Eight WHL Alumni Win 2018 Stanley Cup Championship with Washington Capitals
Published on June 8, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League is proud to recognize eight WHL Alumni as members of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals.
With a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday in Game 5 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, the Capitals laid claim to the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Former Saskatoon Blades goaltender Braden Holtby (Lloydminster, Alta.) was essential in Thursday's victory for the Capitals as he had been since the start of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, stopping 28 of 31 shots in the contest. In 23 appearances, Holtby went 16-7 with a 2.16 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and two shutouts.
Former Prince George Cougars captain Brett Connolly had the primary assist on the Cup-winning goal.
WHL Alumni being crowned Stanley Cup champions include players Chandler Stephenson (Regina Pats / Saskatoon, Sask.), Madison Bowey (Kelowna Rockets / Winnipeg, Man.), Connolly, and Holtby, as well as Assistant Coaches Blaine Forsythe (Calgary Hitmen / Calgary, Alta.) and Lane Lambert (Prince George Cougars / Melfort, Sask.), Assistant General Manager Ross Mahoney (Regina Pats / Saskatoon, Sask.) and Head Coach Barry Trotz (Regina Pats / Winnipeg, Man.).
WHL Alumni suiting up for the Capitals enjoyed great success throughout the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Apart from Holtby's heroic performance in net, Connolly led all WHL Alumni on the Capitals with nine points (6G-3A) in 24 appearances, while Stephenson also contributed seven points (2G-5A) in 24 outings. The Stanley Cup victory will also be the first for Trotz in his illustrious NHL coaching career.
While eight WHL Alumni are immortalized as Stanley Cup champions, the Stanley Cup finalist Vegas Golden Knights boast 12 WHL Alumni, including players Cody Eakin (Swift Current Broncos / Winnipeg, Man.), Ryan Reaves (Brandon Wheat Kings / Winnipeg, Man.), Deryk Engelland (Moose Jaw Warriors / Edmonton, Alta.), Brayden McNabb (Kootenay ICE / Davidson, Sask.), Luca Sbisa (Lethbridge Hurricanes / Ozieri, Italy), Clayton Stoner (Tri-City Americans / Port McNeil, B.C.), and Shea Theodore (Seattle Thunderbirds / Langley, B.C.), as well as Senior Vice President Murray Craven (Medicine Hat Tigers / Medicine Hat, Alta.), Assistant Coaches Ryan Craig (Brandon Wheat Kings / Abbotsford, B.C.), Mike Kelly (Brandon Wheat Kings / Oakville, Ont.), and Ryan McGill (Kootenay ICE / Sherwood Park, Alta.) and Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager Kelly McCrimmon (Brandon Wheat Kings / Plenty, Sask.).
Western Hockey League Stories from June 8, 2018
- Winterhawks Seth Jarvis Among 28 WHL P Layers Invited to Hockey Canada's U-17 Development Camp - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs Forward Jack Finley Invited to Hockey Canada U17 Camp - Spokane Chiefs
- Wheat Kings Unveil Pre-Season Schedule - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blazers Sign Defenseman Logan Bairos - Kamloops Blazers
- Eight WHL Alumni Win 2018 Stanley Cup Championship with Washington Capitals - WHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
