Clay Hanus named 2024-25 CW/WHL Top Performer

March 25, 2025 – Mount Royal defenceman Clay Hanus can add yet another impressive accolade to his unforgettable 2024-25 campaign, being named this year's Canada West/Western Hockey League Top Performer.

The former Portland Winterhawks captain just completed a season for the ages while leading Mount Royal to their first ever Canada West finals appearance, as well as their first U SPORTS national championship berth.

The star blue-liner from Excelsior, Minnesota led all players in Canada West with 43 points in the regular season, tallying 12 goals and 31 assists in 28 games. His offensive flare and strong two-way game led the Cougars to the top of the West Division with a 22-6 record. He was a dependable force during MRU's postseason run, helping the Cougars take down the Alberta Golden Bears in the semifinals before eventually falling to Saskatchewan in a hard-fought championship series.

He also had an impactful U CUP debut, recording a goal and three assists in a heartbreaking 5OT quarterfinal loss to TMU in a game that set a new record for the longest U SPORTS men's hockey game every played.

His stand-out season was recognized with a trio of major conference awards, including Canada West Player of the Year, Top Defenceman and Top Scorer. He also received the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy award for U SPORTS Most Outstanding Player, and was named U SPORTS Top Defenceman.

It's been a seamless transition to the university game for Hanus, who joined Mount Royal after spending five seasons with the WHL's Portland Winterhawks. His breakout campaign for the 'Hawks came in 2021-22, when he tallied 74 points (18G, 56A) in 68 games, placing him second in league scoring by a defenceman.

Over his five-year WHL career, Hanus played 257 regular season games and was named a Winterhawks co-captain during the 2021-22 season.

Making his Canada West debut with Mount Royal in 2022-23, Hanus has been a driving force for a program on the rise. After tallying 12 points in 13 games during his rookie campaign, Hanus has asserted himself as one of the best two-way defenders in all of U SPORTS. He tallied 37 points in a breakout campaign last season, before his 44 point campaign this year.

WHL Grad of the Month & Top Performer Awards

The WHL Grad of the Month and Top Performer awards are part of a partnership between the WHL and Canada West. CW coaches vote to select the recipients of each award. 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.