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WHL Announces Monthly Award Winners for December

January 3, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Minnesota Wild prospect Riley Heidt of the Prince George Cougars has been named WHL Player of the Month for December.

Heidt, 18, recorded 24 points (7G-17A) in 11 games to all WHL point scorers during the month of December.

The 5-foot-11, 182-pound centre registered seven multipoint performances during the month of December, highlighted by a five-assist effort Friday, December 15 in a 6-3 win at Wenatchee. Heidt also logged a four-point outing (1G-3A) Friday, December 1 in a 4-1 win at Tri-City along with two three-point games.

With 68 points (20G-48A) in 34 games, Heidt leads the entire WHL in scoring. His 48 assists are good for second, while his 21 power-play assists are first in the WHL.

Heidt carries an active five-game point-scoring streak into the new year, having registered 13 points (5G-8A) since Friday, December 15. He previously enjoyed a personal season-long point-scoring streak of 16 games (8G-25A-33 points) from Tuesday, October 11 through Monday, November 27.

The product of Saskatoon, Sask., found the scoresheet during nine out of 11 games during the month of December.

Selected by the Cougars in the first round (second overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Heidt has been an offensive force since debuting during the 2020-21 season. In 189 career WHL Regular Season games, he has collected 231 points (68G-163A).

Heidt set career bests during the 2022-23 season, recording 97 points (25G-72A).

The 2023-24 campaign represents the third consecutive 20-goal season for Heidt after he scored 21 in 2021-22 and 25 in 2022-23.

In 12 career WHL Playoff games, Heidt has notched 11 points (3G-8A).

Heading into the new year, the Prince George Cougars rank first in the WHL's Western Conference with a record of 26-10-0-0. With Heidt's efforts, the Cougars are the second-highest scoring team in the WHL with 163 goals-for in 36 games (4.53 goals per game).

Riley Heidt and the Prince George Cougars return to action tonight (6 p.m. PT) when they visit the Wenatchee Wild at Town Toyota Center.

REBELS NETMINDER WUTZKE NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH

Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Red Deer Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke has been named WHL Goaltender of the Month for December.

Wutzke, 17, went 5-0-0-1 with a 1.66 goals-against average and .941 save percentage, helping the Rebels win seven of 12 games and push their way up the WHL's Eastern Conference standings during the month of December.

A product of Debden, Sask., Wutzke was named WHL Goaltender of the Week on Monday, December 11, after going 2-0-0-0 with a 0.88 GAA and .970 save percentage.

Heading into the month of January, the rookie Wutzke leads the Rebels in GAA (2.47) and save percentage (.916).

In his first start of the month, Wutzke went the distance, making 22 saves plus four more in the shootout as the Rebels edged the Everett Silvertips by a 3-2 margin on Saturday, December 2.

On Saturday, December 9, Wutzke logged his largest save count of the month, turning aside 35 of 36 shots in a 2-1 win at Prince Albert.

Wutzke won four consecutive outings during the month, beginning Wednesday, December 6 and extending through Saturday, December 16.

The 6-foot-3, 152-pound puck-stopper held his opponents to one goal on three occasions, while allowing two goals or more only twice.

Selected by the Rebels in the second round (40th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Wutzke made his WHL debut during the 2021-22 season, appearing in three games. He saw action in another four games during the 2022-23 campaign, before joining the Rebels on a full-time basis for the 2023-24 season.

In 19 career WHL games, Wutzke is 11-2-1-2.

As January begins, the Red Deer Rebels rank second in the WHL's Central Division with a record of 18-13-0-4.

Chase Wutzke and the Red Deer Rebels return to action Friday, January 5 (7 p.m. MT) when they host the Red Deer Rebels at the Peavey Mart Centrium.

COUGARS FORWARD PARASCAK NAMED WHL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH

Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Prince George Cougars forward Terik Parascak has been named WHL Rookie of the Month for December.

December marks the second time this season Parascak has been recognized with a WHL Monthly Award, having been previously named WHL Rookie of the Month for September / October.

Parascak, 17, recorded 16 points (4G-12A) and a plus-13 rating in 11 games during the month of December. With 54 points (26G-28A) in 36 games, Parascak leads the WHL's rookie scoring race by 18 points. His 26 goals are tied for fifth among all WHL skaters and lead all WHL rookies.

The 5-foot-11, 179-pound product of Lethbridge, Alta., was named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week on Monday, December 18 after posting seven points (3G-4A) in three games. It represented the fourth time this season Parascak has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week.

Parascak recorded points in nine of 11 games during the month of December, including an eight-game point-scoring streak (4G-10A-14 points) from Sunday, December 3 through Thursday, December 28.

On Tuesday, December 19, Parascak was named to the roster for the 2024 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game, scheduled for Wednesday, January 25 in Moncton, N.B. He was given a 'B' rating by NHL Central Scouting in its preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2024 NHL Draft.

Parascak's month of December included three games featuring three-point performances, including three assists Sunday, December 3 in a 4-0 win at Portland, another three points (1G-2A) Friday, December 15 in a 6-3 win at Wenatchee, and finally another three points (1G-2A) Saturday, December 16 in a 9-2 win at Vancouver.

Selected by the Cougars in the fourth round (76th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Parascak made his WHL debut during the 2022-23 season, skating in four games.

Heading into January, the Prince George Cougars rank first in the WHL's Western Conference with a record of 26-10-0-0. With Parascak's efforts, the Cougars are the second-highest scoring team in the WHL with 163 goals-for in 36 games (4.53 goals per game).

Terik Parascak and the Prince George Cougars return to action tonight (6 p.m. PT) when they visit the Wenatchee Wild at Town Toyota Center.

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