WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners
Published on March 11, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Andrew Cristall of the Kelowna Rockets has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 10, 2024.
The Washington Capitals prospect led all WHLers with nine points (three goals, six assists) and a +3 rating in three games.
Cristall kicked off the week with an assist on Captain Gabriel Szturc's game-winning goal in a 6-1 win over the Tri-City Americans.
With a chance to clinch a WHL playoff berth on the line, Cristall erupted for a seven-point night against Kamloops on March 8. After notching four straight helpers to put Kelowna up 4-0 over Kamloops, the Burnaby, B.C. product tore past the Blazers netminder and deftly tucked the puck in for his 36th goal of the season and 100th point of the campaign. Cristall would add another in the third period with a nifty deke and backhand goal to make it 7-1. The Rockets alternate captain capped off the night with an assist on Max Graham's powerplay marker to seal a 9-1 Kelowna victory and berth in the 2024 WHL Playoffs. Cristall's career-best two-goal, five-assist night earned him first-star honours.
It was a different story on March 9, with the Blazers leading 3-1 midway through the second period. Cristall helped kickstart the comeback with a sharp wrist shot to bring Kelowna within one. The Rockets would complete the comeback with a 4-3 win to jump up to second in the B.C. Division.
Cristall has 38 goals and 65 assists for 103 points to sit fifth in the WHL points race. He's the first Rockets player to eclipse 100 points since Colin Long hit the century mark in the 2007-08 season.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound forward was selected by the Washington Capitals in the second round, 40th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year, entry-level contract that July.
He was named a WHL B.C. Division All-Star in 2022-23 and has helped Team Canada win gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and Bronze at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Hockey Championship.
Kelowna (31-28-3-1) looks to extend its 7-0-0-1-point streak when it hosts the Western Conference-leading Prince George Cougars on March 13 at 7:05 p.m. PST.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
March 4, 2024: Jordan Keller, Kamloops Blazers
February 26, 2024: Riley Heidt, Prince George Cougars (Minnesota Wild)
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 (Washington Capitals)
Oil Kings netminder Hay named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Edmonton Oil Kings netminder Kolby Hay has been named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending March 10, 2024.
Hay posted a 1-0-0-1 record against two of the hottest teams in the WHL, recording a 1.96 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage while facing 30 or more shots in both contests.
The 6-foot-4.5 foot, 185-pound netminder was first called to action against the Prince Albert Raiders on March 8. With the match tied 1-1 in the second period, Hay stretched out to deny Ryder Ritchie on a cross-ice feed for one of the top saves of the night. He'd hold the Raiders scoreless on their three powerplays and stop 28 of 30 shots to help Edmonton to a 3-2 overtime victory, earning second star of the night.
Hay faced an even tougher task in the second half of back-to-back games, facing down the league-leading Saskatoon Blades. The 19-year-old stopped a formidable Rowan Calvert shot off the rush and managed to sprawl and freeze the rebound. The Oil Kings didn't allow a single goal on Saskatoon's five powerplays in regulation time. However, a penalty shot from Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Brandon Lisowsky in overtime would stand as the game-winner. Hay would be named second star once again with a 32-save effort.
Hay sports a career-best 19-17-1-1 record with one shutout, a 3.85 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage in his second season as the starter for the rebuilding Oil Kings.
As a rookie, Hay backed up Detroit Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa for Edmonton's Championship run in 2021-22.
The Monte Creek, B.C. product was selected by the Oil Kings in the third round, 62nd overall in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft.
Edmonton (23-36-3-1) travels south for a Central Division showdown against Lethbridge (30-27-5-0) on March 13 at 7:00 p.m. MST.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
March 4, 2024: Ethan Buenaventura, Calgary Hitmen
February 26, 2024: Reid Dyck, Swift Current Broncos (Boston Bruins)
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
2024 NHL Draft-eligible 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 March 10, 2024.
It's the fifth time the 2024 NHL Draft-eligible forward has earned the award this season.
Parascak dazzled with five points (two goals, three assists) and a +4 rating in two games.
The Lethbridge, Alta. product was in on all five Prince George goals in a 5-3 victory over Vancouver on March 8. Parascak opened the scoring with a slick one-timer in the slot on a Cougars powerplay. He'd earn a pair of apples on league-leading goal scorer Zac Funk's 60th and 61st goals of the season just 1:16 apart. Parascak drove the net in the third period to tap in a Riley Heidt feed for his 36th tally, which would also stand as the game-winner. The 5-foot-11 winger capped off a five-point night with a primary assist on a Hudson Thornton goal.
The match marks the second-most productive night of Parascak's WHL career, second only to a four-goal, two-assist effort against Victoria back in October.
While he was held pointless in a 6-3 Prince George victory over Vancouver the following night, Parascak still finished with a +1 rating.
Parascak continues to lead the WHL's rookie scoring race and is closing in on the century mark with 36 goals and 56 assists.
His 92 points rank first among all CHL first-year players.
The winger is considered a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and is ranked 14th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Parascak, who was selected by the Cougars in the fourth round, 76th overall, in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, was also named WHL Rookie of the Month for September/October and December.
Prince George (43-15-1-3) is on an 11-0-1-1 point streak and has already clinched a playoff berth and home-ice advantage in round one of the postseason.
The Western Conference-leading Cougars are back in action against Kelowna (31-28-3-1) on March 13 at 7:05 p.m. PST.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
March 4, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
February 26, 2024: Cameron Schmidt, Vancouver Giants
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 (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 March 11, 2024
- March 11 - Canes Chatter Presented by Peka Rollshutters - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Winterhawks Weekly: Celebrating Centuries - Portland Winterhawks
- Caps Prospect Cristall Named WHL Player of the Week - Kelowna Rockets
- St. Patty's Day Primer - Everett Silvertips
- 2024 NHL Draft-Eligible Forward Parascak Named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week - Prince George Cougars
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Rebels this Week - Red Deer Rebels
- Team Signing Event on Tuesday at the Hangar - Moose Jaw Warriors
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