Chantz Petruic named WHL Grad of the Month for February/March
Former Moose Jaw Warrior led Saskatchewan in playoff scoring during Canada West championship run
March 20, 2025 – The Saskatchewan Huskies are 2025 Canada West champions, and fourth-year forward Chantz Petruic is a key reason why.
The local Moose Jaw, Sask., product enjoyed a stellar finish to his Canada West season, helping the Huskies secure their 12th conference banner in program history. Leading the Dogs' dynamic offence, his strong play down the stretch has earned him the conference's Western Hockey League Grad of the Month honours for February/March.
After a breakout campaign last season, the former Moose Jaw Warrior continued to put up incredible offensive numbers throughout the entire 2024-25 campaign. His late season surge led the Dogs to a 4-1 regular season finish in February, securing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Petruic scored four goals during those final five games, including a pair against UBC in a 3-2 shootout win on Feb. 8.
He elevated his game further once the playoffs began. He led the Huskies in scoring with eight points in six postseason contests, with seven of those coming in a hotly contested semifinal series against UBC. His signature performance came in game two against the T-Birds, with the Huskies facing elimination and finding themselves trailing 2-1 with under five minutes to play. He scored the clutch game-tying goal, then delivered the primary assist on Vince Loschiavo's dramatic game winner with under a minute to play in regulation.
He rose to the occasion again in a must-win game three, scoring a goal and adding a helper in a series-clinching 4-2 victory.
Moving on to face Mount Royal in the Canada West Final, Petruic added a helper on another big Loschiavo goal, this time setting up his teammate for the eventual game winning tally in a 3-0 game three victory over the Cougars that secured the W.G. Hardy Trophy.
Petruic and the Huskies are now preparing for the 2025 U SPORTS BioSteel University Cup, where they'll head to Ottawa, Ont. to compete for a national championship this weekend. Saskatchewan has been seeded second and will take on OUA bronze medallist Queen's in their quarterfinal match on Friday, March 21.
Petruic has asserted himself as one of the premiere offensive talents in all of U SPORTS, leading the Huskies in scoring over the last two seasons. He tallied 20 goals in 27 regular season games during the 2024-25 campaign, adding 17 helpers for a total of 37 points. That figure tied him for third in the conference scoring race, leading to a Canada West First Team All-Star selection.
His journey toward Canada West included a stop with the Moose Jaw Warriors, playing one full Western Hockey League season with his hometown club in 2016-17, before finishing his junior career with the Yorkton Terriors in the SJHL.
Petruic is a Business student who is utilizing his WHL Scholarship to attend the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. For each season played in the WHL, a player is awarded with a one-year post-secondary scholarship, which includes tuition, compulsory fees, and required textbooks.
In partnership with Canada West universities, numerous WHL Scholarship recipients each year are also awarded additional financial assistance from their university to receive Western Canada’s Premier Hockey Scholarship.
Since 1993, the WHL has awarded nearly 8,000 scholarships to graduate players. The WHL is the leading supplier of hockey scholarships in Western Canada and offers one of the most comprehensive scholarships in North America.
WHL Grad of the Month
The WHL Grad of the Month is a partnership between the WHL and Canada West. CW coaches vote to select the winner each month. All nominees must have played at least one full season in the WHL and be in good standing in Canada West.
About Canada West
As the leading university athletic conference in the country, Canada West is home to student-athletes that excel in the classroom and their communities. The conference is comprised of 17 member institutions spanning from Victoria to Winnipeg, with over 3,200 student-athletes competing across 14 sports. Canada West’s mission is to train leaders and build champions by providing leadership in the delivery, regulation, and promotion of university level high performance sports programs throughout western Canada.
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.