Tigers Defenceman Molendyk Headlines WHL Weekly Awards
May 5, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Tanner Molendyk has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, May 4, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
Molendyk is just the seventh defenceman to win the award in 2024-25.
The Nashville Predators prospect erupted for a goal and five assists for six points in two road games to help the Tigers eliminate the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2025 WHL Eastern Conference Championship presented by Nutrien.
The 20-year-old sparked a critical comeback in Game 3 as the Tigers erased a three-goal deficit for a dramatic 7-6 overtime win against the Hurricanes on April 29. With Lethbridge holding a daunting 4-1 lead midway through the second period, Molendyk fired a pass to rookie Liam Ruck to trim the deficit to two on the powerplay. Three minutes later, the McBride, B.C. product took matters into his own hands as he skated up the right wing and ripped the puck into the twine to get the Tabbies within one. In the third period, Molendyk turned a penalty kill into a power kill as he rimmed the puck up the boards to spring Mathew Ward for a shorthanded breakaway goal, though Lethbridge would re-gain a late lead. Finally, with 70 seconds remaining in regulation time, Molendyk served up an assist on Bryce Pickford's game-tying goal, setting up an overtime period that saw Captain Oasiz Wiesblatt bury the game-winning goal. Molendyk was named first star as the Tigers took a 3-0 stranglehold on the series. His four-point effort is also tied for the highest-scoring game of his career (regular season + playoffs).
The 6-foot, 180-pound blueliner was just as impactful in Game 4, where he helped break a 1-1 stalemate with a secondary assist on a Pickford powerplay strike. Medicine Hat wouldn't relinquish the lead after that, though Molendyk would add another helper on a second-period tally from Misha Volotovskii. The Tigers went on to a 5-3 win, punching their ticket to the WHL Championship Series for the first time since 2007.
Molendyk has registered three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in 13 playoff games as he prepares to battle for the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in his career.
He's tied for fourth in assists among all defencemen in the postseason.
The smooth-skating rearguard is a finalist for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for WHL Defenceman of the Year and was recently named to the 2025 WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team.
Medicine Hat acquired Molendyk from the Saskatoon Blades in a splashy 2025 WHL Trade Deadline Deal and closed out the regular season with nine goals and 38 assists for 47 points and a +25 rating in 49 games.
Originally selected by the Blades with the fifth-overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Molendyk has gone on to pile up 31 goals and 129 assists for 160 points in 238 regular-season games.
On the international stage, Moldenyk has represented Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship and won gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
He was drafted by the Nashville Predators with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in Nashville, Tenn.
The Tigers and Spokane Chiefs kick off the 2025 WHL Championship Series on Friday, May 9, at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat.
2024-25 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
September 23, 2024: Roger McQueen, Brandon Wheat Kings
September 30, 2024: Nathan Behm, Kamloops Blazers
October 7, 2024: Shea Van Olm, Spokane Chiefs
October 15, 2024: Mazden Leslie, Vancouver Giants
October 21, 2024: Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen
October 28, 2024: Nathan Behm, Kamloops Blazers
November 4, 2024: Brady Birnie, Swift Current Broncos
November 11, 2024: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (Los Angeles Kings)
November 18, 2024: Tomas Mrsic, Prince Albert Raiders (St. Louis Blues)
November 25, 2024: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
December 2, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 9, 2024: Tyson Jugnauth, Portland Winterhawks (Seattle Kraken)
December 16, 2024: Gracyn Sawchyn, Edmonton Oil Kings (Florida Panthers)
December 23, 2024: Rilen Kovacevic, Moose Jaw Warriors
December 30, 2024: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
January 6, 2025: Evan Friesen, Wenatchee Wild
January 13, 2025: Andrew Cristall, Spokane Chiefs (Washington Capitals)
January 20, 2025: Berkly Catton, Spokane Chiefs (Seattle Kraken)
January 27, 2025: Quinn Mantei, Brandon Wheat Kings
February 3, 2025: Andrew Cristall, Spokane Chiefs (Washington Capitals)
February 10, 2025: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
February 18, 2025: Berkly Catton, Spokane Chiefs (Seattle Kraken)
February 24, 2025: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
March 3, 2025: Teydon Trembecky, Victoria Royals
March 10, 2025: Hunter Laing, Saskatoon Blades (Calgary Flames)
March 17, 2025: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
March 24, 2025: Jackson Smith, Tri-City Americans
March 31, 2025: Oasiz Wiesblatt, Medicine Hat Tigers
April 7, 2025: Berkly Catton, Spokane Chiefs (Seattle Kraken)
April 14, 2025: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
April 21, 2025: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
April 28, 2025: Andrew Cristall, Spokane Chiefs (Washington Capitals)
CHIEFS NETMINDER COWAN NAMED PHARMASAVE WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - Spokane Chiefs netminder Dawson Cowan has been named Pharmasave WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending Sunday, May 4, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the second time this season that Cowan has earned the weekly award.
