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WHL Announces Monthly Award Winners

February 1, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Medicine Hat Tigers forward Gavin McKenna has been named WHL Player of the Month for January.

McKenna, 16, recorded 29 points (10G-19A) in 12 games to lead all WHL point scorers during the month of January. He was named Tempo WHL Player of the Week on January 8 before securing back-to-back weeks as the Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week - January 22 and January 29.

The 6-foot, 165-pound left winger registered eight multipoint performances throughout January, highlighted by a six-point outburst (1G-5A) Saturday, January 6 in a 12-1 win versus Tri-City. McKenna also logged two four-point performances during the month of January, including Sunday, January 7 in a 10-4 win versus Spokane (2G-2A) and Saturday, January 27 in a 5-3 win versus Moose Jaw (1G-3A).

With 63 points (21G-42A) in 41 games, McKenna sits second in scoring on the Tigers and 14th across the entire WHL.

The month of January saw McKenna, a product of Whitehorse, Yukon, hit the scoresheet in 10 of 12 games.

Selected by the Tigers in the first round, first overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, McKenna has been a creative dynamo since debuting during the 2022-23 season, notching 81 points (25G-56A) in 57 career WHL Regular Season contests.

McKenna appeared in 16 regular season games during the 2022-23 season, tallying 18 points (4G-14A). In four career WHL Playoff games, he has one goal.

McKenna is considered to be a top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft.

Heading into February, the Medicine Hat Tigers rank first in the WHL's Central Division and second in the WHL's Eastern Conference with a record of 29-14-3-1. With McKenna serving as a catalyst, the Tigers are the highest-scoring team in the WHL's Eastern Conference with 210 goals-for in 47 games (4.47 goals per game).

Gavin McKenna and the Medicine Hat Tigers return to action Friday, February 2 (6 p.m. MT) when they visit the top team in the WHL - the Saskatoon Blades - at SaskTel Centre.

2024 NHL DRAFT-ELIGIBLE NETMINDER WUTZKE NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY

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

This marks the second straight month that Wutzke has been recognized with a WHL Monthly Award, having also been named WHL Goaltender of the Month for December.

Wutzke went 8-0-0-1 with a 1.98 goals-against average and .929 save percentage, helping the Rebels go 10-0-0-1 in January to claw their way to third in the WHL's Eastern Conference.

The 17-year-old is on a 14-game point streak (12-0-1-1) stretching back to early December.

Wutzke, a Debden, Sask. product, has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week three times this season, most recently on January 22 after going 3-0-0-0 on the week, registering a 2.00 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.

The rookie sits third in the league in goals-against average (2.24) and save percentage (.922.) with a 15-2-1-2 record.

Wutzke held his opponents to a single goal on five occasions through January.

The 6-foot-3, 152-pound puck-stopper made a month-high 31 stops on January 17 to snap Saskatoon's 18-game point streak in a 5-4 Red Deer victory.

Selected by the Rebels in the second round, 40th overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Wutzke made his WHL debut during the 2021-22 season, appearing in three matches. He'd hit the ice for another four games the following year before joining the Rebels full-time for the 2023-24 season.

Red Deer looks to continue its streak on February 2 when the team travels to Brandon to take on the Wheat Kings at 7:00 p.m. CST.

SILVERTIPS FORWARD BEAR NAMED WHL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY

Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Everett Silvertips forward Carter Bear has been named WHL Rookie of the Month for January.

Bear tallied nine goals, 10 assists and a plus-six rating in 13 games in January as Everett went 10-2-0-1 to sit first in the competitive U.S. Division.

The 17-year-old is third in the WHL's rookie scoring race with 45 points in 50 games. His 21 goals are tied for second-most among first-year players.

Bear, a 6-foot, 171-pound centreman, is on a 10-game point streak that's seen him put up seven goals and nine assists.

The West St. Paul, Man. product's month was highlighted by five multi-point performances, including two goals and an assist in a narrow 6-5 loss to Edmonton on January 1 and a goal and two assists in a 7-4 defeat of Spokane on January 30.

Bear also scored three of his four game-winning goals in January, which is good for third on the team.

Originally selected by Everett in the sixth round, 132 overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Bear made his WHL debut during the 2022-23 season, where he scored his first WHL goal.

Entering February, the Everett Silvertips lead the WHL's Western Conference with a 32-15-1-2 record. The Silvertips are the third-highest-scoring team in the league with 209 goals-for in 50 games (4.18 goals per game)

Everett is back in action on February 2 when it welcomes the Spokane Chiefs to Angel of the Winds Arena at 7:05 p.m. PST.

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