Former Tri-City Americans alternate captain Sasha Mutala is Canada West’s top dog in 2026.
The UBC Thunderbirds forward has been named the 2025-26 Canada West Men’s Hockey Player of the Year.
Mutala, 24, led the conference with 46 points (14G-32A) in 28 games, earning the Dave ‘Sweeney’ Schriner Scoring Trophy.
https://twitter.com/CanadaWest/status/2029617940778377722
His 32 helpers set a new program record, while his 137 career points have tied him for fourth in all-time scoring by a UBC player.
The 6-foot, 201-pound forward is the first Thunderbird to bring home the Dave ‘Sweeney’ Schriner Trophy since 1985.
The Vancouver, B.C. product was named 2025 November/December WHL Grad of the Month, and has also has nabbed his first First Team All-Star recognition after making the Second All-Star Team twice and the All-Rookie Team in 2023. Mutala won gold at the 2025 FISU Games and helped the T-Birds win the team’s first program championship in 53 years with a dominant run in 2023-24.
Mutala is one of four UBC Thunderbirds to bring home a major award in 2025-26, including Goaltender of the Year Brett Mirwald, Defenceman of the Year Jake Lee, and Coach of the Year Sven Butenschön.
2025-26 Canada West Major Award-Winners
Player of the Year: Sasha Mutala, UBC Thunderbirds (Tri-City Americans ‘A’)
Goaltender of the Year: Brett Mirwald, UBC Thunderbirds (Moose Jaw Warriors, Vancouver Giants)
Top Scorer: Sasha Mutala, UBC Thunderbirds (Tri-City Americans ‘A’)
Top Defenceman: Jake Lee, UBC Thunderbirds (Seattle Thunderbirds, Kelowna Rockets)
Rookie of the Year: Conner Roulette, Saskatchewan Huskies (Seattle Thunderbirds, Saskatoon Blades, Spokane Chiefs)
Coach of the Year: Sven Butenschön, UBC Thunderbirds (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Student-Athlete Community Service Award Winner: Blake Gustafson, Alberta Golden Bears (Red Deer Rebels / Saskatoon Blades)
UBC Hockey Alumni Trophy for Sportsmanship and Ability: Adam Kydd- Calgary Dinos (Calgary Hitmen, Kelowna Rockets)
The UBC Thunderbirds and Calgary Dinos are joint winners of the Adam Kryczka Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the goaltenders on the team with the fewest goals allowed in regular-season play. UBC’s Brett Mirwald, Cole Schwebius, Nicholas Jones and Aidan Fischer, and U Calgary’s Carl Stankowski, Carl Tetachuk and Jari Kykkanen tied with a 2.39 goals-against average, with each team surrendering a combined 67 goals in 28 outings.
The Alberta Golden Bears received the Fair Play Trophy, which recognizes the team with the fewest penalty minutes.
2025-26 Canada West First Team All-Stars
G- Brett Mirwald- UBC Thunderbirds (Moose Jaw Warriors, Vancouver Giants)
D- Landon Kosior- Saskatchewan Huskies (Prince Albert Raiders)
D- Jake Lee- UBC Thunderbirds (Seattle Thunderbirds, Kelowna Rockets)
F- Connor Bouchard- Mount Royal Cougars (Tri-City Americans)
F- Adam Kydd- Calgary Dinos (Calgary Hitmen, Kelowna Rockets)
F- Sasha Mutala- UBC Thunderbirds (Tri-City Americans)
2025-26 Canada West Second Team All-Stars
G- Carl Stankowski- Calgary Dinos (Seattle Thunderbirds, Calgary Hitmen, Winnipeg ICE)
D- Dawson Davison- Alberta Golden Bears (Kamloops Blazers, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades)
D- Clay Hanus- Mount Royal Cougars (Portland Winterhawks)
F- Dawson Holt- Saskatchewan Huskies (Vancouver Giants, Regina Pats)
F- Chantz Petruic- Saskatchewan Huskies (Moose Jaw Warriors)
F- Ty Thorpe- UBC Thunderbirds (Brandon Wheat Kings, Vancouver Giants)
2025-26 Canada West All-Rookie Team
G- Ethan Buenaventura- Mount Royal Cougars (Calgary Hitmen)
D- Keaton Dowhaniuk- MacEwan Griffins (Prince George Cougars, Moose Jaw Warriors, Red Deer Rebels)
D- Jace Weir- UBC Thunderbirds (Red Deer Rebels)
F- Hayden Pakkala- Calgary Dinos (Prince Albert Raiders, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Seattle Thunderbirds)
F- Conner Roulette- Saskatchewan Huskies (Seattle Thunderbirds, Saskatoon Blades, Spokane Chiefs)
Next up, the reigning CW champions and U SPORTS bronze medalist Saskatchewan Huskies and powerhouse Mount Royal Cougars prepare to clash in the 2026 Canada West Final.
The best-of-three set kicks off at Flames Community Arenas, home of the Cougars, on Friday, March 6 at 7:00 p.m. MST.
Game 2 will follow on Saturday, March 7, at 7:00 p.m. MST, and, if necessary, Game 3 will go on Sunday, March 8, at 7:00 p.m. MST.
