| Field | Value |
|---|
| title | 2007–08 WHL season |
| color | #E03A3E |
| color_text | #FFFFFF |
| league | Western Hockey League |
| sport | Ice hockey |
| duration | **Regular season** |
| September 20, 2007 – March 16, 2008 |
| **Playoffs** |
| March 21 – May 7, 2008 |
| playoffs | Playoffs |
| playoffs_MVP_link | WHL Playoff MVP |
| playoffs_MVP | Tyler Johnson (Chiefs) |
| finals_champ | Spokane Chiefs (2) |
| finals_runner-up | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| no_of_teams | 22 |
| TV | Shaw TV |
| season | Regular season |
| season_champ_name | Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy |
| season_champs | Tri-City Americans (1) |
| MVP_link | Four Broncos Memorial Trophy |
| MVP | Karl Alzner (Calgary Hitmen) |
| top_scorer_link | Bob Clarke Trophy |
| top_scorer | Mark Santorelli (Chilliwack Bruins) |
| seasonslistnames | WHL |
| prevseason_year | [2006–07](2006-07-whl-season) |
| nextseason_year | [2008–09](2008-09-whl-season) |
September 20, 2007 – March 16, 2008
Playoffs
March 21 – May 7, 2008
| finals_runner-up = Lethbridge Hurricanes
| finals_runner-up = Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
The 2007–08 WHL season was the 42nd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began on September 20, 2007, and ended on March 16, 2008. The Tri-City Americans won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record. The playoffs began on March 21, and ended on May 7, with the Spokane Chiefs defeating the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the championship series to claim their second Ed Chynoweth Cup and a berth at the 2008 Memorial Cup tournament, which Spokane would go on to win.
The Edmonton Oil Kings joined the league as an expansion club—their name paying homage to Edmonton's original WHL team—bringing the WHL to 22 teams.
League notes
- The WHL had announced at the 2007 Memorial Cup tournament that it would rename its championship trophy—until then, known as the President's Cup—after Ed Chynoweth. The Chiefs 2008 championship was thus the first featuring the renamed trophy.
- The Edmonton Oil Kings joined the Central Division of the Eastern Conference, bringing the Eastern Conference to twelve teams, while the Western Conference remained at ten.
- The playoff format was revised so that the top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs, as opposed to the top four in each division. Division winners are guaranteed a top two seed in each conference.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; x = Clinched playoff berth; y = Clinched conference title
Eastern Conference
| East Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Rank |
|---|
| **x Regina Pats** | 72 | 44 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 94 | 217 | 206 | 2 |
| **x Brandon Wheat Kings** | 72 | 42 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 90 | 253 | 209 | 6 |
| **x Swift Current Broncos** | 72 | 41 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 89 | 244 | 205 | 7 |
| **x Moose Jaw Warriors** | 72 | 37 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 88 | 229 | 214 | 8 |
| **Saskatoon Blades** | 72 | 29 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 67 | 182 | 229 | 9 |
| **Prince Albert Raiders** | 72 | 26 | 41 | 3 | 2 | 57 | 196 | 248 | 10 |
