WHL Names Monthly Award Winners
April 3, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Regina Pats captain Connor Bedard has been named the McSweeney's WHL Player of the Month for the month of March.
Bedard, the top-ranked North American Skater by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft, led all WHL skaters with 32 points (19G-13A) over his 13 regular season and playoff appearances, helping the Pats secure a berth in the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien in the process.
The product of North Vancouver, B.C. recorded three hat-tricks in March, including a four-goal game March 3 versus Winnipeg and back-to-back three-goal performances versus Moose Jaw March 18 and 19.
On five occasions, Bedard put up four or more points, topping out with a six-point effort against the Warriors March 19.
He captured the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL's Regular Season Top Scorer, completing the campaign with 143 points (71G-72A), becoming the first WHL skater since the 1995-96 season to post more than 140 points during a regular season.
Bedard made his WHL Playoffs debut Friday, March 31, closing out his month with a two-goal, three-point performance as Regina began its post-season on a winning note at Saskatoon.
Originally selected by the Pats with the first-overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Bedard has totalled 279 points (139G-140A) over 136 career WHL regular season and playoff games.
Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats return home Tuesday, April 4 for Game 3 of their First Round series with the Saskatoon Blades (7:00 p.m. MT, Brandt Centre). Regina leads the best-of-seven series 2-0.
ICE NETMINDER HAUSER NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH
The Western Hockey League announced today that Winnipeg ICE goaltender Daniel Hauser has been named the WHL Goaltender of the Month for the month of March.
The product of Chestermere, Alta. recorded a 6-1-0-0 record over his seven regular season and playoff appearances in March to go along with a 2.01 goals-against average and .929 save percentage as the ICE secured the Club's second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL Regular Season Champions.
Hauser limited his opponents to one goal on four occasions in March including during a First Round playoff preview March 7 versus the Medicine Hat Tigers and on back-to-back occasions against the Prince Albert Raiders March 18 and 19.
The 19-year-old set the ICE franchise record for wins during a single regular season in March too, finishing the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season with 37 victories.
He closed out his month of March with a 33-save performance in Winnipeg's playoff opener, helping the ICE dispatch the Tigers 5-3.
Originally selected by Winnipeg ICE in the sixth round of the 2019 WHL Draft, Hauser holds a career 88-9-3-0 record, 2.23 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and 11 shutouts over his 104-career regular season and playoff contests.
Daniel Hauser and the Winnipeg ICE are next in action Tuesday, April 4 when they continue the First Round of the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien against the Medicine Hat Tigers (7:00 p.m. MT, Co-op Place). Winnipeg leads the best-of-seven series 2-0.
TIGERS FORWARD MCKENNA NAMED WHL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
The Western Hockey League announced today that Medicine Hat Tigers forward Gavin McKenna has been named the WHL Rookie of the Month for the month of March.
The product of Whitehorse, Yukon registered 10 points (4G-6A) from his six regular season and post-season appearances in March, helping the Tigers secure a berth in the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien in the process.
McKenna scored his first career WHL goal March 11 versus Regina and enjoyed a four-game goal-scoring streak from March 11 through March 24.
The 15-year-old recorded four multi-point efforts in his final five appearances of the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season before making his WHL Playoffs debut Friday, March 31 in Winnipeg.
He also achieved a +6 rating over the month of March.
The 5-foot-11, 158-pound winger was the first-overall selection by Medicine Hat in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft; he has amassed 18 points (4G-14A) from his 18 career WHL regular season and playoff appearances.
Gavin McKenna and the Medicine Hat Tigers return home Tuesday, April 4 to continue their First Round playoff series versus the Winnipeg ICE (7:00 p.m. MT, Co-op Place). Winnipeg leads the best-of-seven series 2-0.
Western Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2023
- Chyzowski, Stefan Strike Twice as Hawks Rout 'Tips in Game 3 - Portland Winterhawks
- Portland Takes 6-1 Win in Everett, Take 3-0 Series Lead - Everett Silvertips
- Hawks Roll in Game 3, Take 3-0 Series Lead - Portland Winterhawks
- Rebels Lead Series With 2-1 Win Over Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Pats Sign Goaltender Lochlan Gordon - Regina Pats
- Pats Sign Goaltender Lochlan Gordon - Regina Pats
- Hauser Named WHL Goaltender of the Month - Winnipeg Ice
- Cougars Playoff Fever Continues with Away Game Watch Parties - Prince George Cougars
- Tigers Forward McKenna Named WHL Rookie of the Month - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Game Day Hub: Round 1, Game 3 at Everett - Portland Winterhawks
- Bedard Named Mcsweeney's March WHL Player of the Month - Regina Pats
- WHL Names Monthly Award Winners - WHL
- Preview Series Shifts Back to Kelowna - Kelowna Rockets
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Connor Ungar with Lights Out Start to WHL Playoffs - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Warriors Netminder Ungar Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Bedard Named WHL Player of the Week - Regina Pats
- Blades Drop Heartbreaker in OT, Trail 2-0 in Series - Saskatoon Blades
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