Ferraro Named to WHL's Top 50
April 21, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
Brandon, MB. - Longtime National Hockey Leaguer and a former record breaking center with the Brandon Wheat Kings has been named to the Western Hockey League's List of Top 50 Players of All Time.
#11 Ray Ferraro (Portland Winter Hawks & Brandon Wheat Kings, 1982-84)
Ferraro, who now serves as one of hockey's best analysts with TSN, was a prolific scorer in the WHL from 1982 to 1984 and is the only player in League history to record more than 100 goals in a season. As an 18-year-old rookie on the Winter Hawks, Ferraro lit the lamp 41 times and had 90 points in just 50 regular season games. He was one of six 40-goal scorers on the high octane offence of the Winter Hawks. Ferraro followed the regular season with 24 points (14g-10a) in the WHL Playoffs to guide Portland to the League final. The Winter Hawks were unable to defend their WHL title but Portland hoisted the Memorial Cup as a result of a host team being introduced to the format for the first time.
The Brandon Wheat Kings acquired Ferraro the following season. It proved to be a great trade as Ferraro earned numerous accolades after an historic campaign. Ferraro was named the WHL's Most Valuable Player, the WHL's Top Scorer as well as a WHL Eastern Conference First Team All-Star in 1983-84. The sniper set a WHL single season record with 108 goals, while his 192 points that season ranks fourth all-time. This sensational campaign was highlighted by Ferraro potting a WHL-record 15 hat tricks including a record-tying seven-goal performance on January 5, 1984.
Throughout his WHL career, Ferraro collected 282 points (149g-133a) in 122 regular season games and 52 points (27g-25a) in 25 postseason outings. Despite being a fifth round selection in the 1982 NHL Draft by the Hartford Whalers, Ferraro had a long NHL career that spanned 18 seasons.
Ferraro also played for the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers and St. Louis Blues. When Ferraro retired in 2002, he had compiled 898 points (408g-490a) in 1258 regular season games and amassed 43 playoff points (21g-22a) in 68 contests. The Trail, BC product was also a member of Team Canada's silver medal-winning teams at the 1989 and 1996 IIHF World Championships.
WHL Top 50 Players of All-Time (as of April 21st)
#9 - Grant Fuhr (Victoria Cougars, 1979-81)
#10 - Cam Neely (Portland Winter Hawks, 1982-84)
#11 - Ray Ferraro (Portland Winter Hawks and Brandon Wheat Kings, 1982-84)
#12 - Bernie Federko (Saskatoon Blades, 1973-76)
#13 - Shea Weber (Kelowna Rockets, 2002-05)
#14 - Brian Propp (Brandon Wheat Kings, 1976-79)
#15 - Wendel Clark (Saskatoon Blades, 1983-85)
#16 - Jordan Eberle (Regina Pats, 2006-10)
#17 - Theoren Fleury (Moose Jaw Warriors, 1984-88)
#18 - Bill Derlago (Brandon Wheat Kings, 1974-78)
#19 - Dale Derkatch (Regina Pats, 1981-85)
#20 - Trevor Linden (Medicine Hat Tigers, 1986-88)
#21 - Rob Brown (Kamloops Junior Oilers/Blazers, 1983-87)
#22 - Brad McCrimmon (Brandon Wheat Kings, 1976-79)
#23 - Mark Recchi (New Westminster Bruins and Kamloops Blazers, 1985-88)
#24 - Clark Gillies (Regina Pats, 1971-74)
#25 - Ryan Getzlaf (Calgary Hitmen, 2001-05)
#26 - Barry Beck (New Westminster Bruins, 1974-77)
#27 - Dan Hodgson (Prince Albert Raiders, 1982-85)
#28 - Ray Allison (Brandon Wheat Kings, 1975-79)
#29 - Reggie Leach (Flin Flon Bombers, 1967-70)
#30 - Doug Wickenheiser (Regina Pats, 1977-80)
#31 - Mike Vernon (Calgary Wranglers, 1980-83)
#32 - Dennis Sobchuk (Regina Pats, 1971-74)
#33 - Jamie Benn (Kelowna Rockets, 2007-09)
#34 - Patrick Marleau (Seattle Thunderbirds, 1995-97)
#35 - Ron Chipperfield (Brandon Wheat Kings, 1970-74)
#36 - Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver Giants, 2008-12)
#37 - Shane Doan (Kamloops Blazers, 1992-95)
#38 - Brad Moran (Calgary Hitmen, 1995-2000)
#39 - Tom Lysiak (Medicine Hat Tigers, 1970-73)
#40 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels, 2009-11)
#41 - Marian Hossa (Portland Winter Hawks, 1997-98)
#42 - John Davidson (Calgary Centennials, 1971-73)
#43 - Sam Reinhart (Kootenay ICE, 2011-15)
#44 - Brent Sutter (Lethbridge Broncos, 1980-82)
#45 - Pavel Brendl (Calgary Hitmen, 1998-2001)
#46 - Cliff Ronning (New Westminster Bruins, 1983-85)
#47 - Duncan Keith (Kelowna Rockets, 2002-03)
#48 - Darcy Tucker (Kamloops Blazers, 1991-95)
#49 - Ray Whitney (Spokane Chiefs, 1988-91)
#50 - Stu Barnes (New Westminster Bruins and Tri-City Americans, 1987-90)
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Western Hockey League Stories from April 21, 2016
- Good Seats Still Available for Rockets-T-Birds - Kelowna Rockets
- Ferraro Named to WHL's Top 50 - Brandon Wheat Kings
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- Top 50 WHL Players of All-Time: Ferraro, Neely, Fuhr Named to List by Fans - WHL
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