WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners
December 11, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Dominik Rymon of the Everett Silvertips has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 10, 2023.
The Czech standout put up three goals and five assists in two matches to strengthen his grasp as Everett's scoring leader.
Rymon's first goal of the week would be his biggest as he netted the Silvertips' Teddy Bear Toss goal less than three minutes into a tilt against the Vancouver Giants. Rymon stole the puck from the scrambling Giants in the high slot, turned and fired the puck home. He'd add a helper on Eric Jamieson's game-winning tally late in the first and earn the secondary assist on Captain Ben Hemmerling's insurance marker in the middle frame.
The 19-year-old would ride the momentum into a high-scoring affair the following night in a dramatic rematch against Vancouver at the Langley Events Centre. With the game tied 1-1 late in the opening period, Rymon teed the puck up for Kaden Hammell's seeing eye shot for a powerplay assist. Just ten seconds later, he showed off the wrister for an even strength goal of his own. Vancouver would surge ahead to a 4-3 lead, but Rymon took matters into his own hands once again with a one-timer on the powerplay. Rymon would add two more powerplay apples and First Star honours as the Silvertips snagged a gutsy 8-7 victory and tied a franchise record with five powerplay goals.
Rymon leads the Silvertips in points and assists with 43 and 25, respectively. He's also second in points among import players in the WHL.
The Karlovy Vary, Czechia product is expected to represent his country at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The Silvertips (19-12-1-1) are currently second in the U.S. division with points in seven of their past 10 matches.
Everett is gearing up to host the B.C. Division-leading Prince George Cougars (22-8-0-0) on December 13 at 7:05 p.m. PST.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
December 4, 2023: Conor Geekie, Wenatchee Wild
November 26, 2023: Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 20, 2023: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars
November 13, 2023: Gabe Klassen, Portland Winterhawks
November 6, 2023: Trevor Wong, Saskatoon Blades
October 30, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
October 23, 2023: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
October 16, 2023: Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert Raiders
October 10, 2023: Easton Armstrong, Wenatchee Wild
October 2, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
September 25, 2023: Zac Funk, Prince George Cougars
REBELS GOALTENDER WUTZKE NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Red Deer Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 10, 2023.
The 17-year-old went 2-0-0-0 in two starts and denied all eight shots he faced in one relief appearance, sporting a .88 goals-against average and .970 save percentage.
Wutzke, originally born in Debden, Slovakia, was first called upon to finish the final period of a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Brandon Wheat Kings but stopped the eight shots he faced.
The rookie netminder stood on his head the following night, flexing his athleticism against the high-scoring Moose Jaw Warriors. Wutzke flashed the leather to deny Lynden Lakovic in a highlight-reel moment, and later, with the game tied 1-1, Wutzke sprawled and snapped out his right leg to cover the puck and deny Dakota MacIntosh the go-ahead goal. Wutzke stopped 21 of 22 shots in the eventual 5-1 victory and earned First Star.
He'd get the First Star nod once more in his final appearance of the week as the Rebels edged the Prince Albert Raiders 2-1. This time, Wutzke would be forced to make 35 stops to preserve the victory.
Wutzke is 5-2-0-1 in his first full season with the Rebels, sporting a 2.61 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.
He was selected by the Rebels in the second round, 40th overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft and previously backstopped Team Canada Red to a silver medal at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.
The Rebels (14-12-0-3) are fourth in the central division with points in seven of their past 10 games while allowing the fourth-fewest goals-against in the league.
Red Deer concludes a five-game road stretch with a tilt against the Calgary Hitmen (11-15-3-0) at the Scotiabank Saddledome on December 13 at 7:00 p.m. MST.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
December 4, 2023: Jackson Unger, Moose Jaw Warriors
November 27, 2023: Dawson Cowan, Spokane Chiefs
November 20, 2023: Rhett Stoesser, Red Deer Rebels
November 13, 2023: Evan May, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 6, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
October 30, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
October 23, 2023: Daniel Hauser, Wenatchee Wild
October 16, 2023: Jan Špunar, Portland Winterhawks
October 10, 2023: Kyle Kelsey, Red Deer Rebels
October 2, 2023: Ethan Chadwick, Everett Silvertips
September 25, 2023: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
AMERICANS FORWARD CURRAN NAMED KAL TIRE WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Tri-City Americans forward Max Curran has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending December 10, 2023.
Curran led all rookies in scoring last week with a goal and four assists in two appearances.
The 17-year-old helped the Americans pad the score with a pair of secondary assists in a 4-1 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds on December 8.
The following night, Curran found Brandon Whynott in the slot for the goal that would eventually stand as the game-winner in a 9-3 slugfest against the U.S. Division-leading Wenatchee Wild. The Prague, Czechia-born forward finished off a give-and-go play to beat Brendan Gee short side. He'd link up with Whynott once again to wrap up a single goal, two assist night.
The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible forward has been an assist machine in his inaugural season, putting up 23 helpers to lead his Americans teammates and all WHL rookies.
The Americans selected him in the first round, 39th overall at the 2023 CHL Import Draft. Curran previously represented Czechia at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he won a silver medal and had a goal and three assists in nine games.
Tri City (15-12-1-1) is gearing up for a pair of road games against the Victoria Royals (18-12-0-2) on December 15 and 16.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
December 4, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
November 27, 2023: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 20, 2023: Dakota MacIntosh, Moose Jaw Warriors
November 13, 2023: Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen
November 6, 2023: Ethan McCallum, Medicine Hat Tigers
October 30, 2023: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips (NHL CSS: C)
October 23, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 16, 2023: Ty Coupland, Swift Current Broncos
October 10, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 2, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
September 25, 2023: Oscar Lovsin, Wenatchee Wild
Western Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2023
- Wheat Kings Sign Manitoba AAA Star Turko - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Wild Forward Bukarts Earns Spot on Latvian National Junior Team's Preliminary Roster - Wenatchee Wild
- 2024 NHL Draft-Eligible Forward Max Curran Named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week - Tri-City Americans
- December 11 - Canes Chatter Presented by Peka Rollshutters - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Rebels Netminder Wutzke Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - Red Deer Rebels
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Rebels this Week - Red Deer Rebels
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