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Rank |
|---|
| **y Calgary Hitmen** | 72 | 47 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 99 | 259 | 166 | 1 |
| ** x Lethbridge Hurricanes** | 72 | 45 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 96 | 245 | 175 | 3 |
| ** x Medicine Hat Tigers** | 72 | 43 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 93 | 234 | 198 | 4 |
| ** x Kootenay Ice** | 72 | 42 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 92 | 229 | 214 | 5 |
| **Edmonton Oil Kings** | 72 | 22 | 39 | 4 | 7 | 55 | 162 | 241 | 11 |
| **Red Deer Rebels** | 72 | 18 | 47 | 4 | 3 | 43 | 145 | 255 | 12 |
Western Conference
| B.C. Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Rank |
|---|
| **x Vancouver Giants** | 72 | 49 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 106 | 250 | 155 | 2 |
| **x Kelowna Rockets** | 72 | 38 | 26 | 2 | 6 | 84 | 248 | 215 | 5 |
| **x Chilliwack Bruins** | 72 | 28 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 65 | 206 | 241 | 7 |
| **x Kamloops Blazers** | 72 | 27 | 41 | 2 | 2 | 58 | 197 | 253 | 8 |
| **Prince George Cougars** | 72 | 20 | 48 | 1 | 3 | 44 | 172 | 304 | 9 |
| U.S. Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Rank |
|---|
| **y Tri-City Americans** | 72 | 52 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 108 | 262 | 176 | 1 |
| **x Spokane Chiefs** | 72 | 50 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 107 | 251 | 160 | 3 |
| **x Seattle Thunderbirds** | 72 | 42 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 91 | 241 | 179 | 4 |
| **x Everett Silvertips** | 72 | 39 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 205 | 198 | 6 |
| **Portland Winter Hawks** | 72 | 11 | 58 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 132 | 318 | 10 |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|
| Mark Santorelli | Chilliwack Bruins | 72 | 27 | 74 | 101 | 40 |
| Colin Long | Kelowna Rockets | 72 | 31 | 69 | 100 | 41 |
| Colton Yellow Horn | Tri-City Americans | 67 | 48 | 49 | 97 | 63 |
| Tyler Ennis | Medicine Hat Tigers | 70 | 43 | 48 | 91 | 42 |
| Steve DaSilva | Kootenay Ice | 68 | 40 | 49 | 89 | 47 |
| Mitch Fadden | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 34 | 55 | 89 | 72 |
| Jordan Knackstedt | Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 31 | 54 | 85 | 116 |
| Dan Gendur | Everett Silvertips | 60 | 29 | 55 | 84 | 68 |
| Bud Holloway | Seattle Thunderbirds | 70 | 43 | 40 | 83 | 55 |
| Oscar Moller | Chilliwack Bruins | 63 | 39 | 44 | 83 | 42 |
Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | Team | GP | Min | W | L | OTL | SL | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
|---|
| Tyson Sexsmith | Vancouver Giants | 62 | 3678 | 43 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 116 | 9 | .911 | 1.89 |
| Juha Metsola | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 30 | 1693 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 3 | .916 | 1.98 |
| Dustin Tokarski | Spokane Chiefs | 45 | 2543 | 30 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 87 | 6 | .922 | 2.05 |
| Martin Jones | Calgary Hitmen | 27 | 1529 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 1 | .911 | 2.12 |
