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WHL Names 2022-23 Second All-Star Teams

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


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

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

WHL B.C. Division Second All-Star Team

Goaltender - Dylan Ernst (Weyburn, Sask.) - Kamloops Blazers

Defenceman - Kyle Masters (Edmonton, Alta.) - Kamloops Blazers

Defenceman - Hudson Thornton (Winnipeg, Man.) - Prince George Cougars

Forward - Caedan Bankier (Surrey, B.C.) - Kamloops Blazers

Forward - Riley Heidt (Saskatoon, Sask.) - Prince George Cougars

Forward - Matthew Seminoff (Coquitlam, B.C.) - Kamloops Blazers

WHL Central Division Second All-Star Team

Goaltender - Harrison Meneghin (Surrey, B.C.) - Lethbridge Hurricanes

Defenceman - Dru Krebs (Okotoks, Alta.) - Medicine Hat Tigers

Defenceman - Carter Yakemchuk (Calgary, Alta.) - Calgary Hitmen

Forward - Jayden Grubbe (Calgary, Alta.) - Red Deer Rebels

Forward - Mathew Ward (Kamloops, B.C.) - Swift Current Broncos

Forward - Oasiz Wiesblatt (Calgary, Alta.) - Medicine Hat Tigers

WHL East Division Second All-Star Team

Goaltender - Austin Elliott (Strathmore, Alta.) - Saskatoon Blades

Defenceman - Aidan De La Gorgendiere (Langley, B.C.) - Saskatoon Blades

Defenceman - Landon Kosior (Regina, Sask.) - Prince Albert Raiders

Forward - Nate Danielson (Red Deer, Alta.) - Brandon Wheat Kings

Forward - Matthew Savoie (St. Albert, Alta.) - Winnipeg ICE

Forward - Trevor Wong (Vancouver, B.C.) - Saskatoon Blades

WHL U.S. Division Second All-Star Team

Goaltender - Tomas Suchanek (Olomouc, Czechia) - Tri-City Americans

Defenceman - Nolan Allan (Davidson, Sask.) - Seattle Thunderbirds

Defenceman - Luca Cagnoni (Burnaby, B.C.) - Portland Winterhawks

Forward - Chase Bertholet (The Pas, Man.) - Spokane Chiefs

Forward - Lucas Ciona (Edmonton, Alta.) - Seattle Thunderbirds

Forward - Austin Roest (Coldstream, B.C.) - Everett Silvertips

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

Goaltender Dylan Ernst (Kamloops Blazers): The product of Weyburn, Sask. led all WHL goaltenders with 38 wins, earning a 2.69 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and two shutouts along the way. The 19-year-old enjoyed a stretch of 16 consecutive appearances without suffering a regulation loss, a span which ran from November 9 through December 30. In 82 career WHL regular season appearances, all with Kamloops, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound netminder holds a career 55-19-4-1 record to go along with a 2.78 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and four shutouts.

Defenceman Kyle Masters (Kamloops Blazers): The 19-year-old enjoyed a career year, finishing the regular season with 65 points (11G-54A) to sit tied for seventh in scoring among WHL defencemen. Hailing from Edmonton, Alta., Masters arrived in Kamloops prior to the start of the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season after spending three seasons patrolling the blue line with the Red Deer Rebels. The 6-foot-0, 175-pound rearguard signed an entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild earlier this month after being selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. Masters has compiled 92 points (16G-76A) in 175 career WHL games.

Defenceman Hudson Thornton (Prince George Cougars): Thornton, who hails from Winnipeg, Man., finished second among B.C. Division defencemen in scoring with 74 points, setting a Prince George franchise record for goals by a blueliner with 23. The 19-year-old scored 12 times on the power-play, most among Western Conference defencemen, while also improving his plus/minus rating by 27 points from the 2021-22 season. He enjoyed an 11-game assist streak from October 28 - November 19. In 139 career WHL games, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound rearguard has earned a total of 122 points (38G-84A).

Forward Caedan Bankier (Kamloops Blazers): A member of Canada's gold medal-winning entry at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, Bankier set new personal bests in 2023 with 37 goals, 85 points and 12 power-play markers. The product of Surrey, B.C. also accrued seven game-winning goals in 2022-23, most among Blazers skaters. The 20-year-old signed an entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild March 1 after being selected by the NHL Club in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward has collected 188 points (76G-112A) over his 202 WHL regular season appearances.

Forward Riley Heidt (Prince George Cougars): Rated #26 among North American Skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Rankings, Heidt finished the season with a share of the League lead with 72 assists. The product of Saskatoon, Sask. finished third among NHL Draft-eligible skaters, and second among Prince George players with 97 points, while his 43 power-play points were third among all WHL skaters. The 18-year-old finished the regular season on a 10-game point streak. Heidt, who checks in at 5-foot-11 and 178 pounds, has collected 163 career points (48G-115A) from his 155 career regular season appearances with the Cougars.

