Tschigerl named WHL Grad of the Month for October

Nov. 7, 2024 – It's been a seamless transition to the university game for first year Alberta Golden Bear forward Sean Tschigerl, as his explosive offensive start has led to him being named the conference's Western Hockey League Grad of the Month for October.

The first year from Edmonton, Alta. has burst onto the scene while leading the Golden Bears to an impressive 7-1 start, tops in the Canada West East Division. Since being held off the scoresheet in the season opener, Tschigerl has filled the net on a seven-game point streak that will carry into November. The streak includes two game winning goals and four multi-point outings, including a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Manitoba on Oct. 12 and four assists in a 5-2 triumph over Saskatchewan on Oct. 18.

The former Anaheim Ducks draft pick has inserted himself as a key piece of a Golden Bears team currently ranked No. 5 in the nation. He leads the conference with 15 points and is tied for the lead in assists with nine, also ranking second with a +9 rating. Two of his six goals have come on the man advantage, leading a prolific Bears power play that tops the conference with a 29% conversion rate.

Tschigerl's offensive flare has carried over from an impressive WHL tenure that saw him rack up 95 goals and 212 points over the course of six seasons with the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes. He played parts of six seasons with the Hitmen, entering the league in 2018-19 and first breaking out offensively with a 58 point campaign in 2021-22. His final WHL season in '23-24 was his most prolific offensively, as he tallied 27 goals and 62 points in a season split between Calgary and Lethbridge.

Tschigerl is a Faculty of Arts student who is utilizing his WHL Scholarship to attend the University of Alberta in his hometown of Edmonton, Alta. 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 over 7,500 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.