| Kevin Armstrong | Spokane Chiefs | 33 | 1840 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 66 | 2 | .915 | 2.15 |
2008 WHL Playoffs
Overview
| RD2-group1=Eastern
| RD2-group2=Western
| RD1-seed01=1
| RD1-team01=Calgary
| RD1-score01=4
| RD1-seed02=8
| RD1-team02=Moose Jaw
| RD1-score02=2
| RD1-seed03=2
| RD1-team03=Regina
| RD1-score03=2
| RD1-seed04=7
| RD1-team04=Swift Current
| RD1-score04=4
| RD1-seed05=3
| RD1-team05=Lethbridge
| RD1-score05=4
| RD1-seed06=6
| RD1-team06=Brandon
| RD1-score06=2
| RD1-seed07=4
| RD1-team07=Medicine Hat
| RD1-score07=1
| RD1-seed08=5
| RD1-team08=Kootenay
| RD1-score08=4
| RD1-seed09=1
| RD1-team09=Tri-City
| RD1-seed10=8
| RD1-team10=Kamloops
| RD1-score09=4
| RD1-score10=0
| RD1-seed11=4
| RD1-team11=Seattle
| RD1-score11=4
| RD1-seed12=5
| RD1-team12=Kelowna
| RD1-score12=3
| RD1-seed13=2
| RD1-team13=Vancouver
| RD1-score13=4
| RD1-seed14=7
| RD1-team14=Chilliwack
| RD1-score14=0
| RD1-seed15=3
| RD1-team15=Spokane
| RD1-score15=4
| RD1-seed16=6
| RD1-team16=Everett
| RD1-score16=0
| RD2-seed01=1
| RD2-team01=Calgary
| RD2-score01=4
| RD2-seed02=7
| RD2-team02=Swift Current
| RD2-score02=2
| RD2-seed03=3
| RD2-team03=Lethbridge
| RD2-score03=4
| RD2-seed04=5
| RD2-team04=Kootenay
| RD2-score04=1
| RD2-seed05=1
| RD2-team05=Tri-City
| RD2-score05=4
| RD2-seed06=4
| RD2-team06=Seattle
| RD2-score06=1
| RD2-seed07=2
| RD2-team07=Vancouver
| RD2-score07=2
| RD2-seed08=3
| RD2-team08=Spokane
| RD2-score08=4
| RD3-seed01=1
| RD3-team01=Calgary
| RD3-score01=0
| RD3-seed02=3
| RD3-team02=Lethbridge
| RD3-score02=4
| RD3-seed03=1
| RD3-team03=Tri-City
| RD3-score03=3
| RD3-seed04=3
| RD3-team04=Spokane
| RD3-score04=4
| RD4-seed01=E3
| RD4-team01=Lethbridge
| RD4-score01=0
| RD4-seed02=W3
| RD4-team02=Spokane
| RD4-score02=4
Conference quarter-finals
Eastern Conference
| Moose Jaw vs. Calgary | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 21 | Moose Jaw 1 | **5 Calgary** | |
| March 23 | ** Moose Jaw 4** | 2 Calgary | |
| March 25 | **Calgary 8** | 3 Moose Jaw | |
| March 26 | **Calgary 3** | 1 Moose Jaw | |
| March 28 | **Moose Jaw 4** | 2 Calgary | |
| March 30 | **Calgary 4** | 2 Moose Jaw | |
| ***Calgary wins 4–2*** | | | |
| Swift Current vs. Regina | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 21 | Swift Current 1 | **2 Regina** | |
| March 22 | **Swift Current 5** | 3 Regina | |
| March 25 | (OT) **Regina 4** | 3 Swift Current | |
| March 26 | Regina 4 | **5 Swift Current** (2OT) | |
| March 28 | **Swift Current 6** | 3 Regina | |
| March 29 | Regina 2 | **5 Swift Current** | |
| ***Swift Current wins 4–2*** | | | |
|-
| Brandon vs. Lethbridge | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 21 | Brandon 1 | **2 Lethbridge** | |
| March 22 | Brandon 3 | **4 Lethbridge** | |
| March 25 | **Lethbridge 4** | 3 Brandon | |
| March 26 | Lethbridge 1 | **5 Brandon ** | |
| March 28 | Lethbridge 3 | **4 Brandon** | |
| March 30 | Brandon 0 | **4 Lethbridge** | |
| ***Lethbridge wins 4–2*** | | | |
| Kootenay vs. Medicine Hat | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 21 | **Kootenay 5** | 2 Medicine Hat | |
| March 22 | (OT) **Kootenay 4** | 3 Medicine Hat | |
| March 25 | Medicine Hat 1 | **2 Kootenay** | |
| March 26 | **Medicine Hat 5** | 3 Kootenay | |
| March 28 | **Kootenay 3** | 1 Medicine Hat | |