Forward Matthew Seminoff (Kamloops Blazers): A prospect of the Dallas Stars, the 5-foot-11, 183-pound Seminoff finished third among Blazers skaters in regular season scoring, totalling 82 points (31G-51A) and surpassing the point-per-game mark (1.32) for the first time in his WHL career. The product of Coquitlam, B.C. held the high-water mark for points in a game during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season, collecting eight (4G-4A) in a win over the Victoria Royals March 15. The 19-year-old has appeared in 196 WHL regular season contests with Kamloops, totalling 170 points (73G-97A).

WHL Central Division Second All-Star Team Biographies

Goaltender Harrison Meneghin (Lethbridge Hurricanes): The 18-year-old got into 36 games in his first full WHL season, winning 19 times and posting a 2.83 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and one shutout. The product of Surrey, B.C. was named WHL Goaltender of the Month for the month of November after finishing the month with a 7-0-1-0 record. The 6-foot-2, 161-pound netminder is one of nine WHL goaltenders named on NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft, sitting #27 among North American Goaltenders. In 37 career WHL games, Meneghin holds a career 19-12-2-2 record, 2.91 goals-against average, .905 save percentage and one shutout.

Defenceman Dru Krebs (Medicine Hat Tigers): A prospect of the Washington Capitals, Krebs enjoyed a career year with the Tigers in 2022-23, leading all Medicine Hat defencemen with 41 points (8G-33A). The product of Okotoks, Alta. enjoyed a remarkable 85-point swing in his plus/minus rating from 2021-22, while also recording his first career WHL hat-trick March 17 at Edmonton. The 20-year-old blueliner, who checks in at 6-foot-0 and 178 pounds, has tallied 84 points (15G-69A) in his 211 career WHL regular season games with the Tigers.

Defenceman Carter Yakemchuk (Calgary Hitmen): Yakemchuk led all WHL defencemen with 15 power-play goals, finishing tops among blueliners for his hometown Hitmen with 19 goals and 47 points during the regular season. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound defenceman scored 15 of his 19 goals between January 28 and March 25. The 17-year-old, who is eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, has totalled 60 points (23G-37A) over his two WHL campaigs with Calgary, appearing in 123 games.

Forward Jayden Grubbe (Red Deer Rebels): Grubbe captained the Rebels to the Club's first Central Division crown in 12 years, collecting a career-best 18 goals and 67 points along the way. The 20-year-old, who hails from Calgary, Alta., was one of 10 Red Deer skaters to reach double-digits in goals, while his 35 power-play points led the team. The 6-foot-3, 203-pound forward was a third-round selection by the New York Rangers in the 2021 NHL Draft. In 194 WHL games, all with Red Deer, Grubbe has totalled 134 points (39G-95A).

Forward Mathew Ward (Swift Current Broncos): The 19-year-old led the Swift Current Broncos with 48 assists during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season, finishing second in team scoring with 74 points. The product of Kamloops, B.C. also collected 24 power-play points, good for second among Broncos skaters, and surpassed a point-per-game average for the first time in his WHL career. The 5-foot-8, 171-pound forward has collected 153 points (54G-99A) in 156 WHL contests after being selected 14th-overall selection by Swift Current in the 2019 WHL Draft.

Forward Oasiz Wiesblatt (Medicine Hat Tigers): The 18-year-old more than doubled his points total from 2021-22, finishing the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season with a team-leading 60 points (26G-34A). His 11 power-play goals were good for second among Tigers skaters; the Calgary, Alta. product also led the Club with a 20.8 shooting percentage. The 5-foot-9, 178-pound forward has spent his entire WHL career with Medicine Hat and in 155 career games, he has collected 94 points (39G-55A).

WHL East Division Second All-Star Team Biographies

Goaltender Austin Elliott (Saskatoon Blades): From Strathmore, Alta., Elliott led all rookie netminders with 25 wins, while his 2.20 goals-against average was good for third among WHL goaltenders. The 18-year-old earned two shutouts during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season, including his first career clean sheet October 21 at Calgary. Elliott earned WHL Goaltender of the Week honours on two occasions, most recently for the week ending March 5. In 39 career WHL games, the 6-foot-1, 168-pound Elliott holds a career 26-6-3-0 record, 2.35 goals against average, .908 save percentage and two shutouts.

Defenceman Aidan De La Gorgendiere (Saskatoon Blades): The 21-year-old captained the Blades to the Club's first 100-point season since 2010-11, leading all Saskatoon defencemen with 65 points (12G-53A) along the way. Hailing from Langley, B.C., De La Gorgendiere set career bests in all major offensive categories, tripling his goals total from the 2021-22 campaign. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound defenceman and career Blade has collected 145 points (22G-133A) from his 248 career regular season contests after being selected fifth-overall by Saskatoon in the 2017 WHL Draft.

Defenceman Landon Kosior (Prince Albert Raiders): The 20-year-old was a consistent offensive threat once again for the Prince Albert Raiders, finishing second in team scoring with 63 points (17G-46A). The Regina, Sask. product found the back of the net 12 times on special teams, including a trio of short-handed markers which led all WHL defencemen. He was named WHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 5. A career Raider, Kosior spent four full seasons with the Club. In 213 regular season games, the 5-foot-11, 188-pound blueliner totalled 135 points (44G-91A).

