For the first time since 2011, the WHL is heading to the Yukon.

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the league announced the WHL Yukon Showcase to returning to Whitehorse from Sept. 11-14, 2025.

The Kelowna Rockets and Medicine Hat Tigers will be heading north to play two exhibition games on Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13, both at the Takhini Arena.

鈥淭he WHL is incredibly excited to journey to Whitehorse for WHL pre-season action featuring the Medicine Hat Tigers and the 2026 Memorial Cup-host Kelowna Rockets,鈥� said WHL Commissioner Dan Near. 鈥淔ans can look forward to world-class WHL hockey, while our players benefit from an enriching experience visiting the Yukon."

The exhibition games give people in Yukon a chance to watch Tigers' Gavin McKenna play, whose from Whitehorse and the projected number one draft pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. As for the Rockets, it makes the start of the season in which they are hosting the Memorial Cup at the year's end.

A volunteer committee from Whitehorse came together to help make the event happen.

鈥淲e love hockey and putting together an event of this magnitude, which allows Yukoners to witness the game at this level, while giving back to our community is very rewarding,鈥� said event co-chair Scott Kent.

Events are also being put together for both the Rockets and the Tigers to meet local hockey players and host instructional clinics.

for the showcase go on sale on Friday, Feb. 28 at 12 p.m. Yukon and Alberta time, 11 a.m. Pacific time and range from $35-$100. All proceeds from the event will go towards the Sport Yukon鈥檚 Recreation Fund, which supports families in the region, giving kids an opportunity to participate in sports and recreational activities.

The last time the WHL was in Whitehorse, the Vancouver Giants beat the Kamloops Blazers 3-2 in a regular season game on February 12, 2011, in front of 1,535 fans.