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WHL Names 2022-23 First Team All-Stars

March 28, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today the First All-Star Teams for the 2022-23 WHL season.

WHL Division All-Stars are voted upon by WHL General Managers.

WHL B.C. Division First All-Star Team

Goaltender - Jesper Vikman (Stockholm, Sweden) - Vancouver Giants

Defenceman - Ethan Samson (Delta, B.C.) - Prince George Cougars

Defenceman - Olen Zellweger (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) - Kamloops Blazers

Forward - Andrew Cristall (Burnaby, B.C.) - Kelowna Rockets

Forward - Logan Stankoven (Kamloops, B.C.) - Kamloops Blazers

Forward - Chase Wheatcroft (Calgary, Alta.) - Prince George Cougars

WHL Central Division First All-Star Team

Goaltender - Rhett Stoesser (Carstairs, Alta.) - Red Deer Rebels

Defenceman - Owen Pickering (St. Adolphe, Man.) - Swift Current Broncos

Defenceman - Christoffer Sedoff (Helsinki, Finland) - Red Deer Rebels

Forward - Riley Fiddler-Schultz (Sherwood Park, Alta.) - Calgary Hitmen

Forward - Josh Filmon (Winnipeg, Man.) - Swift Current Broncos

Forward - Kai Uchacz (De Winton, Alta.) - Red Deer Rebels

WHL East Division First All-Star Team

Goaltender - Daniel Hauser (Chestermere, Alta.) - Winnipeg ICE

Defenceman - Stanislav Svozil (Prerov, Czechia) - Regina Pats

Defenceman - Benjamin Zloty (Calgary, Alta.) - Winnipeg ICE

Forward - Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C.) - Regina Pats

Forward - Zach Benson (Chilliwack, B.C.) - Winnipeg ICE

Forward - Connor McClennon (Wainwright, Alta.) - Winnipeg ICE

WHL U.S. Division First All-Star Team

Goaltender - Thomas Milic (Coquitlam, B.C.) - Seattle Thunderbirds

Defenceman - Lukas Dragicevic (Richmond, B.C.) - Tri-City Americans

Defenceman - Kevin Korchinski (Saskatoon, Sask.) - Seattle Thunderbirds

Forward - Jackson Berezowski (Yorkton, Sask.) - Everett Silvertips

Forward - Jared Davidson (Edmonton, Alta.) - Seattle Thunderbirds

Forward - Gabe Klassen (Prince Albert, Sask.) - Portland Winterhawks

WHL B.C. Division First All-Star Team Biographies

Goaltender Jesper Vikman (Vancouver Giants): The 21-year-old Vegas Golden Knights prospect collected a career best 19 wins with Vancouver during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season, finishing the season with a .903 save percentage and one shutout, a 32-save effort March 17 versus Everett. Vikman, who hails from Stockholm, Sweden, played over 2,500 minutes in the Giants crease in 2022-23, an increase of over 600 from the 2021-22 season. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound netminder has a career 36-36-3-2 record, to go along with a 3.19 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and four shutouts from his 80 WHL regular season contests with Vancouver.

Defenceman Ethan Samson (Prince George Cougars): The 19-year-old captained the Cougars to a second-place finish in the B.C. Division while finishing tied for fourth among WHL blueliners with 18 goals as part of a 60-point regular season total. From Delta, B.C., Samson earned an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers this season after being selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 183-pound blueliner set a career high with 10 shots on goal January 14 at Swift Current. In 211 WHL regular season games, all with Prince George, Samson has totalled 122 points (36G-86A).

Defenceman Olen Zellweger (Kamloops Blazers): Acquired by Kamloops from the Everett Silvertips January 8, the 19-year-old Anaheim Ducks prospect led all Western Conference defencemen with 80 points (32G-48A), all while becoming the first WHL blueliner in six seasons to score 30 or more goals. The reigning Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy winner as WHL Defenceman of the Year, Zellweger helped Canada capture a gold medal in January at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. The 5-foot-10, 182-pound rearguard fired 345 shots on goal during the regular season, 102 more than the next-closest WHL blueliner. Zellweger, who hails from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., has scored 183 points (50G-133A) in 180 career WHL regular season games.

