The second-ever Rookie-of-the-Year in the Western Canada Hockey League, the precursor to today’s Western Hockey League, was Ron Fairbrother, who played for the Saskatoon Blades, shortly after the franchise was formed by original owner Jim Piggott. Fairbrother is the only member of the Blades to win the, now named Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy with goaltender Evan Gardner (pictured) a finalist to win the honour this season.

Gardner was named the East Division’s top freshman Wednesday. The 17-year-old Lake Country, B-C, product posted the W-H-L’s best goals against-average and save percentage in the 2023-24 season at 1.91 and .927, respectively. Gardner also won 21 games and is currently on an 11-game personal winning streak which includes two victories in the opening round playoff series with Prince Albert. Earlier this week, Gardner was the East Division winner of the W-H-L Humanitarian-of-the-Year award and was named the league’s Goaltender-of-the-Mont for March. A trio of forwards are the other division nominees for Rookie-of-the-Year – Gavin McKenna of Medicine Hat, Terik Parascak of Prince George and Julius Miettinen of Everett. The league awards will all be announced between April 30 and May 9. Following are the news releases from the Blades and the W-H-L…..

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 3rd: Gardner named finalist for WHL Rookie of the Year

Saskatoon, SK – Saskatoon Blades goalie Evan Gardner has been named a finalist for the 2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Year. The WHL announced the finalists Wednesday morning.

The nomination completes a stellar first year for the NHL draft-eligible netminder. Gardner received WHL Rookie of the Week twice throughout the season, WHL Goalie of the Week once, and was named WHL Goalie of the Month for March. In five starts last month, Gardner went 5-0 with a .938 save percentage, 1.59 goals-against average, and 27-save shutout in the final regular season game of the season vs the Prince Albert Raiders.

Gardner stopped 31-of-32 shots in his WHL playoff debut in Game 2 vs the Raiders, and is 2-0 this postseason.

The Fort St. John, BC product was a huge reason for one of the most successful seasons in franchise history. Gardner went 21-5-0-2, becoming one of only two rookies to surpass the 20-win mark. Gardner’s topped the league with a .927 save percentage, 1.91 goals-against average, and was tied for second in the WHL with four shutouts. Saskatoon finished with a 50-13-2-3 record and clinched their fifth Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy in franchise history.

Gardner’s ranked 16th amongst North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting ahead of June’s NHL Entry Draft.

Round 1 presented by Save-on-Foods between the Blades and Raiders continues tonight with Game 4 at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert. Puck drop is 7:00pm.

WHL ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR JIM PIGGOTT MEMORIAL TROPHY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2024

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today the nominees for the 2023-24 Division nominees for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL Rookie of the Year.

All individual WHL Division Award winners will be eligible for the 2024 WHL Awards, which will be announced from Tuesday, April 30 through Thursday, May 9.

WHL Rookie of the Year – Division Winners
B.C. Division – Terik Parascak (Lethbridge, Alta), Prince George Cougars
Central Division – Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, Yukon), Medicine Hat Tigers
East Division – Evan Gardner (Fort St. John, B.C.), Saskatoon Blades
U.S. Division – Julius Miettinen (Helsinki, Finland), Everett Silvertips

WHL Rookie of the Year Biographies

Terik Parascak (Prince George Cougars): The 17-year-old product of Lethbridge, Alta., enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign, recording 105 points (43G-62A) in 68 games to finish eighth in scoring among all WHL players, while leading all WHL rookies.

The 5-foot-11, 179-pound right winger earned WHL Rookie of the Month honours on three separate occasions during the 2023-24 season, including September/October, December and March.

Parascak’s 105 points represent the first time a rookie has surpassed the 100-point plateau since former Calgary Hitmen forward Pavel Brendl registered 134 points during the 1998-99 season.

Ranked 14th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its midterm rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft, Parascak opened his season with a bang, notching a career-high four goals and six points September 29, 2023. He didn’t slow down from there, producing 16 other outings with three or more points, including a four-point game and a five-point game.

Parascak was originally selected by the Cougars in the fourth round (76th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.

Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers): The 6-foot, 165-pound left winger didn’t turn 16 until December 20, 2023, making him one of the youngest players on an active roster during the 2023-24 WHL Regular Season.

The product of Whitehorse, Yukon, finished second in rookie scoring and 12th overall by tallying 97 points (34G-63A) in 61 games.

McKenna was recognized with WHL monthly honours on two occasions – named WHL Player of the Month for January before then earning WHL Rookie of the Month recognition in February.

Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, McKenna logged a career-high six points (1G-5A) on January 6, 2024. He produced another 14 contests with three or more points, including four points on six occasions and two hat tricks.

McKenna was originally selected by the Tigers with the first-overall pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. In 77 career WHL Regular Season games, he has secured 115 points (38G-77A).

Evan Gardner (Saskatoon Blades): The product of Fort St. John, B.C., who turned 18 on January 25, led all qualified WHL goaltenders in goals-against average (1.91) and save percentage (.927), while finishing tied for second in shutouts (4).

The 6-foot-2, 174-pound puckstopper enjoyed an outstanding campaign sharing the crease with veteran Blades netminder Austin Elliott. Through 30 appearances, Gardner went 21-5-0-1, making 671 saves on 724 shots.

Though he didn’t land WHL Rookie of the Month honours, Gardner scooped up WHL Goaltender of the Month recognition for the month of March after an impressive finish to the regular season.

On seven occasions, Gardner made 30 or more saves, including a career-high 33 saves on 34 shots in a win over Brandon on February 4, 2024.

Originally selected by the Blades in the third round (53rd overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Gardner is eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, ranked 16th among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

Aside from his outstanding efforts on the ice, the rookie netminder is a finalist for the WHL’s Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL Humanitarian of the Year.

Julius Miettinen (Everett Silvertips): With 67 points (31G-36A) in 66 games, the 18-year-old product of Helsinki, Finland, finished third in scoring among all WHL rookies.

The 6-foot-3, 207-pound left winger was a force all season long for the Silvertips, collecting three points or more on eight occasions, including a career-high four points (2G-2A) January 14 at Wenatchee.

Miettinen was named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week three times, including back-to-back weeks – January 8 and January 15.

The Finnish import wrapped up his first WHL regular season riding a career-high 10-game point streak, registering 21 points (9G-12A) from February 18 through March 24.

Originally selected by the Silvertips in the first round (30th overall) of the 2023 CHL Import Draft, Miettinen is eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, listed 49th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.