Sasha Mutala named WHL Grad of the Month for November/December

Dec. 11, 2025 – An explosive end to the semester for UBC Thunderbirds forward Sasha Mutala has led to the fourth-year veteran being named Canada West’s Western Hockey League Grad of the Month for November and December.

With a conference leading 19 points in 11 games, the former Tri-City American (2016-22) was held off the scoresheet only once over a six-week stretch. His torrid offensive run included five goals and 14 assists, six multi-point outings, and was highlighted by a four-assist performance against Saskatchewan on Nov. 29.

The Vancouver native has already surpassed last season’s production, recording his 30th point of the year in a 6–1 win over Trinity Western last Friday.

Since joining the Thunderbirds in 2022, Mutala has been one of the conference’s most consistent offensive threats, producing at well over a point-per-game pace with 121 points in 98 career games.

“His consistency is the first thing that jumps to mind. It’s timely goals, important situations, if the power play needs to come through in certain moments he always seems to find a way," says UBC head coach Sven Butenschön. "He’s found a way to grow his game away from the puck as well. By playing with Scott Atkinson and Chris Douglas, they’re very straight-line guys and he’s fit in very well with that kind of mentality.”

He enters the semester break ranked second in Canada West scoring with nine goals and 21 assists in 18 games, sitting three points back of Calgary’s Adam Kydd.

His steady contributions have helped the Thunderbirds lead the conference in offensive output with 95 goals in 18 games - 17 more than the next closest team. UBC sits atop the Canada West standings at 15-1-1-1 and has already clinched a playoff spot.

The T-Birds also hold the number one position in the U SPORTS national rankings.

Mutala joined the Thunderbirds following a successful five-season WHL career with the Tri-City Americans. His most prolific WHL campaign came in 2019-20, when he led the club with 28 goals and 39 assists in 62 games. He also served as an alternate captain during his tenure in Tri-City.

His winning pedigree followed him to the U SPORTS level, playing a key role in UBC’s 2023-24 Canada West championship team that ended the program's 53-year conference title drought. He was also one of seven WHL alumni who helped Canada win gold at the 2025 FISU Winter World University Games earlier this year.

Mutala’s impact on the UBC program has been immense, helping drive one of the most successful eras of Thunderbirds hockey.

“He’s the man. He’s one of the most skilled players that this program has ever seen and one of the most skilled players in Canadian university hockey," says Butenschön. "When hockey gets harder and heavier in the second half, points are harder to come by so a guy like that is crucial."

"He’s done it since day one here, he’s done it in junior, he’s just got to continue to be himself.”

Now studying at the Sauder School of Business, Mutala is utilizing his WHL Scholarship to attend the University of British Columbia. 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, recognizing former WHL players excelling in the classroom and on the ice at the U SPORTS level. Coaches from all nine Canada West programs vote to select the recipient 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 23 member Clubs with 17 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.