Forward Andrew Cristall (Kelowna Rockets): Rated #16 among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Cristall led the Rockets in goals (39), assists (56) and points (95) while finishing sixth among the leading point-getters in the WHL. The 18-year-old, who hails from Burnaby, B.C., missed 14 games due to injury but marked his return with a four-goal effort February 15 versus Everett. He tallied five assists in a game on two separate occasions, most recently March 25 versus Vancouver. Of the top 20 scorers in the WHL, only Connor Bedard had more even-strength goals than the 30 collected by Cristall during the regular season. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound forward has totalled 169 points (69G-100A) from his 129 career regular season outings with Kelowna.

Forward Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers): The reigning WHL and Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year, Stankoven is set to captain his hometown Blazers into the post-season after finishing fourth in League scoring with 97 points (34G-63A). The Dallas Stars prospect, who helped Canada win gold at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in January, finished fifth among WHL skaters with 63 assists despite missing 20 of the Blazers' 68 games. In 180 career WHL season contests, Stankoven has collected 260 points on the strength of 115 goals and 145 assists.

Forward Chase Wheatcroft (Prince George Cougars): The 20-year-old became just the second Prince George Cougar, and first since 1997-98 to record 100 or more points in a season, finishing the 2022-23 campaign with a career-best 107 points (47G-60A) to lead all Western Conference skaters. The product of Calgary, Alta. signed an entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars earlier this month and set a Prince George franchise record with 22 power-play goals, which also were tied for the most among WHL players this season. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound forward has collected 189 points (78G-111A) over his 205 WHL regular season outings.

WHL Central Division First All-Star Team Biographies

Goaltender Rhett Stoesser (Red Deer Rebels): The 6-foot-2, 183-pound rookie finished the 2022-23 regular season with a 19-6-0-0 record, posting a 2.35 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and two shutouts along the way. With running mate Kyle Kelsey, the 17-year-old Stoesser was named a co-winner of the WHL's Goaltender of the Month award for September and October. The product of Carstairs, Alta. posted both of his shutouts within a six-day span in late October, while his 2.35 goals-against average was second-best among first-year goaltenders.

Defenceman Owen Pickering (Swift Current Broncos): The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, and Broncos captain, led all Swift Current defencemen with 45 points (9G-36A), setting career highs in assists and points in the process. Hailing from St. Adolphe, Man., Pickering started the 2022-23 campaign on a nine-game point streak and finished the season with four three-point outings. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound blueliner led the Broncos with 19 power-play assists. The 19-year-old has collected 87 points (20G-67A) from his 146 games with Swift Current.

Defenceman Christoffer Sedoff (Red Deer Rebels): The Finnish rearguard signed an entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights earlier this month, leading Red Deer's defence corps with 51 points (5G-46A) this season. Sedoff, 21, led the Club with 30 power-play assists and enjoyed 13 multi-point games over the course of the season. In three full seasons with the Rebels, the 6-foot-2, 196-pound defenceman has totalled 131 points (17G-114A) from his 185 regular season contests.

Forward Riley Fiddler-Schultz (Calgary Hitmen): The 20-year-old led the Hitmen in scoring for the second straight season, captaining the Club to a third-place finish in the Central Division on the strength of a career-best 75-point campaign (31G-44A). The product of Sherwood Park, Alta. enjoyed a five-goal game, the first by a Calgary player in more than 20 years, October 23 versus Prince Albert. Fiddler-Schultz, who won the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy as WHL Humanitarian of the Year in 2020, has amassed 189 points (77G-112A) from his 246 WHL regular season appearances, all with the Hitmen.

