2005–06 WHL season

The WHL announced that it would adopt many of the new rules put in place by the National Hockey League this season to increase scoring. They are:

• Shootouts: Ties no longer count in the standings, and are replaced with the shootout. Shootout losses will count as one point in the standings.
• Tighter standard of officiating, especially as it relates to obstruction fouls.
• Goaltender restriction zone or the "trapezoid", will be employed. Goaltenders will be forbidden from playing the puck in the corners behind the goal line. A violation will merit a two-minute delay of game penalty.
• Tag-up Offside rule will be used.
• The centre ice red line will no longer be considered for the purpose of determining an offside (two-line) pass.
• Any player who shoots the puck over the glass and out of play from their defensive zone will receive a delay of game penalty.
• Any team called for icing the puck from within their defensive zone will not be permitted a line change. Unlike the NHL, any team that ices the puck from their half of the neutral zone will be permitted to change.

It is worth noting that the WHL did not move the goal and blue lines to increase the size of the offensive zones like the NHL, as the league felt that the teams did not have enough time to modify their arenas. Thus, only the Calgary Hitmen, who share an arena with the Calgary Flames play using the new alignment. The new standard will be employed by the remaining teams beginning in 2006–07.

On September 14, 2005, Commissioner Ron Robison announced the league's intention to broadcast the entire 2005-2006 Season and 2006 WHL playoff games via the internet live on a pay-per-view (PPV) broadband basis.[1] Partnering with streaming media company, INSINC, this marked the first time in WHL history that fans, media and scouts were able to watch WHL action online.

On November 30, Team WHL defeated the Russian Selects 9–2 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan before a crowd of 5,572.

On December 1, Team WHL defeated the Russian Selects 3–1 in Regina, Saskatchewan before a crowd of 4,662.

The WHL has an all-time record of 6–0 against the Russian Selects since the tournament began in 2003–04.

• source: Western Hockey League press release

The 2006 WHL Bantam Draft took place in Calgary on Thursday, May 4. It was the 17th annual draft to take place.

List of first round picks in the bantam draft.

#	Player	Nationality	WHL Team
1	Jared Cowen (D)	Canada	Spokane Chiefs
2	Landon Ferraro (C)	Canada	Red Deer Rebels
3	Ryan Howse (LW)	Canada	Chilliwack Bruins
4	Cole Penner (LW)	Canada	Prince Albert Raiders
5	Jimmy Bubnick (C)	Canada	Kamloops Blazers
6	Cody Eakin (C)	Canada	Swift Current Broncos
7	Carter Ashton (LW)	Canada	Lethbridge Hurricanes
8	Jason Gardiner (C/LW)	Canada	Tri-City Americans
9	Brayden Schenn (C)	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings
10	Riley Boychuk (LW)	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks
11	Steve Chaffin (D)	Canada	Seattle Thunderbirds
12	Stefan Elliott (D)	Canada	Prince George Cougars
13	Kellan Tochkin (RW)	Canada	Everett Silvertips
14	Brett Miller (RW)	Canada	Regina Pats
15	Mitch Berg (D)	Canada	Saskatoon Blades
16	Nathan Lieuwen (G)	Canada	Kootenay Ice
17	Justin Maylan (RW)	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors
18	Tyson Barrie (D)	Canada	Kelowna Rockets
19	Evander Kane (LW)	Canada	Vancouver Giants
20	Chase Schaber (LW)	Canada	Calgary Hitmen
21	Cody Carlson (D)	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers

• 2005–06 OHL season
• 2005–06 QMJHL season
• 2006 Memorial Cup
• 2006 NHL Entry Draft
• 2005 in ice hockey
• 2006 in ice hockey

• whl.ca