Inspired by a tweet that is included below, the team at DUBNetwork wanted to take a look at the offensive production of the teams in the Western Hockey League.
I’d suggest that scoring is up around @TheWHL this season. Top 5 scorers, 4 of top 5 goal scorers and 6 of top 8 assist leaders in all of CHL belong to the ‘dub, including @WHLHurricanes captain @Gestephan_9 in ?? https://t.co/V16RQPMdU5
— Dustin Forbes (@dforbes91) December 24, 2017
As you can see in the table below, Dustin is correct. The goal scoring in the Western Hockey League is up over last season, there has been an extra goal scored every four games in the games before Christmas. If the second half of the season is to show the same increase there will be 6.97 goals scored per game on March 18, 2018.
| Season | X-mas | Goals | Average | Season | Goals | Average |
| 2017-18 | 374 GP | 2588 | 6.92 | 792 GP | 5480 (pace) | |
| 2016-17 | 381 GP | 2550 | 6.69 | 792 GP | 5340 | 6.74 |
| 2015-16 | 378 GP | 2422 | 6.41 | 792 GP | 5105 | 6.45 |
| 2014-15 | 381 GP | 2469 | 6.48 | 792 GP | 5177 | 6.54 |
| 2013-14 | 395 GP | 2546 | 6.45 | 792 GP | 5219 | 6.59 |
| 2012-13 | 391 GP | 2416 | 6.18 | 792 GP | 5019 | 6.34 |
| 2011-12 | 385 GP | 2575 | 6.69 | 792 GP | 5265 | 6.65 |
| 2010-11 | 386 GP | 2505 | 6.49 | 792 GP | 5277 | 6.66 |
| 2009-10 | 403 GP | 2676 | 6.64 | 792 GP | 5138 | 6.49 |
| 2008-09 | 394 GP | 2521 | 6.4 | 792 GP | 5087 | 6.42 |
The number of goals scored per game is higher than both the NHL (5.45/game) and the AHL (5.76). Numbers lag slightly behind the other Canadian Hockey Leagues though. The OHL had the most at 6.92 per game and the QMJHL had 6.90. These numbers are from the 2016-17 season.
Thank you to Jeff Holick for his help with researching the numbers.
