell River, B.C. |
| Chandler Stephenson | Forward | Regina Pats | Saskatoon, Sask. |
| Madison Bowey | Defence | Kelowna Rockets | Winnipeg, Man. |
| Braden Holtby | Goaltender | Saskatoon Blades | Lloydminster, Sask. |
| Blaine Forsythe | Assistant Coach | Calgary Hitmen | Calgary, Alta. |
| Lane Lambert | Assistant Coach | Prince George Cougars | Melfort, Sask. |
| Ross Mahoney | Assistant General Manager | Regina Pats | Saskatoon, Sask. |
| Barry Trotz | Head Coach | Regina Pats | Winnipeg, Man. |
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
