Sports stats



Western Hockey League

WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

February 20, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Graham Sward of the Wenatchee Wild has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 18, 2024.

The Nashville Predators prospect led all WHL defencemen with two goals, four assists and a plus-one rating in two matches.

Sward got things started in a hurry against the Seattle Thunderbirds on February 14, weaving through two defenders before firing a shot top shelf to open the scoring just over two minutes into the match. He'd get an assist on fellow blueliner Karter Prosofsky's tally midway through the frame to help the Wild take a 2-0 lead into the second period. Seattle would tie things up, but a well-placed powerplay point shot from Sward was deflected in to restore the Wenatchee lead. Sward would earn another helper on a similar play before hammering a one-timer past the Thunderbirds netminder to seal a 7-4 Wenatchee win. The Wild Captain was named first star as he registered his second multi-goal game and first five-point night in the WHL.

Sward would register another assist two nights later, though the Wild would fall to 7-1 to the Silvertips as Everett fought to clinch a playoff berth.

The Abbotsford, B.C. product is second in assists (52) and points (65) among all WHL defencemen and sits first in plus/minus with a plus-38 rating.

The Nashville Predators selected Sward with the 146th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-3, 191-pound defender was originally selected by the Spokane Chiefs 17th overall in the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft.

On the international stage, Sward represented Team Canada White at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, appearing in six games.

Wenatchee (28-22-4-0) is 3-7-0-0 in its last 10 games but looks to turn the tide as they host U.S. Division rival Spokane (22-26-4-1) on February 20.

2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week

February 12, 2024: Emmitt Finnie, Kamloops Blazers (Detroit Red Wings)

February 5, 2024: Egor Sidorov, Saskatoon Blades (Anaheim Ducks)

January 29, 2024: Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary Hitmen

January 22, 2024: Luca Cagnoni, Portland Winterhawks (San Jose Sharks)

January 15, 2024: Matthew Savoie, Moose Jaw Warriors (Buffalo Sabres)

January 8, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers

January 2, 2024: Chase Bertholet, Spokane Chiefs

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

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 February 18, 2024.

It's the fourth time Mirwald has earned the award this season.

The 20-year-old netminder posted a 2-0-0-0 record against Western Conference opponents, putting up a 1.00 goals-against average and .971 save percentage.

Mirwald allowed one lonely powerplay goal in a 5-1 victory against Victoria on February 14. The second-year Giants goalie turned aside 31 of 32 shots to earn third star of the night.

Two nights later, he was called on again for what might be the most significant game of the Giants' season, as the Western Conference-leading Portland Winterhawks rolled into the Langley Events Centre with a chance to clinch a playoff berth. Mirwald was in top form, denying Winterhawks Captain Gabe Klassen on a breakaway in a hectic first period that saw Portland pepper Vancouver with 17 shots but come away scoreless. Mirwald would end up stopping 37 of 38 shots in a dramatic 3-1 Giants win and be named first star for the seventh time this season.

The win saw Vancouver extend its point streak to 10 games (9-0-1-0) to third in the B.C. Division and within striking distance of second place.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound goaltender now sports a 24-17-2-0 record to continue his career-best season. Mirwald has trimmed his goals-against average to 3.07 and ratcheted up his save percentage to .915. He's made the most saves of any WHL goalie this season (1389, as of February 18), while playing the second-most minutes (2524) and making more starts this season than the last three combined.

Mirwald also helped the Giants rip past the Spokane Chiefs on Monday, February 19, which counts towards next week's award consideration.

Vancouver returns to the ice on February 23 to take on the Rockets (25-28-3-0) in Kelowna.

2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week

February 12, 2024: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants

February 5, 2024: Reid Dyck (Boston Bruins)

January 29, 2024: Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle Thunderbirds (Buffalo Sabres)

January 22, 2024: Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels

January 15, 2024: Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels

January 8, 2024: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants

January 2, 2024: Harrison Meneghin, Lethbridge Hurricanes

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

2024 NHL DRAFT-ELIGIBLE NETMINDER GARDNER NAMED KAL TIRE WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Evan Gardner of the Saskatoon Blades has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending February 18, 2024.

It's the second time this month the 2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder has earned Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week honours.

Gardner went 1-0-0-0 on the week, recording his third shutout of the season.

The 6-foot-2, 174-pound netminder was called to the crease for a matchup against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on February 16. Gardner weathered the storm with a 16-save performance, highlighted by a windmill glove save on Logan Wormald. Tanner Molendyk would break through for the Blades in overtime to seal a thrilling 1-0 win for Saskatoon.

Following the win, Gardner's record improved to 16-5-0-2, while his 1.89 goals-against average and .929 save percentage are second among WHL goaltenders who have played more than 20 games. His three shutouts are also tied for the second-most in the league.

The Fort St. John, B.C. product has been ranked 16th among all North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting Service ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

Gardner has since wracked up another win against Brandon on February 19, which will be considered for next week's awards.

Saskatoon (42-9-2-3) is on a 13-0-1-0 run to remain atop the WHL standings with 12 regular season games remaining.

The Blades return to the Sasktel Centre- where they've amassed a dominant 23-1-1-0 record- to take on the Brandon Wheat Kings (27-22-5-1) on February 23.

2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week

February 12, 2024: Hunter Laing, Prince George Cougars

February 5, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades

January 29, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers

January 22, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers

January 15, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips

January 8, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips

January 2, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals

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

Check out the Western Hockey League Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...

Western Hockey League Stories from February 20, 2024


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