WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners
February 26, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Minnesota Wild prospect Riley Heidt of the Prince George Cougars has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 25, 2024.
The Wild prospect recorded 11 points (4G-7A) in four games to help pace the Cougars this past week.
Heidt, a 5-foot-11, 182-pound product of Saskatoon, Sask., started the week with a three-point effort (2G-1A) Monday, February 19 as the Cougars knocked off the Seattle Thunderbirds by an 8-1 score at CN Centre.
Heidt's second goal of the game came late in the second period and represented his 30th of the campaign - marking the first time in his WHL career the former second-overall WHL selection has reached the 30-goal plateau. He was named first star of the game for his performance.
The following night, Heidt recorded two more points (1G-1A) as the Cougars secured a 5-1 victory over the Thunderbirds. The Wild prospect opened the scoring 3:04 into the first period before providing the primary assist on Carlin Dezainde's first-period tally to make it a 3-1 game.
Friday, February 23, Heidt notched another multi-point outing, contributing two assists as the Cougars defeated the Kamloops Blazers by a 5-1 score at Sandman Centre.
The 18-year-old centre wrapped up his week with a four-point outburst (1G-3A) Saturday, February 24, as the Cougars locked up the franchise's second B.C. Division title with a 6-5 shootout victory over the Kelowna Rockets.
Heidt recorded his 32nd goal of the season midway through the second period, giving the Cougars a 4-2 lead at the time. With the marker, Heidt reached the 100-point plateau, becoming the first player in the entire Canadian Hockey League to accomplish the feat during the 2023-24 campaign.
Through 56 games, Heidt now has 101 points (32G-69A) to lead the WHL in scoring. His 32 goals and 101 points both represent career bests, while his 69 assists are three shy of his career mark of 72, set during the 2022-23 season. His 69 assists rank second in the WHL this season.
Heidt is riding a seven-game point streak, having notched 17 points (5G-12A) since Saturday, February 10.
Originally selected by the Cougars with the second-overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Heidt has collected 264 points (80G-184A) in 211 WHL Regular Season games. He has added another 11 points (3G-8A) in 12 WHL Playoff games. He was named to the WHL's B.C. Division Second All-Star Team in 2022-23.
Following a two-game swing through the B.C. Interior, Riley Heidt and the Prince George Cougars return home for four straight games, beginning Friday, March 1 (7 p.m. PT) when the Spokane Chiefs visit the CN Centre.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
February 20, 2024: Graham Sward, Wenatchee Wild (Nashville Predators)
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
BOSTON BRUINS PROSPECT DYCK NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Boston Bruins prospect Reid Dyck of Swift Current Broncos has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 25, 2024.
The 20-year-old product of Winkler, Man., went 3-0-0-0 with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage this past week. This represents the second time this season Dyck has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week. He was previously recognized February 5, 2024.
The 6-foot-5, 193-pound puckstopper started his week Monday, February 19 with a 25-save performance as the Broncos knocked off the Moose Jaw Warriors by a 5-2 score.
On Friday, February 23, Dyck was stellar once again, making 20 stops in a 4-1 triumph over the Central Division-leading Medicine Hat Tigers.
Dyck wrapped up the week Saturday, February 24, turning aside 29 of the 32 pucks sent his way, backstopping the Broncos to a second-consecutive victory over the Tigers - this one a 4-3 overtime finale. Dyck was named second star of the game for his effort on the road.
Through 28 games this season, Dyck is 19-6-2-0 with a 2.59 GAA, .915 SV% and two shutouts.
Originally selected by the Broncos in the third round (45th overall) of the 2019 WHL Draft, Dyck has appeared in 99 career WHL Regular Season games, going 43-45-5-1 with four shutouts to his credit. He was chosen by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round (183rd overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Backed by the steady play of Dyck, the Broncos have won six consecutive games and sit second in the WHL's Central Division, trailing the Tigers by three points while owning on game in hand. Over their past 10 games, the Broncos are 8-1-1-0.
Reid Dyck and the Swift Current Broncos hit the road for two games, beginning Friday, March 1 (7 p.m. MT) when they visit the Red Deer Rebels.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
February 20, 2024: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants
February 12, 2024: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants
February 5, 2024: Reid Dyck, Swift Current Broncos (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
GIANTS FORWARD SCHMIDT NAME KAL TIRE WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today Vancouver Giants forward Cameron Schmidt has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending February 25, 2024.
The 17-year-old product of Prince George, B.C., recorded four goals and a plus-2 rating in three games as the Giants went 2-1-0-0 this past week.
The 5-foot-7, 150-pound centre started his week by recording his 19th goal of the season to open the scoring as the Giants defeated the Spokane Chiefs by a 6-3 margin on Monday, February 19.
Schmidt rounded out his week Friday, February 24 by registering his first-career WHL hat trick as the Giants trounced the Kamloops Blazers by a 7-1 score. Schmidt recorded seven shots on goal and a plus-2 rating en route to being named first star of the game.
Through 48 games this season, Schmidt has secured 39 points (22G-17A). Among WHL rookie skaters, his 22 goals rank fifth best, while his 39 points are tied for 10th.
Schmidt made his WHL debut during the 2022-23 season, skating in three games and earning one goal.
Originally selected seventh overall by the Giants in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Schmidt is eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft.
Cameron Schmidt and the Vancouver Giants return to action Friday, March 1 (7 p.m. PT) when they host the Kelowna Rockets at the Langley Events Centre.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
February 20, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
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
October 23, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
October 16, 2023: Ty Coupland, Swift Current Broncos
October 10, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
October 2, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
September 25, 2023: Oscar Lovsin, Wenatchee Wild
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Western Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2024
- Winterhawks Weekly: the Last (Home)Stand - Portland Winterhawks
- 'It's Definitely Humbling': Calvert Joining Moose Jaw Hockey Greats - Moose Jaw Warriors
- #ReidDyckulous Again: Broncos Netminder Named WHL Goalie of the Week - Swift Current Broncos
- February 26 - Canes Chatter Presented by Peka Rollshutters - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Giants Forward Schmidt Named WHL Rookie of the Week - Vancouver Giants
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Minnesota Wild Prospect Heidt Named Tempo WHL Player of the Week - Prince George Cougars
- Rebels this Week - Red Deer Rebels
- Wild Finish Three-Game Alberta Road Swing with 5-2 Loss Sunday at Edmonton - Wenatchee Wild
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