WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners
May 13, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Moose Jaw, Sask. - Seattle Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus of the Moose Jaw Warriors has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending May 12, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
With five points (3G-2A) in three games, Firkus, helped the Warriors clinch the WHL's Eastern Conference banner before then staking out a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien.
In Game 7 of the WHL Eastern Conference Championship, the 20-year-old product of Irma, Alta., recorded his 12th goal of the 2024 WHL Playoffs, helping the Warriors claim a 3-2 overtime victory against the Saskatoon Blades.
Down in Portland, Firkus continued to have an impact, registering a primary assist on a second-period goal from captain Denton Mateychuk, as Moose Jaw eked out a 3-2 win over the Winterhawks in Game 1 of the 2024 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien.
Firkus, who was named WHL Player of the Year on May 9, put his stamp on the WHL Championship Series in Game 2, notching two goals and an assist as the Warriors skated to a 5-1 victory.
The 5-foot-11, 160-pound centre found the back of the net 15 seconds into the third period, registering his first goal of the series to give Moose Jaw a commanding 4-1 advantage. Firkus added his second goal of the night at 5:35, pushing the Warriors in front 5-1. He was named first star of the game for his performance.
With 31 points (14G-17A) in 18 games, Firkus leads the 2024 WHL Playoffs in scoring.
A second-round selection (35th overall) of the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 NHL Draft, Firkus enjoyed a career campaign, notching 126 points (61G-65A) in 63 games to lead the WHL and Canadian Hockey League in scoring during the regular season.
Originally selected by the Warriors in the fourth round (82nd overall) of the 2019 WHL Draft, Firkus has collected 310 points (144G-166A) in 230 WHL regular season games. In 38 career WHL Playoff games, he has posted 64 points (30G-34A).
WINTERHAWKS NETMINDER ŠPUNAR NAMED GIUSEPPE WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Moose Jaw, Sask. - Portland Winterhawks netminder Jan Špunar has been named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending May 12, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
Špunar went 1-2-0-0 in three games this past week, posting a 2.65 goals-against average and .920 save percentage, helping the Winterhawks advance to the 2024 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien.
The 19-year-old product of Olomouc, Czechia, was outstanding in Game 6 of the WHL Western Conference Championship, making 48 saves on 49 shots, backstopping the Winterhawks to a 2-1 double overtime win against the Prince George Cougars. The victory gave Portland its berth in the 2024 WHL Championship Series.
Špunar continued his strong play during the 2024 WHL Championship. In Game 1 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Špunar was outstanding with 34 saves on 37 shots.
In Game 2 of the 2024 WHL Championship, Špunar made another 22 saves.
The 6-foot-3, 199-pound puckstopper has enjoyed success during the 2024 WHL Playoffs, going 12-4 with a 2.52 GAA, .917 SV%, and one shutout.
Selected by the Winterhawks in the first round (52nd overall) of the 2022 CHL Import Draft, Špunar was named a finalist for the WHL's Goaltender of the Year Award for 2023-24 after going 25-6-2-1 with a 2.12 GAA, .913 SV%, and two shutouts.
In 66 career WHL regular season appearances, Špunar is 42-13-4-2 with a 2.35 GAA, .910 SV%, and two shutouts.
2024 NHL DRAFT-ELIGIBLE FORWARD MCKENZIE NAMED KAL TIRE WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Moose Jaw, Sask. - Moose Jaw Warriors winger Pavel McKenzie has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending May 12, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the first time the 2024 NHL Draft-eligible forward has earned the recognition.
The 18-year-old netted his second goal of the 2024 WHL Playoffs, helping the Warriors seal a victory in Game 2 of the WHL Championship Series against the Portland Winterhawks.
With Moose Jaw holding a narrow 1-0 advantage in the second period of Game 2, McKenzie doubled the lead with a deceptive wrist shot from the high slot, courtesy a centering pass from Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Martin Rysavy. The tally would stand as the game-winner as Moose Jaw went on to a 5-1 victory to sweep the first two games of the Championship Series at Portland's Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Cumberland House, Sask. product has two goals and three assists for five points in 18 postseason matches.
McKenzie settled into a strong depth role with the Warriors in his first WHL regular season campaign, lighting the lamp 15 times and dishing 21 helpers for 36 points in 63 games.
The 6-foot, 170-pound winger made the Warriors as a free agent after going unselected in the WHL Prospects Draft. He caught the attention of General Manager Jason Ripplinger and Head Coach Mark O'Leary after a strong showing with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Yorkton Terriers.
McKenzie is ranked 176th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
The Warriors return home to host the Winterhawks in Game 3 of the WHL Championship Series on Tuesday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m. ST.
The 2024 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien continues Tuesday, May 14 at 8 p.m. MT as the Moose Jaw Warriors host the Portland Winterhawks at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. The winner of the best-of-seven series will advance to the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow in Saginaw, Mich., which is scheduled for Friday, May 24 through Sunday, June 2.
All seven games of the WHL Championship Series are available in Canada on TSN. Check local listings for up-to-date television schedules and channel designations. Fans can also stream all seven games on WHL Live on CHL TV.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
May 6, 2024: Nate Danielson, Portland Winterhawks (Detroit Red Wings)
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 (Washington Capitals)
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
May 6, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
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
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
May 6, 2024: Hunter Laing, Prince George Cougars
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
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
Western Hockey League Stories from May 13, 2024
- Winterhawks Weekly: The Big Stage - Portland Winterhawks
- Prospect Profile: Mason Mykichuk - Tri-City Americans
- Silvertips Champion Speech Apraxia Awareness with Grace's Bridge to Communication - Everett Silvertips
- Warriors' McKenzie Keeps Cumberland House Cree Nation Close to Heart Through WHL Championship Journey - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Kraken Prospect Firkus Named Tempo WHL Player of the Week - Moose Jaw Warriors
- 2024 NHL Draft-Eligible Forward McKenzie Named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Jan Špunar Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - Portland Winterhawks
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Capitals Re-Assign Suzdalev to AHL's Hershey Bears - Saskatoon Blades
- The Long Night: 2007 WHL Championship - Medicine Hat Tigers
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