When the Vegas Golden Knights hoisted hockey’s greatest trophy this week 24 members of Western Hockey League alumni became Stanley Cup champions.
The Golden Knights entered the league just six years ago as an expansion team and this season they defeated the Florida Panthers in five games to capture their first championship.
A pair of Central Albertans were also crowned champions including Former Red Deer Rebel Byron Froese who was on the 36-player active roster for the Golden Knights meanwhile Wetaskiwin’s Kelly Kisio is one of three professional scouts on the team.
Furthermore, there were four WHL alumni on the ice when Vegas won the championship including captain Mark Stone (Winnipeg, Man. / Brandon Wheat Kings), goaltender Adin Hill (Comox, B.C. / Portland Winterhawks), defencemen Brayden McNabb (Davidson, Sask. / Kootenay ICE) and Shea Theodore (Aldergrove, B.C. / Seattle Thunderbirds) as well as forwards Brett Howden (Calgary, Alta. / Moose Jaw Warriors), Keegan Kolesar (Brandon, Man. / Seattle Thunderbirds) and Chandler Stephenson (Saskatoon, Sask. / Regina Pats).
Other players on the 36-player active roster include goaltenders Laurent Brossoit (North Delta, B.C. / Edmonton Oil Kings), Jiri Patera (Prague, Czechia / Brandon Wheat Kings), and Logan Thompson (Calgary, Alta. / Brandon Wheat Kings), defencemen Kaedan Korczak (Yorkton, Sask. / Kelowna Rockets), Dysin Mayo (Victoria, B.C. / Edmonton Oil Kings) and Brayden Pachal (Estevan, Sask. / Prince Albert Raiders).
On the hockey operations side, they were led by general manager Kelly McCrimmon (Plenty, Sask. / Brandon Wheat Kings) who spent many years with the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Other Former WHLers on the hockey operations staff with Vegas include assistant coach Ryan Craig (Abbotsford, B.C. / Brandon Wheat Kings), director of player personnel Vaughn Karpan (Flin Flon, Man. / Brandon Wheat Kings), (assistant director of player personnel Bob Lowes (Prince Albert, Sask. / Regina Pats), pro scouts Craig Cunningham (Trail, B.C. / Portland Winterhawks), and Jim McKenzie (Gull Lake, Sask. / Victoria Cougars) as well as amateur scouts Bruno Campese (Nelson, B.C. / Kelowna Wings) and Erin Ginnell (Flin Flon, Man. / Swift Current Broncos).
