By Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach, Portland Winterhawks
The 2026 WHL Playoffs are in progress. Interesting to note: the Eastern Conference 7th and 8th spot are 9 and 10 games under .500! Crazyyy, eh?
The Western Hockey League Team Services Committee has updated the Trainers’ Information package, which supports the Certified Athletic Trainer/Athletic Therapist, and Equipment Manager throughout the WHL season. This resource is intended to promote consistency, effective communication, and best practices across all teams, particularly for those newly employed within the WHL.
The package updates provide clear guidance on key areas, including medical documentation and charting (ARMS),injury reporting and insurance procedures, concussion management and neuropsychology reporting, andEmergency Action Plan (EAP) requirements for host and visiting teams. It also outlines league expectations related to roster moves, player trades, weekly injury reporting terminology, and medical equipment exemptions.
By standardizing procedures and clarifying league expectations, the WHL continues to enhance athlete safety, operational efficiency, and continuity of care across the league.
On behalf of the Western Hockey League and the Team Services Committee,
Thank you.
Rich
By Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach, Portland Winterhawks
Congratulations to the Medicine Hat Tigers on winning the 2025 WHL Championship, and 6th Ed Chynoweth Cup in franchise history.
The WHL added the Penticton Vees to the Western Conference expanding the WHL to 23 teams. Welcome to Bob Pond, AT, and Josh Armstrong, EM, who are joining Major Jr hockey. Best of luck and good fortune to those WHL training staff moving on as well as those moving up to professional hockey.
The Brandon Wheat Kings have hired Jake McKercher, EM, replacing Scott Hlady, who is now with the Manitoba Moose. Henry Augenstein, EM, is filling in for Mike Murphy, who is now with the Cleveland Monsters. Taylor Cochrane, AT, has joined the Kamloops Blazers. Regina’s Athletic Therapist, Andrew Kutnikoff, has joined the USask Huskies. His replacement is Cole Stevens. Welcome Cole. Paul Ng, EM, has joined Burnie with the Vancouver Giants, with Cord Ivanco, Assistant EM, who is joining the Calgary Wranglers. Last but not least, Larissa Germer, ATC, is the new Athletic Trainer for the Wenatchee Wild.
Let’s all have safe travels and hearty laughter throughout the 25-26 season.
By Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach, Portland Winterhawks
With the Western Hockey League Playoffs quickly approaching, the intensity of play is ramping up. This last month, we encountered a few serious injuries that required the Emergency Action Plans to be enacted. In each case, the response was rapid, coordinated, and appropriate. This is a testament to the planning and practicing with our members. The WHL PHATS/SPHEM meets every 3 years for a rigorous hands-on First Responder course. This format gives the AT/EM from each team an opportunity to work and learn together. In addition, every year at the PHATS/SPHEM Hockey Summit, there are numerous opportunities to brush up on your skills and practice with new and advanced equipment. Every sports medicine team organizes and practices emergency response scenarios in the pre-season. With the increase in intensity and passion that hockey playoffs inspire, so does the incidence of injury. Let us all commit to honing our EAP before playoff hockey. If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.
Best of luck to all,
Rich Campbell, MSS, ATC, CSCS
Athletic Trainer/ Strength & Conditioning Coach
Portland Winterhawks
By Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach, Portland Winterhawks
Congratulations to the 2024 Western Hockey League Champions, the Moose Jaw Warriors! This was their first Ed Chynoweth Cup win in franchise history.
WHL to the Pros…
Jimmy McKnight, Assistant AT, Tuscan Roadrunners
Clayton Johns, Head EqM, Ontario Reign
Mitch Karapita, Assistant AT, Calgary Wranglers
Spencer Stehouwer, Assistant EqM, Belleville Senators
Phil Varney, Assistant ATC, Seattle Kraken
Aaron Hoffmeyer, Assistant EqM, Utica Comets
Welcome to the WHL…
Adrian Presnilla, AT, Edmonton Oil Kings
Tyler Roth, EqM, Kamloops Blazers
Ryan Scheer, EqM, Portland Winterhawks
Dave Adolph, AT, Prince George Cougars
Cole Stevens, AT, Regina Pats
Brady Lake, EqM, Saskatoon Blades
Tom Orr, ATC, Seattle Thunderbirds
Ronald Laylon, ATC, Spokane Chiefs
Tom Frater, EqM, Spokane Chiefs
Kory Achtymichuk, EqM, Swift Current Broncos
Greg Angus, EqM, Tri City
Colin Wright, AT, Victoria Royals
Sam Jarrin, EqM, Victoria Royals
Garett Hoglund, EqM, Wenatchee Wild
Best of luck to all these highly motivated professionals dedicated to making our game great!
By Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach, Portland Winterhawks
The WHL 2024 playoff schedule is set. This should be a very competitive WHL playoff season which will determine a new champion. Last year’s top four teams are out this year as they pay for expensive wheeling and dealing. The WHL has ten 100 point scorers this year, most since 1997-98.
