Local products named to WHL all-star team
A Greater Vernon hockey product has added another honour to what was an outstanding regular season in the Western Hockey League.
Zac Funk of Coldstream, a forward with the Prince George Cougars, was named to the WHL’s B.C. Division first all-star team.
The 20-year-old prospect of the Washington Capitals led the WHL with 67 goals, and his 123 points were second among all WHL skaters. The 6-foot, 210-pound Funk was signed to a free agent contract by the Capitals on March 1, 2024.
Funk collected 227 points (119G-108A) in 228 career WHL regular season games, and his Cougars will take on the Spokane Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs.
Tij Iginla of the Kelowna Rockets was also chosen as a first team all-star forward for the B.C. division. The 17-year-old Lake Country resident finished second in scoring among all Rockets with 84 points (47G-37A) in 62 games. His 47 goals were tied for sixth among all WHL skaters.
The 6-foot, 186 pound power forward is listed 11th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft. Iginla has recorded 103 points (53G-50A) in 115 career WHL regular season games.
Iginla and the Rockets will play the Wenatchee Wild in the opening playoff round.
==
The Western Hockey League’s First All-Star Teams for the 2023-24 WHL season. (as voted on by WHL general managers).
WHL B.C. Division First All-Star Team
Goaltender – Brett Mirwald (Saskatoon Sask.) – Vancouver Giants
Defence – Hudson Thornton (Winnipeg, Man.) – Prince George Cougars
Defence – Justin Kipkie (Calgary, Alta.) – Victoria Royals
Forward – Zac Funk (Coldstream, B.C.) – Prince George Cougars
Forward – Riley Heidt (Saskatoon, Sask.) – Prince George Cougars
Forward – Tij Iginla (Lake Country, B.C.) – Kelowna Rockets
WHL Central Division First All-Star Team
Goaltender – Harrison Meneghin (South Surrey, B.C.) – Lethbridge Hurricanes
Defence – Carter Yakemchuk (Calgary, Alta.) – Calgary Hitmen
Defence – Owen Pickering (St. Adolphe, Man.) – Swift Current Broncos
Forward – Conor Geekie (Strathclair, Man.) – Swift Current Broncos
Forward – Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, Yukon) – Medicine Hat Tigers
Forward – Kai Uchacz (DeWinton, Alta.) – Red Deer Rebels
WHL East Division First All-Star Team
Goaltender – Jackson Unger (Calgary, Alta.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Defence – Tanner Molendyk (McBride, B.C.) – Saskatoon Blades
Defence – Denton Mateychuk (Dominion City, Man.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Forward – Trevor Wong (Vancouver, B.C.) – Saskatoon Blades
Forward – Jagger Firkus (Irma, Alta.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Forward – Egor Sidorov (Vitebsk, Belarus) – Saskatoon Blades
WHL U.S. Division First All-Star Team
Goaltender – Jan Spunar (Olomouc, Czechia) – Portland Winterhawks
Defence – Graham Sward (Abbotsford, B.C.) – Wenatchee Wild
Defence – Luca Cagnoni (Burnaby, B.C.) – Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Berkly Catton (Saskatoon, Sask.) – Spokane Chiefs
Forward – Gabe Klassen (Prince Albert, Sask.) – Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Kenta Isogai (Nagano, Japan) – Wenatchee Wild