The 2008–09 WHL season was the 43rd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began on September 18, 2008, and ended on March 15, 2009. The 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge series, featuring Team WHL versus the Russian Selects, took place mid-season from November 26 to 27, 2008. The Calgary Hitmen won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy with the best regular season record. The playoffs commenced on March 20, and concluded on May 9. The Kelowna Rockets won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions, defeating the Hitmen in the championship series and earning a berth at the 2009 Memorial Cup tournament. WHL Commissioner, Ron Robison, dedicated the 2008–09 season to Ed Chynoweth.

2008–09: Ed Chynoweth's season

The 2008–09 WHL Season will allow us to showcase some of the finest young hockey talent in the world today. We fully expect each WHL Division will feature highly competitive races as our clubs battle for a playoff position. WHL Commissioner Ron Robison dedicated the 2008–09 season to long-time league president Ed Chynoweth, who died on April 22, 2008. His death occurred just over a year after the WHL Championship trophy was renamed in his honour. Throughout the 2008–09 season, the helmets of all the players and officials displayed a commemorative decal.

League notes

Regular season

Standings

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Eastern Conference Tiebreaker

Prince Albert Raiders vs. Edmonton Oil Kings

Scoring leaders

''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts. = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes''

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout Losses; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; Sv% = Save percentage

Players

2008 NHL Entry Draft

37 WHL players were selected at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. This was more than any other hockey league in the world.

Contracts and scholarships

Trades

Canada-Russia Challenge

The ADT Canada Russia Challenge was a six-game series featuring four teams: three from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL)—one team from each of the QMJHL, the OHL, and the WHL—versus Russia's national junior hockey team. The ADT Canada Russia Challenge has become a highlight on the CHL schedule and we are very proud to be associated with it. These two nations have such a storied hockey history that fans from across the country tune in expecting to see a hard fought series. We expect nothing short of world class hockey this November that hockey fans from across the country won't want to miss. The 2008 series was held in six cities across Canada. The series begun on November 17, 2008, and concluded on November 27, 2008. Both Western Hockey League games were held in Saskatchewan. Former Prince Albert Raider forward Dan Hodgson was Honorary Captain for the final game in the series, held in Prince Albert on November 27, 2008.

Results

2009 WHL Playoffs

Overview

Conference Quarter-finals

Eastern Conference

(1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (8) Edmonton Oil Kings

(2) Saskatoon Blades vs. (7) Lethbridge Hurricanes

(3) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. (6) Kootenay Ice

(4) Swift Current Broncos vs. (5) Medicine Hat Tigers

Western Conference

(1) Vancouver Giants vs. (8) Prince George Cougars

(4) Spokane Chiefs vs. (5) Seattle Thunderbirds

(2) Tri-City Americans vs. (7) Seattle Thunderbirds

(3) Kelowna Rockets vs. (6) Kamloops Blazers

Conference Semi-finals

Conference semifinals

Eastern conference

(1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (7) Lethbridge Hurricanes

(1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (7) Lethbridge Hurricanes

Western conference

(1) Vancouver Giants vs. (4) Spokane Chiefs

(2) Tri-City Americans vs. (3) Kelowna Rockets

Conference Finals

(1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (3) Brandon Wheat Kings

(1) Vancouver Giants vs. (3) Kelowna Rockets

WHL Championship

(E1) Calgary Hitmen vs. (W3) Kelowna Rockets

Memorial Cup

The 91st Memorial Cup was held in Rimouski, Quebec.

WHL awards

All-Star Teams