WHL.ca’s Cami Kepke examines the Western Hockey League alumni who have been drafted by and/or play for the Detroit Red Wings and their affiliates. Given the late hour at which I’m posting this, we might as well spotlight a pair of players who haven’t received a ton of virtual ink thus far:
Becher made his pro debut with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins in 2024-25, putting up 10 goals (including four powerplay markers) and 10 assists for 20 points in 59 regular-season games, despite missing the first nine games of the season as he worked back from a lower-body injury. His 10 tallies tied for second-most among the Griffins’ rookie contingent and he gained valuable playoff experience by suiting up for two Calder Cup playoff tilts. Detroit selected the 6-foot-1, 190-pound centreman with the 80th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft after a breakout campaign with the Prince George Cougars. Becher bagged 96 points (32G-64A) in 58 games to help the powerhouse Cougars lock up the B.C. Division title and first in the Western Conference. He graduated from the WHL with 48 goals and 86 assists for 134 points in 121 regular-season games, in addition to another 22 playoff points (6G-16A).
Emmitt Finnie stormed through the season with a new letter on his jersey and a plethora of new ways to light the lamp. The 20-year-old led the Kamloops Blazers with 37 goals and 47 assists for 84 points in just 55 games. Finnie ranked 15th in goals among all WHL skaters, fifth in faceoff wins (735, 56.5%) and seventh in points-per-game (1.53). Finnie cracked the 2025 WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team and was named a finalist for the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year. The Lethbridge, Alta. product also went on a 12-game point streak that saw him bury six goals and 15 assists. Upon the conclusion of the rebuilding Blazers’ season, Finnie made the jump to the Griffins to suit up for 10 regular-season games, scoring his first AHL goal on April 5, 2025, tacking on four helpers and suiting up for three postseason matches. Not too shabby for a guy selected with the 201st overall pick in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft! The 6-foot-1, 191-pound centreman signed his ELC with the Red Wings in March of 2024.
Continued; Becher and Finnie aren’t exactly the most-heralded of the Red Wings’ prospect pool, but they’re dark-horse candidates to keep one’s eyes upon as the Grand Rapids Griffins’ 2025-2026 regular season beckons.
