WHL Western Hockey League

WHL Announces Monthly Awards Winner for September/October

Published on November 1, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Prince George Cougars forward Zac Funk has been named WHL Player of the Month for September / October 2023.

Funk, 20, recorded 30 points (14G-16A) in 14 games to start the season atop the WHL scoring charts heading into November. Funk's 14 goals rank third in the WHL, while his 16 assists are good enough for to leave him tied for fourth in the League.

The product of Coldstream, B.C., started the campaign with a bang, named Tempo WHL Player of the Week on September 25 after posting seven points (3G-4A) in two games on opening weekend of the 2023-24 WHL Regular Season.

Funk, a 6-foot, 210-pound right winger, put five points on the scoresheet on three occasions through September and October. In addition to a five-point effort (3G-2A) Friday, September 22 in a 9-0 win versus Tri-City, Funk notched five points (2G-3A) Friday, October 6 in a 6-4 home victory over Wenatchee. His third five-point performance came Saturday, October 21 as he secured a hat trick along with two assists in a 7-1 triumph on home ice over the Kamloops Blazers.

In total, Funk has recorded eight multipoint performances through 14 games this season.

From Wednesday, October 4 through Saturday, October 21, Funk enjoyed a point-scoring streak of six games, in which he tallied 17 points (9G-8A).

Funk also leads the WHL in power-play goals with nine.

The 2023-24 season represents Funk's first full season with the Cougars after he was acquired by Prince George at the 2023 WHL Trade Deadline. In 45 career WHL Regular Season games with the Cougars, he has collected 56 points (27G-29A) and plus-26 rating. During the 2023 WHL Playoffs, he chipped in with eight points (5G-3A) in 10 games.

Funk was originally selected by the Calgary Hitmen in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2018 WHL Draft.

In 174 career WHL Regular Season games, Funk has tallied 134 points (66G-68A).

Heading into November, the Prince George Cougars are first in the WHL with a record of 10-4-0-0. Thanks, in part, to Funk's contributions, the Cougars are the highest-scoring team in the WHL with 74 goals-for in 14 games (5.29 goals per game).

The Cougars power play also ranks first in the WHL, having converted on 36.1 per cent of its opportunities.

Zac Funk and the Prince George Cougars return to action Wednesday, November 1 (7 p.m. CT) when they continue their East Division road trip in Brandon.

WINTERHAWKS NETMINDER ŠPUNAR NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023

Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Portland Winterhawks netminder Jan Špunar has been named WHL Goaltender of the Month for September / October 2023.

Špunar, 19, went 7-2-0-0 with a 1.63 goals-against average, .936 save percentage and one shutout to start the season. Heading into November, he leads the WHL in GAA and SV%, while his seven victories are tied for third among all WHL goaltenders.

The product of Olomouc, Czechia, began the campaign with a seven-game winning streak, which stretched from Saturday, September 30 through Saturday, October 21.

The 6-foot-3, 199-pound Špunar has allowed two or less goals in eight of his nine appearances this season.

He made a season-high 42 saves Friday, October 6, backstopping the Winterhawks to a 4-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips.

Špunar recorded his first career WHL shutout Sunday, October 15, turning aside 22 shots in a 7-0 triumph over the Tri-City Americans. He was named WHL Goaltender of the Week for his efforts during a week in which he also stopped 26 of 27 shots in a 4-1 win over the Kamloops Blazers on Friday, October 13.

Wednesday, October 25, Špunar was identified by NHL Central Scouting on its Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2024 NHL Draft. Given a 'W' rating, NHL Central Scouting currently projects Špunar as a potential sixth- or seventh-round candidate for the 2024 NHL Draft.

The second-year import attended training camp with the NHL's Montreal Canadiens this fall.

Originally selected by the Winterhawks in the first round (52nd overall) of the 2022 CHL Import Draft, Špunar has been between the pipes for 40 career WHL Regular Season games with the Winterhawks, going 24-9-2-1 with a 2.38 GAA, .914 SV% and one shutout.

Heading into November, the Portland Winterhawks rank third in the WHL's Western Conference with a record of 8-4-0-0. Thanks to Špunar's contributions, the Winterhawks are the stingiest team in the WHL's Western Conference, having allowed a mere 32 goals against in 12 outings (2.67 goals against per game).

Jan Špunar and the Portland Winterhawks return to action Wednesday, November 1 (7 p.m. MT) when they continue their Central Division road trip in Medicine Hat.

COUGARS FORWARD PARASCAK NAMED WHL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023

Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Prince George Cougars forward Terik Parascak has been named WHL Rookie of the Month for September / October 2023.

Parascak, 17, recorded 29 points (17G-12A) in 14 games to start the season and sits second in WHL scoring behind his teammate Zac Funk, who was named WHL Player of the Month today. Parascak's 17 goals rank first among all WHL skaters.

The product of Lethbridge, Alta., has been the most unstoppable rookie to start the 2023-24 WHL campaign, named WHL Rookie of the Week on three separate occasions.

Parascak, a 5-foot-11, 179-pound right winger, started the season by securing 12 points (8G-4A) in four consecutive games from Friday, September 22 through Saturday, September 30, including a season-high six-point (4G-2A) outburst Friday, September 29 in an 11-2 win at Victoria.

Through 14 games, Parascak has notched eight multipoint games. Aside from six points on September 29, he has posted three points on five separate occasions, including in three of his previous four games.

Parascak is tied with Funk with two game-winning goals to lead Prince George.

Heading into November, Parascak is riding an active five-game point-scoring streak, having tallied 11 points (5G-6A) since Friday, October 13.

Wednesday, October 25, Parascak was one of eight WHL players given a 'B' rating by NHL Central Scouting in its Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2024 NHL Draft. Players identified with 'B' ratings are projected to be second- or third-round candidates in the upcoming draft.

The 2023-24 season represents Parascak's first full WHL season after he made his debut with the Cougars by skating in four games late in the 2022-23 campaign.

Parascak was originally selected by the Cougars in the fourth round (76th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.

Heading into November, the Prince George Cougars are first in the WHL with a record of 10-4-0-0. Thanks, in part, to Parascak's contributions, the Cougars are the highest-scoring team in the WHL with 74 goals-for in 14 games (5.29 goals per game).

The Cougars power play also ranks first in the WHL, having converted on 36.1 per cent of its opportunities. Parascak has converted five power-play goals, and also has two shorthanded goals to his name.

Terik Parascak and the Prince George Cougars return to action Wednesday, November 1 (7 p.m. CT) when they continue their East Division road trip in Brandon.

Check out the Western Hockey League Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from November 1, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central