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WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

May 6, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - Portland Winterhawks forward Nate Danielson has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending May 5, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

Danielson led all WHLers with seven points (one goal, six assists) and a +5 rating through three games of the Western Conference Championship.

After erupting for three assists in Game 2 on the road, Danielson delivered another showstopping performance in Portland with a trio of assists. The 6-foot-2, 188-pound centre set up Marcus Nguyen for a pair of goals en route to his first playoff hat trick and finding Marek Alscher with a breakout pass for Alscher's second goal of the postseason. Danielson was named third star of the game as Portland took its first lead of the series with a 4-1 win.

Somehow, the Red Deer, Alta. product found a way to one-up himself in Game 4 with a third-straight multi-point outing. Danielson teed up Captain Gabe Klassen for the game-opening goal before assisting another pair of goals by Nguyen, including the eventual game-winner. Danielson would earn his first goal of the series with a quick snapshot on a Cougars rebound to seal a 5-2 victory and a 3-1 series lead.

The Cougars would snap his formidable scoring streak with a 6-1 win in Game 5, sending the series back north.

Danielson sits fourth in postseason points and second in assists with four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in 13 games.

The 19-year-old was selected by the Detroit Red Wings with the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Danielson and the Winterhawks look to eliminate the Cougars and advance to the WHL Championship for the first time since 2014 with a win in Game 6 on Monday, May 6 at 7:00 p.m. PST.

2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week

April 29, 2024: Egor Sidorov, Saskatoon Blades (Anaheim Ducks)

April 22, 2024: Egor Sidorov, Saskatoon Blades (Anaheim Ducks)

April 15, 2024: Denton Mateychuk, Moose Jaw Warriors (Columbus Blue Jackets)

April 9, 2024: Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets

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

2024 NHL DRAFT-ELIGIBLE NETMINDER GARDNER NAMED GIUSEPPE WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Calgary, Alta. - Saskatoon Blades netminder Evan Gardner has been named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending May 5, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

This is the second time Gardner has been recognized with the weekly award, in addition to WHL Goaltender of the Month honours for March and three Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week wins.

Gardner posted a 2-1-1-0 record, a 3.21 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in a dramatic week in the Eastern Conference Championship that saw the Blades and Moose Jaw Warriors make three trips to overtime.

With the series tied 1-1 entering Game 3, the Fort St. John, B.C. product turned aside 29 of the 31 shots he faced in enemy territory, including a dynamic goal-line toe stop on Seattle Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus. The Warriors would tack on an empty-netter to take a 3-1 victory.

Game 4 served up goals galore and huge momentum swings. With the match tied 4-4 in the late goings, Gardner kicked out his pad to deny a Brayden Yager opportunity from the slot to save the game for Saskatoon. The rookie stopped 33 of the 37 shots he was peppered with, including three overtime shots, before Anaheim Ducks prospect Egor Sidorov snagged the overtime winner to level the series.

In the second of three-straight overtime matches, Gardner made a career-high 39 saves in Saskatoon's 5-4 victory in Game 5, highlighted by six stops in the extra frame to bring the Blades within a win of the WHL Championship.

The Warriors would spoil Game 6 in another valiant extra-time effort, with Gardner saving 31 of 35 shots.

Gardner is 10-1-2-0 in the 2024 WHL Playoffs with a 2.26 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage and one shutout.

The WHL Rookie of the Year nominee went 21-5-0-2 through the regular season, leading all WHL starting netminders with a 1.91 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage and four clean sheets.

Gardner, who clocks in at 6-foot-1, 188 pounds, is ranked seventh among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting in the agency's final rankings ahead of June's draft.

The WHL Eastern Conference Championship will be decided in Game 7 on Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m. ST at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Sask.

2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week

April 29, 2024: Jackson Unger, Moose Jaw Warriors

April 22, 2024: Jan Špunar, Portland Winterhawks

April 15, 2024: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars

April 9, 2024: Tyler Palmer, Everett Silvertips

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 FORWARD LAING NAMED KAL TIRE WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Calgary, Alta. - Prince George Cougars winger Hunter Laing has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending May 5, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

This is the second time the 2024 NHL Draft-eligible forward has earned the recognition.

Laing scored his first WHL playoff goal in dramatic fashion, keeping Prince George's season alive and forcing a sixth game in the Western Conference Championship.

With the Cougars holding a narrow 2-1 lead in Game 5, Laing parked on the doorstep of the Winterhawks' net on a critical powerplay, beating four diving Portland players to the puck and popping it over the goaltender and into the open net. The goal would provide some much-needed insurance as Prince George went on to a 6-1 road win.

The goal stands as Laing's first postseason point.

Originally selected by Prince George in the second round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Laing is coming off a productive rookie season that saw him net 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 66 regular-season games.

The 6-foot-6, 192-pound winger is ranked 86th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the agency's final rankings ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

The Western Conference Championship returns north for a do-or-die Game 6 for the Cougars on Monday night.

Puck drops between Prince George and Portland at 7:00 p.m. PST at the CN Centre.

2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week

April 29, 2024: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars

April 22, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars

April 15, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades

April 9, 2024: Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels

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

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