Several members of the Lethbridge Hurricanes have been nominated for the WHL's annual awards. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge Hurricanes nominated for WHL Awards

Apr 6, 2025 | 7:00 AM

The Western Hockey League (WHL) has announced its year-end awards and the Lethbridge Hurricanes have been nominated in three categories.

WHL Business Award

The Canes are nominated for this award for the second time and in the four seasons.

Attendance was up for the third consecutive season and merchandise sales grew by 31 per cent this year.

In a media release from the club, they say they continued to strengthen community partnerships with local businesses, non-profits, and the Lethbridge Minor Hockey during the 2024-25 season.

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“The club helped contribute over $175,000 to local charities this season with initiatives such as the United Way Jersey Raffle, Shane Scores for Maia Campaign, Goals for Kids, CRH Saves Program, the SRI Homes Yager Bombs initiative and more during the season, all matched by the Hurricanes Hockey Club,” the Lethbridge Hurricanes say. “In the previous eight seasons, the Hurricanes have helped contribute over $1-million in donations through community initiatives.”

Social media and digital content engagement were also up.

Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy – Humanitarian of the Year Award

Shane Smith is the recipient of this award for the second year in a row.

He founded the Shane Scores for Maia campaign, which sees him donate $25 for every point he earns to the Canadian cytomegalovirus (CMV) Foundation in honour of his niece, Maia, who was diagnosed with congenital CMV when she was born. He scored 32 points in 62 regular season games this year for a current total of $800. The Canes will match Smith’s donation.

Smith put in over 75 hours worth of volunteer time this season, including shifts with the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen, minor hockey and ringette practices, community skates and school visits.

He also organizes a chapel program within the Hurricanes.

“The Hurricanes applaud Smith’s consistent, heartfelt approach to making a difference in his community as a true ambassador of the sport.”

Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy – Most Sportsmanlike Award

Brayden Yager is nominated for this award for the third consecutive year.

He is one of only seven skaters to earn the award multiple times and could be the first to complete a “hat trick”

Yager averaged more than a point per game for a fourth straight season after putting up 25 goals and 57 assists for 82 points in 54 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Moose Jaw Warriors while only getting dinged with 22 penalty minutes. He led the Hurricanes in points after joining the Central Division squad in a blockbuster trade and ranked ninth among all WHL skaters in points per game (1.43).

The Saskatoon, Sask. product was named Captain of Team Canada for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he picked up three assists and boasted the best faceoff percentages at the tournament (71.62%) without taking a single penalty.

Yager has 332 points (129G-203) over 265 regular season games with the Hurricanes and Warriors, who drafted him with the third overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.

The 2024 WHL Champion is one of the most decorated active WHL Players. In addition to two Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy wins, Yager earned the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for WHL Rookie of the Year and CHL Rookie of the Year in 2022. He was also named to the WHL East Division Second All-Star Team in 2024 and the WHL Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team in 2025.

All-Star Nominations

The WHL also has announced their 2024-2025 First and Second All-Star teams and both Noah Chadwick and Brayden Yager were named as Eastern Conference All-Stars.

Chadwick was named to the First All-Star Team after leading the Hurricanes in scoring from the blueline with 53 points (13g-40a) along with 43 penalty minutes and a plus-11 rating. The 2024-2025 season marked the second consecutive year that the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect has eclipsed the 50-point plateau while setting a new career-high with 13 goals. He led the Hurricanes during the regular season with 21 power play assists while finishing third among defenceman in the Eastern Conference in points.

The Saskatoon, SK, product was named the WHL and CHL winner of the Scholastic Player of the Year Award in 2023- 2024 while also being named to the Central Division Second All-Star Team.

Yager was named to the Second All-Star Team after finishing the campaign with a team-high 82 points (25g-57a) along with 22 penalty minutes and a plus-5 rating. The Winnipeg Jets prospect racked up an impressive 52 points (14g-38a) along with 18 penalty minutes in just 33 regular season games with the Hurricanes after being acquired from the Moose Jaw Warriors in early December. He finished the season eighth among Eastern Conference forwards in points while ranking fifth in points-per-game.

The Saskatoon, SK, product was named the WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year in 2023-2024 while being named to the East Division Second All-Star Team. The WHL will continue to make their 2024-2025 Award nominations over the next two weeks before announcing the winners in May.

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