WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners
Published on December 18, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Tij Iginla of the Kelowna Rockets has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 17, 2023.
The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible centre contributed to all three game-winning goals as the Rockets went 3-1-0-0 on the week to close out a seven-game road trip.
Iginla picked up assists on both Kelowna goals in a 2-1 victory over Moose Jaw to start the week. He battled in front of the Warriors net to get the puck on the stick of Andrew Cristall for the opening tally and had the secondary assist on the game-winner to leave the Friendly City with two points in hand.
The following night, Iginla got the Rockets on the board with a wraparound effort against the Wheat Kings. He'd add another helped, but Brandon would dish Kelowna its lone loss of the week, 6-3.
Iginla would set up two more goals in a tight-checking match against the Raiders, but his shining moment came as the clock ticked down to the final seconds of regular time. Iginla battled for the puck behind the Prince Albert net and hammered away at the Raider's goaltender, eventually pouncing on the loose puck in the five-hole and poking it home for the win with 20 seconds remaining. Iginla was named second star for his efforts.
The Rockets rode that high into the pre-holiday finale, coming from behind to defeat the powerhouse Saskatoon Blades in overtime. Cristall stole the puck on the penalty kill and set up Iginla for a slick shorthanded tally. The son of Hockey Hall-of-Famer Jarome Iginla wrapped up the road trip with another assist on the overtime winner. The Rockets went 5-2-0-0 on the lengthy road schedule.
Iginla is currently tearing it up on a six-game point streak that's seen him net six goals and 12 assists.
He leads his team and sits sixth in the league with 25 goals in 32 games. His 42 points is second only to Andrew Cristall in the Rockets points race.
The Lake Country, B.C. product is eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas, Nev. In June. The Central Scouting Service rated Iginla as a 'B' prospect in October, projecting him to be drafted in the second or third round.
The Rockets (15-15-2-0) sit third in the B.C. Division and have earned points in seven of their past 10 games.
Kelowna returns to the road after the holiday break for a divisional matchup against the Kamloops Blazers on December 27 at 7:00 p.m. PST.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
December 11, 2023: Dominik Rymon, Everett Silvertips
December 4, 2023: Conor Geekie, Wenatchee Wild (Arizona Coyotes)
November 27, 2023: Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 20, 2023: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (Los Angeles Kings)
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
GIANTS NETMINDER MIRWALD NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Vancouver Giants netminder Brett Mirwald has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 17, 2023.
The 20-year-old went 2-0-0-0 in two starts, both against the Seattle Thunderbirds, putting up a near-perfect .98 goals against average and .965 save percentage.
Mirwald started the week with a gutsy 31-save performance against the coastal rivals, allowing only one goal and earning first star in a 2-1 overtime victory.
He continued his dominance in Vancouver's final game before the break, the third game the Giants played in as many nights. Mirwald turned aside 24 of 25 shots, including dangerous chances from NHL draft picks like Jeremy Hanzel and Gracyn Sawchyn. He'd be named third star for his efforts.
The Saskatoon, Sask. Product is 11-13-1-0 in his first season as the Giants' starter, sporting a 3.31 goals-against average and .907 save percentage, playing the second-most minutes of any goaltender (1541) second-most shots (914) and second-most saves (829).
Mirwald was selected by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the seventh round, 154th overall at the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft and was previously named a Second Team All-Star for the 2018-19 season in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA League
The Giants (13-18-2-0) are fourth in the B.C. Division and return to post-holiday action on December 27 with a home game against the division rival Victoria Royals.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
December 11, 2023, Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels
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
COUGARS FORWARD PARASCAK NAMED KAL TIRE WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Terik Parascak of the Prince George Cougars has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending December 17, 2023.
The 17-year-old netted three goals and four assists in three contests as Prince George went 2-1-0-0 for the week.
Parascak kicked off the week in style, outwaiting an Everett Silvertips defender in the slot to snap his 24th goal of the season home, though the Cougars would fall 5-2. He would strike again the following game, threading the puck past the Wenatchee goaltender on a partial breakaway and adding a pair of assists as the Cougars doubled up the Wild 6-3. The star rookie put a bow on the pre-holiday finale with a goal, two assists and a plus-4 rating in a 9-2 drubbing of the Vancouver Giants.
The 5-foot-11, 179-pound winger is currently riding a six-game point streak that's seen him put up 12 points (four goals, eight assists). He leads all rookies across the CHL with 26 goals and 26 assists in 33 games.
This marks the fourth time Parascak has earned Rookie of the Week honours.
Parascak is eligible to be selected at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas, Nev. in June and was given a 'B' rating by the Central Scouting Service in October. A 'B' rating projects second or third-round candidates.
Prince George (24-9-0-0) sits first in the WHL and returns to action on December 27 for a home tilt against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
December 11, 2023: Max Curran, Tri-City Americans
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 18, 2023
- 2024 NHL Draft Eligible Forward Parascak Named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week - Prince George Cougars
- Former Americans Alternate Captain Bouchard Named WHL Grad of the Month for November/December - Tri-City Americans
- Giants Netminder Mirwald Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - Vancouver Giants
- Iginla Named WHL's Player of the Week - Kelowna Rockets
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Pats Pick up 4 of 6 Points on Alberta Road Trip - Regina Pats
- Wild Head into Holidays with 6-1 Win Over Everett, Spoil Silvertips' First Visit to Wenatchee - Wenatchee Wild
- Broncos Fall to Hitmen in Final Game Before Christmas Break - Swift Current Broncos
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