WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners
January 2, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Chase Bertholet of the Spokane Chiefs has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 31, 2023.
The Pas, Man. product scored six goals, including two game-winners, and added four assists in three games against U.S. Division Rivals to close out 2023. Bertholet has put up a blistering 20 points in his last nine games.
Bertholet kicked off the post-holiday schedule with the final goal in a 5-2 victory over Wenatchee. In the final minutes of the third period, the 6-foot, right shot winger found the puck in the slot and outwaited the Wild goaltender to bury at an impossible angle on the goal line.
On December 30, Bertholet ordered up a double-double with two goals and two assists in a 6-2 demolition of Tri-City. Less that two minutes into the game, Bertholet's point shot deflected off an Americans player and bounced to Rasmus Ekstrom for the game-opening goal. Minutes later, he converted a slick feed from Connor Roulette on a picture-perfect rush play to make it 2-0. In the middle frame, Bertholet found himself in the right place at the right time once again as Berkly Catton fed him for a shorthanded goal that would stand as the game-winner. According to the Spokane Chiefs, that was the 10,000th goal in franchise history. The line of Roulette, Catton and Bertholet would link up once again to add some insurance in the final frame. The Chiefs Alternate Captain earned second star for his efforts.
A hot stretch for Bertholet exploded into fireworks in a memorable New Year's Eve rematch against the Americans. After falling behind 1-0, the 20-year-old's sharp cross-ice pass to Ekstrom helped set up Layton Fiest's power-play goal to even the score in the first period. He'd add another helper before kicking his offensive game into another gear. In the second, Bertholet lasered a shot bar-down, but as he celebrated briefly, play continued. Upon review, the puck indeed crossed the goal line. 32 seconds later, he left no doubt as he fired the puck over the glove of the Tri-City netminder. Bertholet capped off the night with a seeing eye shot through traffic for his first WHL hat trick.
Bertholet sits third in scoring among his Chiefs teammates with 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points in 29 games. Nearly half of his points have come since December 3.
He was selected by Red Deer in the fifth round, 94th overall in the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft and was named a member of the WHL U.S. Division Second All-Star team for the 2022-23 season.
Bertholet put up a total of 67 goals and 108 assists in 195 WHL games with the Winnipeg Ice and Spokane Chiefs.
The Chiefs (14-16-3-0) sit fifth in the U.S. Division and is riding a five-game point streak.
Spokane kicks off a six-game prairie road trip in Swift Current on January 7.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
December 18, 2023: Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets
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
HURRICANES NETMINDER MENEGHIN NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Lethbridge Hurricanes netminder Harrison Meneghin has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 31, 2023.
The 19-year-old went 2-0-0-0 in back-to-back starts against Red Deer and Medicine Hat, earning a 1.44 goals-against average and .957 save percentage.
Meneghin was rock-solid in the Hurricanes crease to start the week against the Rebels, holding the Red Deer scoreless on four powerplay opportunities and stopping 33 of 34 shots. His efforts were highlighted by a trio of tight saves on Rebels Captain Kai Uchacz in the third period and a calm and collected two-on-one stop on Ollie Josephson in overtime. Meneghin denied Josephson again in the shootout to seal a 2-1 win, casually gloving the final shot and batting the puck into a roaring crowd at Lethbridge's Enmax Centre. His .970 save percentage propelled him to first star honours.
Meneghin was called on again the following night as the Hurricanes traveled to Co-op Place to take on the Central Division-leading Tigers. He showed off his poise early on by closing off the five hole to stop Reid Andresen on a breakaway in the opening period. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound puckstopper denied all 18 shots he faced in the middle frame, and with the Hurricanes leading 3-2 in the dying minutes of the game, Meneghin turned aside a partial breakaway shot from Tigers captain Tyler MacKenzie, allowing Joe Arntsen to pot an empty-netter and seal a 4-2 victory for the visitors. With 34 saves on the night, Meneghin captured first star once again.
Meneghin is 15-9-2-0 in his second full season with the Hurricanes. His 2.42 goals-against average and .922 save percentage both rank fourth in the WHL, while playing the third-most minutes (1,565) and earning a pair of shutouts.
The netminder was passed over in the WHL Prospects Draft but was signed by the Hurricanes in 2021. Meneghin proved to be a steal after being named to the WHL Central Division Second All-Star Team in the 2022-23 season.
The Hurricanes (17-15-3-0) are fourth in the Central Division and have a three-game point streak to kick off post-holiday play.
Lethbridge starts a four-game homestand on January 3 against the Swift Current Broncos (18-14-2-2), who currently sit three points ahead of the Canes for third place in the Central.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
December 18, 2023: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants
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
2025 NHL DRAFT-ELIGIBLE FORWARD RESCHNY NAMED KAL TIRE WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Cole Reschny of the Victoria Royals has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending December 31, 2023.
The 16-year-old led all rookies with two goals and three assists in three games as Victoria went 2-1-0-0 for the week.
Reschny kicked off post-holiday hockey with a goal and assist against the B.C. Division rival Vancouver Giants. The Macklin, Sask. product deked past a Giants defender on the powerplay and fired his 13th goal of the season far side to open the scoring. The Royals would strike on another man advantage as Reschny was denied on the backhand and Escalus Burlock tucked the rebound home. Victoria would go on to a four-two victory with Reschny earning first star.
Reschny was held off the scoresheet as the Wenatchee Wild snatched a 3-2 victory the following night but roared back with a goal and two assists against the Edmonton Oil Kings on December 30. With Edmonton leading 1-0, Reschny nearly leveled the game but rung one off the crossbar. He'd eventually earn a secondary assist by setting up Justin Kipke in a scramble play in the Edmonton zone. The Oil Kings would seize a 3-2 lead midway through the third period and 50 seconds later, Reschny found the equalizer flying down the left wing and ripping one glove side. In overtime, Reschny dished for Justin Kipke on a give-and-go play that saw the defender bury the game-winner on the backhand.
The 5-foot-9, 161-pound centreman is currently third in scoring among rookies with 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points in 33 games.
Reschny was selected by Victoria in the first round, third overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft and is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He represented Canada for the first time with Team Canada Red at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where he potted three goals and five assists in seven contests en route to a fifth-place finish.
Victoria (23-13-0-2) sits second in the B.C. Division and is 8-2-0-0 in its past ten games.
Reschny and company kick off a five-game eastern road trip against the Regina Pats (13-18-4-2) on January 6.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
December 18, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
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 January 2, 2024
- Winterhawks Weekly: Happy New Year Hawks Fans - Portland Winterhawks
- January 2 - Canes Chatter Presented by Peka Rollshutters - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Broncos Sign Import Defenceman Jakub Dvorak - Swift Current Broncos
- Cole Reschny Named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week - Victoria Royals
- Chiefs Forward Bertholet Named Tempo WHL Player of the Week - Spokane Chiefs
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Canada Eliminated in Quarterfinals at World Juniors - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Game Day Preview: Game 36 vs Red Deer - Medicine Hat Tigers
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