With over 100 graduates currently featured on NHL rosters, the Western Hockey League prides itself as one of the finest development leagues in the world.
By way of the Carlsberg WHL Alumni Spotlight, we aim to highlight notable achievements set by our alumni at the highest level of professional hockey.
Seth Jarvis to star in FACEOFF: Inside the NHL
It’s official. One of the biggest personalities in the NHL is headed to the big screen – sort of.
On February 24, it was announced that Carolina Hurricanes wunderkind Seth Jarvis would make his on-screen debut as a featured player in the second season of Prime Video’s documentary series FACEOFF: Inside the NHL. Known for his charismatic personality and off-ice charm, the Portland Winterhawks graduate goes down as the first WHL alumnus to be featured in the hit series.
Coming soon to a TV near you!
Jarvy is set to be featured on the upcoming season of @PrimeVideo's "FACEOFF: Inside the NHL" series.
Details » https://t.co/jwQIHu9x8p pic.twitter.com/OiJO4ujQly
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 24, 2025
His insertion into the documentary also adds to what’s been a whirlwind of a season for the 23-year-old.
Most recently, Jarvis returned to Raleigh, N.C. following a two-week hiatus that saw the forward win gold with Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. Despite being the youngest player on a loaded Canadian roster, Jarvis impressed many during his time at the best-on-best tournament.
In three appearances in Canada’s red and white, the Winterhawks alumnus collected a point – an assist in Canada’s tournament-opening win against Sweden
The budding star is also making strides in his fourth full season with Hurricanes organization. In 51 games this season, Jarvis boasts 45 points (22 goals–23 assists) and sits third in team points.
Prior to joining the Hurricanes’ ranks, the product of Winnipeg, Man., spent parts of four seasons with the Winterhawks organization. He boasts 166 points (73 goals–93 assists) in 154 regular season appearances.
WHL connection secures first NHL point for Matthew Savoie
Saturday night was an evening of firsts for Matthew Savoie.
Not only did the WHL Champion make his debut with the Edmonton Oilers, but he also locked down his first career NHL point with an assist in the same sitting.
Having already made his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres in November 2023, Savoie’s first-ever skate with the Oilers was both highly-anticipated and long-awaited.
And, it didn’t disappoint.
Less than 10 minutes into the first period of a road meeting in Philadelphia, the 21-year-old hunted down a loose puck behind the Flyers’ net and outworked a pair of defencemen before dishing a crafty pass to fellow WHL alumnus, Leon Draisaitl.
https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1893367934153560224
His effort, strength, and hockey IQ on the play – a staple during his WHL tenure – did not go unnoticed by the Oilers’ bench boss, Kris Knoblauch, either.
“I thought Matt was one of the bright spots of our team. I thought he played really well,” he shared post-game.
Since then, Savoie has skated in two more games with the Oilers and both of them parallel to Edmonton’s resident sharpshooter.
For the budding Savoie, playing alongside the likes of the German superstar is one the can’t be taken lightly.
”When you get the chance to play with one of the best players in the world you can’t really take it for granted. I’m just trying to elevate my game and compliment him any way I can,” Savoie said to local media.
Nor was it a reality prior to last summer.
Savoie was selected ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft, and in July 2024, the product of St. Albert, Alta., was acquired by the Oilers via trade.
https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1893457219745673673
Savoie’s move to the Oilers system also came after a more-than-memorable final season in the Western League. Added to the Moose Jaw Warriors following a trade with the Wenatchee Wild ahead of the 2023-24 WHL Trade Deadline, the then 19-year-old joined a talented forward core alongside the likes of Seattle Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Brayden Yager.
The trio found instant chemistry, scoring their way to the Ed Chynoweth Cup as 2024 WHL Champions.
Following a four-season tenure, Savoie graduated from the WHL with a total of 263 points (103 goals–160 assists).
Aliaksei Protas a catalyst to ‘The Gr8 Chase’
The hockey community is witnessing history as Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin creeps increasingly closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time, goal-scoring record. But, nobody has had a better seat in the house than Prince Albert Raiders alumnus, Aliaksei Protas.
For much of the season, the WHL alumnus and Belarus-born forward has been lined up next to the goal-scoring great, becoming a consistent catalyst to the 39-year-old’s unyielding offensive output. While ‘The Great 8’ is just 12 goals shy of shattering ‘The Great One’s’ history-leading, 894 goals, Protas’ symbiotic pairing with Ovechkin has helped him stealthily recorded a milestone campaign of his own.
Striking a chemistry with one of hockey’s greatest scorers, the former Raiders forward hit the 50-point plateau for the first time in his career and has already eclipsed his previously set, single-season point total.
“That’s pretty special. It’s all about the boys. I’m so proud to go out there with them and battle together every night.”
Aliaksei Protas speaks to the media about notching his 100th career point during the Capitals’ five-goal second period.#CapsPens pic.twitter.com/W7Sscv8m4W
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 23, 2025
Through 58 games this season, Protas boasts 50 points (23 goals–27 assists) and is on pace to pass the 70 point mark. Prior to this season, the forward’s single-season best was 29 points in 78 regular season appearances. He currently sits second in among all Capitals skaters.
Prior to claiming a spot on the Capitals’ roster, Protas spent two seasons in the WHL with the Raiders. He was selected in the first round (26th overall) of the 2018 CHL Import Draft before starring in 119 career games in Prince Albert. Protas owns 120 career points (42 goals–78 assists) in his two-season stint and was a member of Prince Albert’s WHL Championship-winning team in 2019.
Sam Reinhart shines on 4 Nations Face-Off stage
Death, taxes, and Sam Reinhart adding hardware to his always-growing trophy case.
After expanding his tally of career accolades to include 2024 Stanley Cup Champion last June, the list of team-based achievements the product of West Vancouver, B.C. had yet to claim had shrunk once again.
But, the one of the few events remaining on his ‘to-do’ list was the brand-new 4 Nations Face-Off.
Well, that is, until now.
A member of the tournament-winning Team Canada, the WHL alumnus closed out the best-on-best event with a team-leading four assists, including an assist on Nathan MacKinnon’s game-opening goal during the final held in Boston.
As the dust settled on the first-time event, a total of six different WHL graduates found the scoresheet throughout the tournament, but none more than Reinhart, who tied with Sidney Crosby (one goals–three assists) for most points on Canada and second among all NHLers.
"Mid-February to have an event like this is pretty cool, pretty special."
Sam Reinhart joins @BJaffe after winning the #4Nations Face-Off with Team Canada.#NHLTonight | @FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/CW0zEdvZLv
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) February 21, 2025
It isn’t just success at the NHL level that Reinhart has achieved either.
In his WHL career that spanned parts of five seasons, Reinhart was named WHL Rookie of the Year in 2012 and the WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player and Player of the Year in 2014.
He won a WHL Championship with the then-Kootenay ICE in 2011 and remains the all-time scoring leader for the Wenatchee Wild / ICE franchise with 319 points (120 goals–199 assists) in 250 career appearances.