The Warren, Man. product went 2-0-0-0 with a 4.50 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage as the Chiefs completed a sweep of the Portland Winterhawks in the 2025 WHL Western Conference Championship.
Cowan steered aside 24 of 29 shots in Game 3 of the all-U.S. Division showdown on April 29, including a 15-shot barrage in the opening period. Two of the Winterhawks' goals came on the powerplay. Portland never led in the match, and the high-flying Chiefs rode a strong third period to an 8-5 win.
The 19-year-old stood tall to close out the series with his busiest match of the postseason. Cowan saved 39 of 43 shots for a .907 save percentage in Game 4. The Hawks poured on the first-period pressure again with 18 shots, but Cowan and the Chiefs powered by with a 6-4 victory and series victory.
Cowan is 12-2-0-0 in the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien, posting a 3.49 goals-against average and a .872 save percentage while facing an average of 30 shots per game. He leads all qualified goaltenders in postseason wins.
In his second season as Spokane's starter, Cowan enjoyed a career-best regular season in 2024-25 with a league-best 34-14-0-2 record, a 2.67 GAA, a .905 save percentage and four shutouts.
He wasn't selected in the WHL Prospects Draft and broke into the league as a free-agent signing of the then-Winnipeg ICE, before joining Spokane in the 2022-23 season.
Cowan owns a career record of 64-51-3-5, a 3.25 GAA, a .898 save percentage and six shutouts, while surpassing 7,000 minutes played.
He's eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Cowan and the Chiefs will now travel east to kick off the 2025 WHL Championship Series against the formidable Medicine Hat Tigers.
Game 1 is set for Friday, May 9, at Co-op Place.
2024-25 Pharmasave WHL Goaltender of the Week
September 23, 2024: Koen Cleaver, Lethbridge Hurricanes
September 30, 2024: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings
October 7, 2024: Spencer Michnik, Victoria Royals
October 15, 2024: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
October 21, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades (Columbus Blue Jackets)
October 28, 2024: Jesse Sanche, Everett Silvertips
November 4, 2024: Carson Bjarnason, Brandon Wheat Kings (Philadelphia Flyers)
November 11, 2024: Nathan Preston, Tri-City Americans
November 18, 2024: Dawson Cowan, Spokane Chiefs
November 25, 2024: Alex Worthington, Edmonton Oil Kings
December 2, 2024: Anders Miller, Calgary Hitmen
December 9, 2024: Raiden LeGall, Everett Silvertips
December 16, 2024: Jackson Unger, Lethbridge Hurricanes
December 23, 2024: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
December 30, 2024: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
January 6, 2025: Burke Hood, Vancouver Giants
January 13, 2025: Jayden Kraus, Victoria Royals
January 20, 2025: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
January 27, 2025: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
February 3, 2025: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
February 10, 2025: Johnny Hicks, Victoria Royals
February 18, 2025: Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle Thunderbirds (Buffalo Sabres)
February 24, 2025: Daniel Hauser, Calgary Hitmen
March 3, 2025: Daniel Hauser, Calgary Hitmen
March 10, 2025: Burke Hood, Vancouver Giants
March 17, 2025: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades (Columbus Blue Jackets)
March 24, 2025: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
March 31, 2025: Johnny Hicks, Victoria Royals
April 7, 2025: Anders Miller, Calgary Hitmen
April 14, 2025: Jackson Unger, Lethbridge Hurricanes
April 21, 2025: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
April 28, 2025: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
CHIEFS FORWARD PRESTON NAMED WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - Spokane Chiefs forward Mathis Preston has been named WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, May 4, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the second time he's captured the weekly award this season.