Forward Nate Danielson (Brandon Wheat Kings): Rated number 13 among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Danielson led the Wheat Kings in goals (33), assists (45), points (78) and power-play goals (13) during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season. The product of Red Deer, Alta., averaged more than a point per game for the second consecutive campaign while winning 52.7 per cent of the 1,267 face-offs he contested. The 18-year-old, who stands 6-foot-1 and 185-pounds, was one of two Wheat Kings to compete in the 2023 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game in Langley, B.C. January 25. In 145 career WHL contests, Danielson has earned 150 points (59G-91A).

Forward Matthew Savoie (Winnipeg ICE): The ninth-overall selection by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft, Savoie finished second among ICE skaters with 95 points (38G-57A) during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season. The product of St. Albert, Alta. enjoyed his second successive campaign of at least 90 points, while helping Winnipeg earn the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL Regular Season Champions for the second consecutive season. The 19-year-old finished tied for sixth place among WHL scoring leaders and was one of three ICE forwards to sit in the top 10 in League scoring. The 5-foot-10, 176-pound forward has scored 192 career points (73G-119A) after being named the first-overall selection by Winnipeg in the 2019 WHL Draft.

Forward Trevor Wong (Saskatoon Blades): From Vancouver, B.C., Wong led the Saskatoon Blades in scoring in his second season with the Club, finishing the campaign with a team-leading 59 assists and 86 points while more than doubling his point total from the 2021-22 season. The 19-year-old finished fourth overall, and second among WHL forwards with 32 power-play assists. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound forward has totalled 159 points (57G-102A) from his 196 career WHL regular season contests.

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

Goaltender Tomas Suchanek (Tri-City Americans): Suchanek helped his native Czechia earn a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in January while also finishing tied for third among WHL goaltenders with 27 wins during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season. The 19-year-old, who sits eighth among North American Goaltenders on the latest NHL Central Scouting Rankings, finished with the fourth-most saves (1,383) among League netminders, while also enjoying a stretch of 13 consecutive WHL appearances withtout a loss from November 26, 2022 through February 3, 2023. The 6-foot-2, 169-pound puck-stopper holds a career 39-38-5-2 record to go along with a 3.44 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and two shutouts over his 88 career appearances with Tri-City.

Defenceman Nolan Allan (Seattle Thunderbirds): The Chicago Blackhawks prospect split the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season between the Prince Albert Raiders and Seattle Thunderbirds, collecting 16 points (7G-9A) from his 41 games with Seattle to go along with a +27 rating. The product of Davidson, Sask. helped Canada to a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in January. The 19-year-old matched a career best with a four-point effort (1G-3A) at Victoria February 21. Allan, who stands 6-foot-2 and 193 pounds, has totalled 79 points (21G-58A) from his 203 career WHL contests after being selected by the Raiders with the third-overall pick in the 2018 WHL Draft.

Defenceman Luca Cagnoni (Portland Winterhawks): Cagnoni led all Winterhawks blueliners with 64 points (17G-47A) and finished with the team lead with 27 power-play assists. Sitting 34th among North American Skaters in the most recent NHL Central Scouting Rankings, the Burnaby, B.C. product represented Portland at the 2023 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game in January. The 18-year-old collected 19 multi-point games over the course of the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season including a quintet of three-point efforts. In 140 WHL contests with the Winterhawks, the 5-foot-10, 179-pound defenceman has earned 103 career points (26G-77A).

Forward Chase Bertholet (Spokane Chiefs): Hailing from The Pas, Man., the 20-year-old Bertholet led the Chiefs in scoring with 69 points (28G-41A) in his first full season with Spokane, posting career bests in goals, assists, points and power-play goals along the way. Bertholet earned multi-goal games on four occasions, while matching his personal best with four-point games on two separate occasions, November 6 at Portland and March 12 at Everett. The 6-foot-0, 177-pound forward has accrued 136 career points (54G-82A) from his 166 WHL appearances.

Forward Lucas Ciona (Seattle Thunderbirds): The Calgary Flames prospect captained the Seattle Thunderbirds to a U.S. Division crown, collecting 75 points (28G-47A) to finish second in team scoring. Among the highlights for the 20-year-old Edmonton, Alta. product, a hat-trick and six-point effort October 15 at Everett. He totalled six multi-goal games over the course of the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound forward scored 22 of his 28 goals at even strength and finished with a share of the team lead with seven game-winning tallies. In 195 career WHL regular season games, all with the Thunderbirds, Ciona has collected 136 points (50G-86A).

Forward Austin Roest (Everett Silvertips): A 2023 NHL Draft prospect, Roest led the Silvertips in assists (46) and plus/minus (+19), while finishing second in team scoring with 78 points (32G-46A). The product of Coldstream, B.C., more than doubled his career bests in all major offensive categories, recording three or more points in a game nine times including a five-point effort (1G-4A) January 11 at Spokane. The 19-year-old, who checks in at 5-foot-10 and 172 pounds, has earned 118 points (48G-70A) from his 142 career WHL regular season contests with Everett.

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