| ***Kootenay wins 4–1*** | | | |
|}
Western Conference
| Kamloops vs. Tri-City | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 21 | Kamloops 1 | **6 Tri-City** | |
| March 22 | Kamloops 1 | **4 Tri-City** | |
| March 25 | **Tri-City 4** | 3 Kamloops | |
| March 26 | **Tri-City 6** | 2 Kamloops | |
| ***Tri-City wins 4–0*** | | | |
| Chilliwack vs. Vancouver | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 21 | Chilliwack 1 | **2 Vancouver** | |
| March 22 | Chilliwack 2 | **3 Vancouver** | |
| March 25 | (3OT) **Vancouver 4** | 3 Chilliwack | |
| March 26 | **Vancouver 2** | 1 Chilliwack | |
| ***Vancouver wins 4–0*** | | | |
|-
| Everett vs. Spokane | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 21 | Everett 2 | **5 Spokane** | |
| March 22 | Everett 1 | **4 Spokane** | |
| March 26 | **Spokane 4** | 1 Everett | |
| March 28 | (OT) **Spokane 3** | 2 Everett | |
| ***Spokane wins 4–0*** | | | |
| Kelowna vs. Seattle | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 21 | **Kelowna 3** | 2 Seattle | |
| March 22 | **Kelowna 3** | 1 Seattle | |
| March 24 | (OT) **Seattle 3** | 2 Kelowna | |
| March 25 | **Seattle 6** | 4 Kelowna | |
| March 27 | Kelowna 2 | **6 Seattle** | |
| March 29 | Seattle 3 | **4 Kelowna** (OT) | |
| April 1 | Kelowna 2 | **4 Seattle** | |
| ***Seattle wins 4–3*** | | | |
|}
Conference semi-finals
| Swift Current vs. Calgary | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| April 4 | Calgary 2 | **3 Swift Current** | |
| April 5 | **Calgary 5** | 2 Swift Current | |
| April 8 | Swift Current 5 | **6 Calgary** (2OT) | |
| April 9 | Swift Current 2 | **3 Calgary** | |
| April 11 | **Swift Current 5** | 2 Calgary | |
| April 12 | **Calgary 8** | 4 Swift Current | |
| ***Calgary wins 4–2*** | | | |
| Kootenay vs. Lethbridge | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| April 4 | **Kootenay 3** | 2 Lethbridge | |
| April 5 | Kootenay 4 | **5 Lethbridge** (OT) | |
| April 8 | **Lethbridge 5** | 2 Kootenay | |
| April 9 | (2OT) **Lethbridge 2** | 1 Kootenay | |
| April 11 | Kootenay 0 | **3 Lethbridge** | |
| ***Lethbridge wins 4–1*** | | | |
|}
| Vancouver vs. Spokane | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| April 4 | **Vancouver 4** | 1 Spokane | |
| April 6 | Vancouver 1 | **4 Spokane** | |
| April 9 | **Spokane 3** | 2 Vancouver | |
| April 11 | Spokane 1 | **3 Vancouver** | |
| April 12 | **Spokane 4** | 0 Vancouver | |
| April 14 | Vancouver 1 | **3 Spokane** | |
| ***Spokane wins 4–2*** | | | |
| Seattle vs. Tri-City | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| April 4 | **Seattle 7** | 1 Tri-City | |
| April 5 | Seattle 0 | **4 Tri-City** | |
| April 8 | **Tri-City 3** | 2 Seattle | |
| April 9 | (OT) **Tri-City 3** | 2 Seattle | |
| April 11 | Seattle 0 | **4 Tri-City** | |
| ***Tri-City wins 4–1*** | | | |
|}
Conference finals
| Lethbridge vs. Calgary | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| April 17 | **Lethbridge 5** | 2 Calgary | |
| April 18 | (OT) **Lethbridge 4** | 3 Calgary | |
| April 22 | Calgary 0 | **6 Lethbridge** | |
| April 23 | Calgary 2 | **4 Lethbridge** | |
| ***Lethbridge wins 4–0*** | | | |
| Spokane vs. Tri-City | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| April 18 | (2OT) **Spokane 1** | 0 Tri-City | |
