Sasha Mutala named 2025-26 CW/WHL Top Performer
Former Tri-City Americans star led UBC to best regular season in program history while topping conference in scoring
March 25, 2026 – UBC Thunderbirds forward Sasha Mutala has been named this year’s Canada West/Western Hockey League Top Performer, capping off one of the most dominant offensive seasons in recent conference history.
The Vancouver product delivered a historic campaign for the Thunderbirds, becoming the program’s first Canada West Men’s Hockey Player of the Year since 1985 while leading the conference in scoring with 46 points (14G, 32A) in 28 games.
Mutala’s 46-point total stands as the highest by a Thunderbird in 30 years and ranks among the top three single-season performances in Canada West over the past decade.
His 32 assists also established a new UBC single-season record.
A constant offensive catalyst, Mutala excelled in all situations. He led Canada West with 18 power play assists and 22 total power play points, adding four goals with the man advantage. His ability to produce in key moments was highlighted by an 11-game point streak that yielded 22 points, followed by an eight-game run with 15 points to close out the regular season.
Remarkably, Mutala was held off the scoresheet just three times in 28 games.
His impact helped power UBC to the best regular season in program history, as the Thunderbirds set new benchmarks with 23 wins and 49 points.
Following his Canada West season, Mutala signed a professional contract with the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers, where he has made an immediate impact with three points in his first five games.
Over his four-year career with the Thunderbirds, Mutala established himself as one of the most productive players in program history. He finished with 137 career points, fourth all-time at UBC, and played a key role in the program’s resurgence, including the 2023-24 Canada West championship season.
Prior to joining UBC, Mutala spent five seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Tri-City Americans, where he developed into a top offensive threat and served as an alternate captain. He utilized his WHL Scholarship to attend UBC’s Sauder School of Business.
Through the WHL Scholarship program, players receive a full year of post-secondary funding for each season played, covering tuition, compulsory fees, and 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 & 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.