Preston paced all rookie skaters with one goal and three assists for four points in two games as the Spokane Chiefs downed the Portland Winterhawks to advance to the 2025 WHL Championship Series.
The 16-year-old popped off for his first career four-point game in a dominant 8-5 road win over the Portland Winterhawks in Game 3 of the 2025 WHL Western Conference Championship. Preston served up a secondary assist on Chase Harrington's game-opening goal and, midway through the second period, helped break a 2-2 tie with another secondary helper on an Owen Martin powerplay tally. The 5-foot-11, 168-pound forward bagged his second assist in under three minutes as he dropped off the puck for St. Louis Blues prospect Will McIsaac to hit the net with a clever shot from the left faceoff dot. The Winterhawks fought back to tie the game at 5-5 in the third period, but two quick goals from Coco Armstrong and Preston sealed the win. Preston seized a rebound from an Owen Martin shot close to the net and was able to lift the puck above Ondrej Stebetak's glove. Preston would be named first star of the night for his monumental performance.
While he didn't find the scoresheet in Spokane's series-clinching 6-4 victory in Game 4, Preston finished the critical match with a +1 rating and two shots on goal.
Preston is second in the WHL rookie playoff scoring race with eight goals (including a hat trick) and six assists for 14 points in 15 games.
The Penticton, B.C. product picked up 23 goals and 22 assists for 45 points and a +15 rating in 54 games in his first full major junior season.
He tied for seventh in points among first-year players and finished third in goals.
Spokane selected Preston with the third overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. The youngster scored four goals in five call-up appearances the following season.
On the international stage, Preston scored a tournament-leading six goals and picked up an assist to win a gold medal with Canada White at the 2024 U17 World Challenge in November.
He is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.
Preston and the Chiefs now prepare to battle the Medicine Hat Tigers for WHL glory.
The quest for the Ed Chynoweth Cup continues on Friday, May 1, as the Tigers and Chiefs hit the ice for Game 1 at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat.
2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Week
September 23, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
September 30, 2024: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
October 7, 2024: Cooper Williams, Saskatoon Blades
October 15, 2024: Josh Banini, Moose Jaw Warriors
October 21, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
October 28, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 4, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
November 11, 2024: Ondrej Stebetak, Portland Winterhawks
November 18, 2024: Kason Kobelka, Calgary Hitmen
November 25, 2024: Jordan Duguay, Portland Winterhawks
December 2, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
December 9, 2024: Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 16, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
December 23, 2024: Parker Rondeau, Swift Current Broncos
December 30, 2024: Joe Iginla, Edmonton Oil Kings
January 6, 2025: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
January 13, 2025: Tommy Lafreniere, Kamloops Blazers
January 20, 2025: Ryan Lin, Vancouver Giants
January 27, 2025: Matej Pekar, Seattle Thunderbirds
February 3, 2025: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
February 10, 2025: Savin Virk, Tri-City Americans
February 18, 2025: Jordan Switzer, Medicine Hat Tigers
February 24, 2025: Daxon Rudolph, Prince Albert Raiders
March 3, 2025: Luke Vlooswyk, Red Deer Rebels
March 10, 2025: Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
March 17, 2025: Cooper Williams, Saskatoon Blades
March 24, 2025: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
March 31, 2025: Mathis Preston, Spokane Chiefs
April 7, 2025: Shea Busch, Everett Silvertips
April 14, 2025: Daxon Rudolph, Prince Albert Raiders
April 21, 2025: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
April 28, 2025: Assanali Sarkenov, Spokane Chiefs
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