| April 20 | Spokane 0 | **1 Tri-City** (2OT) | |
| April 21 | Tri-City 0 | **2 Spokane** | |
| April 22 | (OT) **Tri-City 3** | 2 Spokane | |
| April 26 | (2OT) **Spokane 4** | 3 Tri-City | |
| April 28 | (OT) **Tri-City 2** | 1 Spokane | |
| April 29 | **Spokane 4** | 1 Tri-City | |
| ***Spokane wins 4–3*** | | | |
|}
WHL Championship
| Lethbridge vs. Spokane | Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| May 2 | Lethbridge 1 | **4 Spokane** | |
| May 3 | Lethbridge 2 | **5 Spokane** | |
| May 6 | (OT) **Spokane 2** | 1 Lethbridge | |
| May 7 | **Spokane 4** | 1 Lethbridge | |
| ***Spokane wins 4-0*** | | | |
WHL awards
| Professional Hockey Achievement |
|---|
| Academic Recipient | Alumni Achievement Awards | Lanny McDonald |
| Blair St. Martin |
All-Star teams
| Eastern Conference | First Team | Second Team | Western Conference | First Team | Second Team |
|---|
| Goal | Linden Rowat | Regina Pats | Dan Spence | Calgary Hitmen | |
| Defense | Karl Alzner | Calgary Hitmen | Ty Wishart | Moose Jaw Warriors | |
| Logan Pyett | Regina Pats | Daryl Boyle | Brandon Wheat Kings | | |
| Forward | Steve DaSilva | Kootenay Ice | Mitch Fadden | Lethbridge Hurricanes | |
| Tyler Ennis | Medicine Hat Tigers | Zach Boychuk | Lethbridge Hurricanes | | |
| Jordan Eberle | Regina Pats | Ryan White | Calgary Hitmen | | |
| Goal | Chet Pickard | Tri-City Americans | Tyson Sexsmith | Vancouver Giants | |
| Defense | T.J. Fast | Tri-City Americans | Jonathon Blum | Vancouver Giants | |
| Thomas Hickey | Seattle Thunderbirds | Luke Schenn | Kelowna Rockets | | |
| Forward | Colton Yellow Horn | Tri-City Americans | Dan Gendur | Everett Silvertips | |
| Colin Long | Kelowna Rockets | Mark Santorelli | Chilliwack Bruins | | |
| Oscar Moller | Chilliwack Bruins | Drayson Bowman | Spokane Chiefs | | |
- source: Western Hockey League press release
2008 Bantam Draft
First round
| # | Player | Nationality | WHL Team |
|---|
| 1 | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (C) | | Red Deer Rebels |
| 2 | Ty Rattie (LW) | | Portland Winter Hawks |
| 3 | Duncan Siemens (D) | | Saskatoon Blades (from Prince George) |
| 4 | Michael St. Croix (C) | | Edmonton Oil Kings |
| 5 | Mark McNeill (C) | | Prince Albert Raiders |
| 6 | Brent Benson (C) | | Saskatoon Blades |
| 7 | Colin Smith (C) | | Kamloops Blazers |
| 8 | Mitch Topping (D) | | Chilliwack Bruins |
| 9 | Ryan Murray (D) | | Everett Silvertips |
| 10 | Klarc Wilson (RW) | | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| 11 | Jesse Forsberg (D) | | Moose Jaw Warriors (from Prince George) |
| 12 | Reece Scarlett (D) | | Swift Current Broncos |
| 13 | Shane McColgan (C) | | Kelowna Rockets |
| 14 | Connor Sanvido (C) | | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| 15 | Brendan Hurley (LW) | | Kootenay Ice |
| 16 | Dylan Busenius (D) | | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| 17 | Myles Bell (D) | | Regina Pats |
| 18 | Phil Tot (C) | | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| 19 | Peter Kosterman (D) | | Calgary Hitmen |
| 20 | Zach Hodder (D) | | Vancouver Giants |
| 21 | Mitch Holmberg (RW) | | Spokane Chiefs |
| 22 | Zac Yuen (D) | | Tri-City Americans |
References
- 2006–07 WHL Guide (2007). Western Hockey League. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.