Forward Josh Filmon (Swift Current Broncos): A prospect of the New Jersey Devils, Filmon finished tied for fourth among WHL skaters with 47 goals, which represented a more than 200 per cent increase over his tally from the 2021-22 season. The product of Winnipeg, Man. led the Broncos in scoring with 75 points (47G-28A), scoring 14 times on the power-play. He recorded the first six-goal game by a WHL skater since 2009, tallying a half-dozen times at Edmonton December 18. In 148 career WHL regular season contests, Filmon has collected 122 points (72G-50A).

Forward Kai Uchacz (Red Deer Rebels): One of only two WHL skaters to reach the 50-goal mark this season, the 19-year-old helped the Rebels capture the Central Division title with an 85-point campaign (50G-35A). One of four Red Deer skaters to appear in all 68 regular season contests in 2022-23, the De Winton, Alta. product collected three hat-tricks during the campaign, all of which occurred in a four-game span between December 27, 2022 and January 1, 2023. Listed on NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings, the 6-foot-2, 193-pound forward has totalled 128 points (67G-61A) from his 177 career WHL regular season games.

WHL East Division First All-Star Team Biographies

Goaltender Daniel Hauser (Winnipeg ICE): The 19-year-old set an ICE franchise record for wins in a single season with 37 and led all Eastern Conference netminders in victories. From Chestermere, Alta., Hauser finished fourth in the WHL with a 2.28 goals-against average and fifth among League goaltenders with a .917 save percentage. The 5-foot-11, 156-pound puck-stopper was named WHL Goaltender of the Week on two occasions this season, most recently in January. In 90 career WHL contests with Winnipeg, he owns a 78-7-3-0 record to go along with a 2.23 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and 10 shutouts.

Defenceman Stanislav Svozil (Regina Pats): The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect finished third among WHL defencemen in scoring, totalling 78 points (11G-67A) for the Pats while leading all League blueliners with 39 power-play points. The product of Prerov, Czechia captained his home country to a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. The 20-year-old enjoyed a four-game run of multi-point efforts from February 25 through March 5, which capped off a 10-game point streak. The 6-foot-1, 182-pound blueliner has earned 119 points (21G-98A) from his 115 games with the Regina Pats.

Defenceman Benjamin Zloty (Winnipeg ICE): The 21-year-old set a franchise record for points in a season by a defenceman and led all WHL blueliners with 81 points (13G-68A) during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season. Zloty, who hails from Calgary, Alta., collected 22 multi-point games, scoring at least three points in a contest seven times for the Regular Season Champion ICE while also finishing third in the WHL with a +67 rating. The 6-foot-0, 180-pound defenceman has appeared in 207 WHL regular season contests, totalling 189 points (26G-163A).

Forward Connor Bedard (Regina Pats): The top-ranked North American Skater on NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings, Bedard captured the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL's Top Scorer with 143 points (71G-72A). His 71 goals were the most in the League by a 21-goal margin, while his 143 points were 36 better than the closest WHL skater; the North Vancouver, B.C. product became the first WHL player in 26 years to record 140 or more points in a season, a campaign that included a 35-game point streak. The 17-year-old's campaign was accented by nine hat-tricks and he scored five or more points in a game on 10 occasions. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound forward, who has served as Pats captain during the 2022-23 WHL season, has amassed 271 points (134G-137A) in 134 games.

Forward Zach Benson (Winnipeg ICE): Ranked #5 among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Benson finished third in League scoring with 98 points on the strength of a career-best 36 goals and 62 assists. Hailing from Chilliwack, B.C., Benson scored three hat-tricks this season, the most recent of which came February 26 at Edmonton as part of a six-point effort. The 17-year-old's +68 rating led all WHL forwards, and he was named WHL Player of the Week on two occasions over the course of the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season. The 5-foot-10, 159-pound forward has accrued 181 points (71G-110A) in 142 regular season games since being selected 14th-overall by the ICE in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.

