WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners
Published on April 9, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 7, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Tuesday.
This is the second time the 2024 NHL Draft-eligible centre has earned the honour this season.
Iginla led all WHL skaters with five goals and three assists for eight points and a +4 rating through four games this week.
Kelowna's First-Round series against the Wenatchee Wild was tied 1-1 entering Game 3 at Prospera Place on April 2. With the Wild up 1-0, Iginla kickstarted the comeback as his breakaway shot squeaked through the pads of the Wenatchee netminder and trickled across the goal line. Iginla added another by tapping in a slick Michael Cicek feed on a two-on-one rush as the Rockets scored five unanswered goals in a 5-1 win, taking their first lead of the series. Iginla was also named second star of the game.
In Game 4, Iginla received a breakout pass from standout rookie Hiroki Gojsic and turned on the jets to breeze past the Wild defender and snap a shot past Daniel Hauser for his fourth of the series and the eventual game-winning goal.
In perhaps his most dramatic play of the series, Iginla found the game-tying-goal with just 45 seconds remaining in Game 5 south of the border. Though Wenatchee would force Game 6 with an overtime tally from Stephen Arp, Iginla still finished with a goal and an assist.
With a chance to eliminate Wenatchee on home ice, the 6-foot, 186-pound forward earned a secondary assist on alternate captain Andrew Cristall's game-opening tally. He'd find the back of the net himself in the middle frame with Cicek again finding him in the perfect spot. Iginla's eighth postseason goal tied the Rockets' franchise record for most goals in a playoff series. Iginla capped off his night by stealing the puck from an enemy player in front of the Wenatchee net and dishing a no-look pass to Andrew Cristall for the series-clinching goal. Kelowna would go on to a 4-1 win to eliminate the Wild.
Iginla's eight goals have him sitting first in goals scored in the playoffs and second in points with 11.
NHL Central Scouting has the clutch forward ranked 11th among North American Skaters ahead of June's NHL draft.
Kelowna will now face Prince George in a B.C. Division showdown in Round Two.
Game 1 between the Rockets and Cougars is set for Friday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. PST at the CN Centre.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
April 1, 2024: Briley Wood, Wenatchee Wild
March 25, 2024: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
March 18, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
March 11, 2024: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
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)
SILVERTIPS NETMINDER PALMER NAMED GIUSEPPE WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - Everett Silvertips netminder Tyler Palmer has been named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending April 7, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Tuesday.
This is the first time the veteran puckstopper has earned the honour in 2023-24, but it comes at a critical time with the Silvertips heating up in the postseason.
Palmer led all starting WHL goaltenders with a pristine 3-0-0-0 record, a .67 goals-against average, a .975 save percentage and a shutout in a series-clinching win against Vancouver.
With Everett's First Round series against Vancouver tied 1-1, Palmer faced a barrage of shots in enemy territory at the Langley Events Centre in Game 3. The 6-foot, 191-pound goalie stretched out to deny a wide-open Mazden Leslie with just seconds remaining in the first period and shut down the Giants forward again on a breakaway opportunity in the third period. Palmer would turn aside 30 of 31 shots to preserve a 3-1 win and give Everett its first lead of the series. He was named third star of the night.
The following night, the Fernie, B.C. product was busy again, facing 25 Vancouver shots and allowing only one goal. Palmer and the Silvertips denied all five Giant powerplays and returned home to Washington with a chance to advance to the Second Round of the 2024 WHL Playoffs.
With Vancouver fighting to stave off elimination at Angel of the Winds Arena, Palmer put forth his most dominant performance of the series. The second-year Silvertips netminder posted a 25-save shutout to punch Everett's ticket to the next round in a 5-0 victory. The win came exactly one year after Palmer earned his first WHL playoff shutout, an eerily similar 5-0 win over the Portland Winterhawks on April 4, 2023.
Palmer is 4-0-0-0 in the 2024 playoffs with a 1.63 goals-against average, a .937 save percentage and one shutout.
He leads all starting netminders in goals-against average and is second in save percentage.
The 20-year-old posted a 30-2-9-3 record through the 2023-24 regular season, becoming one of two WHL goaltenders to hit the 30-win milestone.
Everett opens its Western Conference Semifinal series against the Portland Winterhawks on Friday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. PST at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
April 1, 2024: Reid Dyck, Swift Current Broncos (Boston Bruins)
March 25, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
March 18, 2024: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants
March 11, 2024: Kolby Hay, Edmonton Oil Kings
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 NETMINDER WUTZKE NAMED KAL TIRE WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. - Red Deer Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending April 7, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Tuesday.
This is the first time the 2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder has won Rookie of the Week, though he has been named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week three times and WHL Goaltender of the Month once in the 2023-24 season.
Wutzke backstopped the Rebels to a 3-0-0-0 record this week, posting a 2.25 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in his first WHL playoff series victory.
With Red Deer's First-Round series against the Medicine Hat Tigers tied 1-1, Wutzke and the Rebels put on a show on home ice with a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 3. Wutzke denied top 2024 NHL Draft prospect Andrew Basha on a breakaway and held the Tigers scoreless on three powerplay opportunities. He also denied all five shots he faced in the extra frame to restore Red Deer's series lead.
Midway through the first period of Game 4, Wutzke kicked out his skate to deny a Gavin McKenna powerplay opportunity and send Jhett Larsson on a breakaway to score the game-opening goal shorthanded. The Debden, Sask. product earned first star after stopping 33 of 35 shots and holding the Tabbies scoreless on four powerplay opportunities.
Wutzke saved his best performance of the series for last, saving 36 of 38 shots in a 5-2 win to help the Rebels advance to Round Two for a third-straight season.
He sports a 4-1-0-0 record in his first WHL playoff series with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage.
NHL Central Scouting has ranked Wutzke 13th among North American goalies in its midterm draft rankings. The 6-foot-2 netminder was originally selected by Red Deer in the second round, 40th overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
Red Deer will take on the regular season champion Saskatoon Blades in their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.
The Rebels travel to the SaskTel Centre for Game 1 on Friday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. ST.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
April 1, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
March 25, 2024: Reese Hamilton, Calgary Hitmen
March 18, 2024: Dimitri Fortin, Moose Jaw Warriors
March 11, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
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 April 9, 2024
- Round Two Primer: Games 3 & 4 (4/15 & 4/19) - Everett Silvertips
- Winterhawks Announce Round 2 WHL Playoff Schedule - Portland Winterhawks
- Iginla Named WHL Player of the Week - Kelowna Rockets
- Tyler Palmer Named WHL Goalie of the Week - Everett Silvertips
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Murray Sees Hope for Future in Lessons from 2023-24 - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Wild Hockey Academy Names Lochten to 15O Coaching Position - Wenatchee Wild
- Winterhawks Weekly: on to the Next - Portland Winterhawks
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