Following changes introduced by the National Hockey League following the 2004–05 NHL lockout , 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, including:[ 1]
Shootouts : Ties no longer possible, with games tied at the end of overtime proceeding to a shootout. Shootout losses count as one point in the standings.Tighter standards of officiating, especially as it relates to obstruction fouls.
Introduction of the goaltender restriction zone, or the "trapezoid". Goaltenders are 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. The WHL did not immediately modify 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. Only the Calgary Hitmen , sharing an arena with the NHL's Calgary Flames , played using the new alignment. The new standard was to be employed by the remaining teams beginning in the 2006–07 season.
On September 14, 2005, Commissioner Ron Robison announced the league's intention to broadcast the entire 2005–06 season and playoffs live online on a pay-per-view basis.[ 2]
Map of WHL, 2003–04 to 2005–06
200km
Wheat Kings
Pats
Warriors
Raiders
Blades
Broncos
Tigers
Hurricanes
Rebels
Hitmen
Ice
Chiefs
Americans
Rockets
Blazers
Silvertips
Thunderbirds
Winterhawks
Cougars
Giants
East Division
Central Division
BC Division
US Division
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SOL = Shootout losses ; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Conference quarterfinals
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Moose Jaw vs. Brandon
Date
Away
Home
March 24
Brandon 1
5 Moose Jaw
March 25
Brandon 2 1 Moose Jaw
March 27
Moose Jaw 2
3 Brandon
March 30
Moose Jaw 4 1 Brandon
April 2
Brandon 0
1 Moose Jaw
April 4
Moose Jaw 5 0 Brandon
Moose Jaw wins 4–2
Saskatoon vs. Regina
Date
Away
Home
March 24
Regina 2
3 Saskatoon OT
March 25
Regina 1
4 Saskatoon
March 28
Saskatoon 4
5 Regina OT
March 29
Saskatoon 5 3 Regina
March 31
Regina 5 2 Saskatoon
April 4
Saskatoon 5 1 Regina
Saskatoon wins 4–2
Medicine Hat vs. Swift Current
Date
Away
Home
March 24
Swift Current 2
5 Medicine Hat
March 25
Swift Current 1
7 Medicine Hat
March 28
Medicine Hat 7 1 Swift Current
March 29
Medicine Hat 3 2 Swift Current
OT
Medicine Hat wins 4–0
Calgary vs. Lethbridge
Date
Away
Home
March 24
Calgary 3 2 Lethbridge
March 25
Calgary 2
5 Lethbridge
March 28
Lethbridge 6 4 Calgary
March 30
Lethbridge 1
2 Calgary
April 1
Lethbridge 2
3 Calgary OT
April 2
Calgary 3 2 Lethbridge
OT
Calgary wins 4–2
Vancouver vs. Prince George
Date
Away
Home
March 24
Prince George 0
3 Vancouver
March 25
Prince George 2 0 Vancouver
March 28
Vancouver 6 0 Prince George
March 29
Vancouver 3 2 Prince George
OT
April 1
Prince George 2
5 Vancouver
Vancouver wins 4–1
Kelowna vs. Kootenay
Date
Away
Home
March 24
Kootenay 3 2 Kelowna
2OT
March 25
Kootenay 1
5 Kelowna
March 28
Kelowna 3
4 Kootenay
March 29
Kelowna 5 4 Kootenay
March 31
Kootenay 1
4 Kelowna
April 2
Kelowna 5 2 Kootenay
Kelowna wins 4–2
Everett vs. Tri-City
Date
Away
Home
March 24
Tri-City 0
4 Everett
March 25
Tri-City 2 1 Everett
March 28
Everett 2 1 Tri-City
OT
March 29
Everett 4 1 Tri-City
March 31
Tri-City 0
2 Everett
Everett wins 4–1
Seattle vs Portland
Date
Away
Home
March 24
Portland 5
8 Seattle
March 25
Portland 1 0 Seattle
March 28
Seattle 1
2 Portland
March 31
Seattle 6 3 Portland
April 1
Portland 3 2 Seattle
April 4
Seattle 5 2 Portland
April 5
Portland 4 3 Seattle
OT
Portland wins 4–3
Conference semifinals
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Eastern Conference
Medicine Hat vs. Saskatoon
Date
Away
Home
April 7
Saskatoon 1
5 Medicine Hat
April 8
Saskatoon 3
4 Medicine Hat 3OT
April 11
Medicine Hat 3 2 Saskatoon
OT
April 12
Medicine Hat 3 1 Saskatoon
Medicine Hat wins 4–0
Calgary vs. Moose Jaw
Date
Away
Home
April 8
Moose Jaw 0
3 Calgary
April 9
Moose Jaw 3 2 Calgary
OT
April 11
Calgary 2
4 Moose Jaw
April 12
Calgary 2 0 Moose Jaw
April 14
Moose Jaw 3
4 Calgary OT
April 16
Calgary 1
3 Moose Jaw
April 19
Moose Jaw 3 1 Calgary
Moose Jaw wins 4–3
Western Conference
Kelowna vs. Everett
Date
Away
Home
April 7
Everett 5 3 Kelowna
April 9
Everett 2
3 Kelowna
April 11
Kelowna 0
2 Everett
April 12
Kelowna 2
3 Everett
April 14
Everett 2
3 Kelowna 2OT
April 16
Kelowna 2
6 Everett
Everett wins 4–2
Vancouver vs. Portland
Date
Away
Home
April 7
Portland 1 0 Vancouver
April 8
Portland 1
7 Vancouver
April 12
Vancouver 4 3 Portland
OT
April 13
Vancouver 3 1 Portland
April 16
Portland 0
2 Vancouver
Vancouver wins 4–1
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Medicine Hat vs. Moose Jaw
Date
Away
Home
April 21
Moose Jaw 3 2 Medicine Hat
April 22
Moose Jaw 4 3 Medicine Hat
OT
April 25
Medicine Hat 5 3 Moose Jaw
April 26
Medicine Hat 1
3 Moose Jaw
April 28
Moose Jaw 4 3 Medicine Hat
OT
Moose Jaw wins 4–1
Vancouver vs. Everett
Date
Away
Home
April 21
Everett 2
4 Vancouver
April 22
Everett 0
2 Vancouver
April 25
Vancouver 5 0 Everett
April 27
Vancouver 5 0 Everett
Vancouver wins 4–0
Vancouver vs. Moose Jaw
Date
Away
Home
May 5
Moose Jaw 1
5 Vancouver
May 6
Moose Jaw 5
7 Vancouver
May 8
Vancouver 2 1 Moose Jaw
May 9
Vancouver 6 3 Moose Jaw
Vancouver wins 4–0
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.
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Justin Pogge , Calgary Hitmen
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Brennen Wray , Moose Jaw Warriors
Scholastic Team of the Year: Kootenay Ice
Bob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Troy Brouwer , Moose Jaw Warriors
Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Kris Russell , Medicine Hat Tigers
Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Kris Russell , Medicine Hat Tigers
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Peter Mueller , Everett Silvertips
Del Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Justin Pogge , Calgary Hitmen
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Willie Desjardins , Medicine Hat Tigers
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Scott Bonner , Vancouver Giants
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Best regular season record): Medicine Hat Tigers
Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Kyle Rehman
St. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Dave Andjelic , Medicine Hat Tigers
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year): Wacey Rabbit , Saskatoon Blades
WHL Plus-Minus Award : Paul Albers , Vancouver Giants
WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player : Gilbert Brule , Vancouver Giants
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. 
Canada