Forward Connor McClennon (Winnipeg ICE): The product of Wainwright, Alta. set personal bests with 46 goals and 92 points for Winnipeg during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season, his fifth full campaign with the ICE since being selected second-overall in the 2017 WHL Draft. The 20-year-old finished eighth in League scoring and was the lone Winnipeg skater to reach double-digits in power-play goals this season, finishing the campaign with 16 man-advantage markers. His eight game-winning goals stood for a share of the team lead. The 5-foot-8, 164-pound forward has totalled 284 points (138G-146A) from his 243 WHL regular season appearances.

WHL U.S. Division First All-Star Team Biographies

Goaltender Thomas Milic (Seattle Thunderbirds): A 2023 NHL Draft prospect, Milic led all WHL goaltenders with a 2.08 goals-against average and .928 save percentage, while also finishing tied for third in the League with 27 wins and in a second-place tie with four shutouts. Milic, from Coquitlam, B.C., backstopped Canada to a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. The 19-year-old was named WHL Goaltender of the Month for the month of February, posting a 13-0-0-1 record over his last 14 regular season outings. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound netminder matched his career best for wins in 2022-23 and over his WHL regular season career holds a 60-23-3-3 record, to go along with a 2.35 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and eight shutouts.

Defenceman Lukas Dragicevic (Tri-City Americans): Ranked #12 among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Dragicevic was the only defenceman in the WHL to lead his team in scoring during the 2022-23 regular season, completing the campaign with 15 goals and 75 points. The product of Richmond, B.C. set an Americans franchise record by collecting points in 27 consecutive games from October 14 through December 30, while his 75 points were more than double his previous career best. The 17-year-old enjoyed 21 multi-point games, including a four-point effort October 8 versus Edmonton. The 6-foot-2, 181-pound defender has collected 107 points (21G-86A) over his 136 career WHL games.

Defenceman Kevin Korchinski (Seattle Thunderbirds): Korchinski, 18, was the first WHL player selected in the 2022 NHL Draft, going seventh-overall to the Chicago Blackhawks; in 2022-23 he set new career bests in goals (11), assists (62) and points (73) while also helping Canada to a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. The product of Saskatoon, Sask. averaged 1.35 points per game from the Seattle blue line in 2022-23 and enters the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien having earned at least a point in his last 20 home contests, a stretch dating back to November 23, 2022. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound rearguard has career totals of 148 points (15G-133A) from his 145 WHL regular season contests.

Forward Jackson Berezowski (Everett Silvertips): From Yorkton, Sask., Berezowski set a Silvertips franchise record on the final weekend of the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season by collecting his 48th goal of the campaign. The 21-year-old also set Everett's new career goals mark in 2022-23, completing his WHL regular season career with 130 tallies in a Silvertips uniform. Berezowski's 22 power-play goals this season were good for a share of the lead among WHL skaters, while his 81 points led Everett's roster. The 5-foot-10, 191-pound Silvertips captain has made 273 regular season appearances in an Everett uniform, totalling 232 points (130G-102A).

Forward Jared Davidson (Seattle Thunderbirds): A prospect of the Montreal Canadiens, Davidson led the Seattle Thunderbirds in scoring during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season with 82 points (38G-44A). Hailing from Edmonton, Alta., the 20-year-old Davidson earned three or more points in 12 separate contests this season, including a quartet of four-point outings. His 285 shots on goal were also third-most among WHL skaters. In 254 career WHL regular season games, all with Seattle, the 6-foot-0, 183-pound forward has amassed 210 points (99G-111A).

Forward Gabe Klassen (Portland Winterhawks): The 19-year-old began his 2022-23 WHL Regular Season with a four-goal performance on opening weekend and proceeded to lead the Winterhawks in scoring with 35 goals and 69 points. From Prince Albert, Sask., Klassen scored 15 times on the power-play in 2022-23, while his five game-winning goals were good for a share of Portland's team lead. The 5-foot-10, 176-pound forward accumulated 20 multi-point games over the course of the season while serving as Winterhawks captain. In 181 career regular season games, all with Portland, Klassen has totalled 159 points (83G-76A).

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