Colin “Toledo” Robinson, EqM with Kamloops Blazers, and Tim “Catfish” Lindblade, EqM with Spokane Chiefs have called it quits at the season’s end as they have decided enough is enough and have hung up the their last Jersey this year. Toledo has accepted a job with BC Interior Health. Catfish future career has yet to be determined and as for the near future he will be hitting the local country club golf course. We wish them good fortunes and thanks for the all the laughs!
By Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach, Portland Winterhawks
The WHL PHATS/ SPHEM would like to welcome the following new members to our league…
Athletic Trainers/ Therapists
Taylor Curry, Tri-City Americans
Rebecca Kuresh, Kamloops Blazers
Karina Lahti, Wenatchee Wild
Adam Leckie, Calgary Hitmen
Layne Richardson, Moose Jaw Warriors
Andrew Kutnikoff, Regina Pats
Matthew Zoltek, Swift Current Broncos
Equipment Managers
Trent Hugill, Wenatchee Wild
Mike Murphy, Everett Silvertips
Kevin McLarty, Victoria Royals
Cord Ivanco, Vancouver Giants
The WHL Team Services Committee elected two new PHATS members to the committee, Phil Varney (Seattle Thunderbirds) and Jimmy McKnight (Edmonton Oil Kings), joining SPHEM members Clayton Johns (Portland Winterhawks) and Scott “Scooter” Hlady (Brandon Wheat Kings). In their first order of business, they successfully added an Emergency “Red Bag” and glove dryer to the Visiting Team Supply list. Great Job!
Games Worked Milestones
We would like to recognize and congratulate the following:
Mikki Lanuk, Athletic Trainer/Equipment Manager, Medicine Hat Tigers eclipsing 1500 games; Terence Robertson, Head Athletic Therapist, Red Deer Rebels achieving 1000 games; Rich Campbell passing 1000 WHL games, and Scott Hoyer secretly and unofficially reaching 1000 WHL games (shhh!).
By Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach, Portland Winterhawks
From the Dub to the Show is the goal of many PHATS/SPHEM members, which has occurred again this year. There does seem to be a trend starting here but not the one you would expect. Dub to the National league is a big jump up, but how about the Dub to the Canadian… as in Canadian Football League. That’s a hop up and a hop over. Greg Mayer, formerly Regina Pats Athletic Therapist, has taken the Head AT position with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Congratulations, Greg! Greg joins Brian Cheeseman (Edmonton Elks) on the list of former PHATS members who have jumped from the Dub to the CFL.
From the Dub to AA Ball? Yep. SPHEM member Darien Engelhardt of the Swift Current Broncos has trotted his way to the Amarillo Sod Poodles AA (Arizona Diamondbacks) Minor League Baseball team. I’m not certain on the hop directions here, but we know he won’t be slipping on any ice. Congrats, Darien!
A belated welcome to PHATS member Morris “Mo” Boyer who joined the Kamloops Blazers as Athletic Therapist this season. Formerly long time AT with Calgary Flames, Mo goes from the Show to the Dub for the love of the game.
Congratulations to SPHEM member Gord Cochran of the Regina Pats on winning Gold with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship in January!
PHATS/SPHEM Duane “Puff” Bartley of the Prince Albert Raiders successfully ticked off the final few games this season to officially reach 1500 games worked. Congrats, Puff!
Will it be a “Battle of the Giants” or will David slay the Goliaths in this year’s run for to the Cup. A few teams have loaded up this year to challenge for the WHL Championship trophy, the Ed Chynoweth Cup, as well as the 103rd Memorial Cup, which will be hosted by the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. Good luck to the Kamloops Blazers staff SPHEM member Colin “Toledo” Robinson and PHATS Morris Boyer in hosting this year’s Memorial Cup Championship.
By Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach, Portland Winterhawks
The Western Hockey League’s AT’s and EQM’s began the 2022-23 pre-season in Calgary attending the WHL Red Cross/Sports First Responder BLS Certification Course. This was an intensive 3 full days of hands-on training followed by a three-hour CLOSED BOOK 328 multiple choice exam with a passing grade of 75%. A grueling experience, but we all gained some character points for living to tell the story.
COVID-19 continues to have an impact on PHATS/SPHEM milestone recipients. Games worked lost at the end of the 2019-20 season as well as the shortened 2020-21 season has delayed the honors for members. However, Duane “Puff” Bartley of the Prince Albert Raiders endured the postponements and will achieve 1500 games worked this season!
Several WHL PHATS/SPHEM members will represent Hockey Canada this season including at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge in Langley, BC in November. PHATS member JT Ward (Victoria Royals) and SPHEM member Clayton Johns (Portland Winterhawks) will represent Team White; representing Team Red is PHATS member Jimmy McKnight (Edmonton Oil King) while SPHEM member Spencer Stehouwer (Saskatoon Blades) will be with Team Black. Additionally, SPHEM member Gord “Hooner” Cochran (Regina Pats) will be an Equipment Manager with Team Canada at the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax and Moncton. Congratulations and good luck to all that are going for Gold!
Let the quest for The Ed Chynoweth Cup begin!
By Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach, Portland Winterhawks
The WHL extended its regular season schedule by two weeks due to postponed games as result of league wide COVID-19 outbreak in December and January. Instead of ending the first weekend in April, the season will now end on April 17. The players and staff left their team cohort and dispersed to their hometowns for the Holidays. They then returned bringing the Omicron with them. Massive leaguewide testing ensued in an attempt to limit the carnage. In many cases, players were negative at 9am and positive at 3pm. Crazy!
Congratulations to the following PHATS/SPHEM members for reaching their games worked milestones:
Brooke Kosolofski, Moose Jaw Warriors – 500
Phillip Varney, Seattle Thunderbirds – 1000
Rogan Dean, Edmonton Oil Kings- 1000
Rich Campbell, Portland Winterhawks – 2000* These games were accumulated over multiple professional leagues and the WHL.
Mark “Peaches” Brennan was officially recognized in front of a raucous crowd in February for his inspiring career, including nine years of service as the Head Equipment Manager with the Portland Winterhawks. He finishes his career having worked 2251* games! Thank you, Peaches, for your great work and dedication to your trade. I look forward to the many years of friendship to come.
Brandon Wheat Kings Equipment Manager Scott “Scooter” Hlady has spearheaded a new charitable initiative titled “Wheat Kings Fight” in support of the Brandon Humane Society. Hockey fans can purchase clothing and support the charity by clicking the link below.
https://wheatkingsfight.itemorder.com/shop/sale/
For the time being, sweaty nostrils and fogged glasses has come to an end. In all WHL jurisdictions, mask mandates have been lifted. Saskatchewan was the first to lift the mask mandate on February 28, beating out the disgruntled Alberta citizens by one day on March 1. BC’s mask mandate lift came as a big surprise on March 11. Oregon and Washington reluctantly secured the last position on March 11 at 11:59:59.
The WHL is in the home stretch of its regular season with sights set on battling for the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in three seasons. The Memorial Cup has been scheduled for June 20-29 in in Saint John, New Brunswick. Here’s to hoping the Cup comes back out West so a few of us can “get right out of ‘er”!
By Rich Campbell, Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach, Portland Winterhawks
The Western Hockey League was one of the last sport leagues to commit to a return to play schedule for the 2020-21 season. The goal was to get our players, particularly draft eligible and 20-year-old free agents, an opportunity to play some games in front of NHL scouts. The 24-game schedule proved to be worth the effort as many of our 20-year-olds inked a pro contract.
The WHL COVID protocol included surveillance PCR and antigen testing. Close to 10,000 tests were conducted over the three-month schedule. The Canadian clubs tested 1x per week and the US based clubs tested 3x per week. A special shoutout to the US Athletic Trainers as they actively participated in swabbing close to 11,000 nostrils.
There has been lots of changes in our WHL group. The path from Major Jr. to the pros is not only for the players. Our athletic trainers and equipment managers also work hard at their craft to fine tune their skills in hopes to earn a job in the show. The reason why I’m writing this update is because our beloved Brian “Cheese” Cheeseman moved on and up joining the CFL’s Edmonton Elk. Jimmy McKnight took over the AT position for the Oil Kings. Future WHL Hall of Famer Innes Mackie decided to take a well-deserved respite and wait out COVID in Palm Springs, so Bryan Collier has taken over the equipment for the Tri-City Americans. TC’s Zach Fournier, ATC, moved to Pro Rugby and is replaced by Madelyne “Midge” Peterson ATC. Long time Everett Silvertips EqM and former pro James Stucky, deservedly makes the jump to the NHL and joins the Seattle Kraken. Chris Fordon, EqM, takes the reigns in Everett. Seattle Thunderbirds Jorge Lopez, EqM, plays his hand with the Henderson Silver Knights. Justin Sturtz, EqM, gives the dub a try with T-birds. The Spokane Chiefs Joe Hurley, ATC, set sail to Lehigh Valley while David Filippone, ATC, takes over the healing role. NHL SPHEM Hall of Famer Mark “Peaches” Brennan retires from the Portland Winterhawks and takes a job with Ecliptic Brewing in his quest toward fulfilling a Canadian lifelong dream of becoming a beer brewer, eh. Clayton Johns defects from the OHL and takes on the challenge in Portland. Ramandeep Dhanjal aka “Chico” gives up his quest for the most bus miles and jumps off in Abbotsford as Head EqM (Regina Pats AT, Greg Mayer and Kamloops Blazers ATEqM “Toledo” are rolling neck and neck as the Red Deer Rebels EqM, “Radar” has them in sight). Chico hijacks Vancouver Giants, EqM, Shingo Sasaki as his assistant. Kory Achtymichuk reupholsters Chico’s seat and Brodie St. Jacques takes over in Van. The Brandon Wheat Kings has a new AT, Zach Hartwick. EqM, Darien Engelhardt resurfaces in Swift Current. Tanner Arnold decided to give it another go as the EqM for the Moose Jaw Warriors. AT Brenden “Hopper” Hope left Saskatoon with a leap of faith for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the coast and AT Caden Allingham took over for him. AT Darris Hardern is on a leave of absence from the Winnipeg Ice and Derek Tarko is filling in for him this season.
That is all for this episode of “As the Dub Turns”.