Two bits of Saskatoon Blades’ news after winning the first two games of their W-H-L Eastern Conference semi-final series at home over Red Deer over the weekend.
One has goaltender Evan Gardner (pictured) named Rookie-of-the-Week for just allowing two goals in total in the two games while the second is that left winger Evan Armstrong has been suspended for two games for being assessed a charging major penalty and game misconduct in Game 2 Sunday. Monday was a travel day for the Bridge City Bunch after they held serve at home. Games 3 and 4 are set for Tuesday and Wednesday in Red Deer. Following is the Player-of-the-Week news release from the W-H-L…..
BLUE JACKETS PROSPECT MATEYCHUK NAMED TEMPO WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2024
Calgary, Alta. – Moose Jaw Warriors Captain Denton Mateychuk has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 14, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect led all skaters in points with seven (one goal, six assists) and a +4 rating in two games.
Mateychuk had a secondary assist on a netfront goal by Jagger Firkus in a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Swift Current Broncos in Game 1. This marked Moose Jaw’s first loss of the 2024 postseason.
The Warriors came roaring back in Game 2, thanks to a historic performance by their Captain. With the Broncos leading 1-0 in the first period, Mateychuk made a quick play to spring his teammates for a two-on-one shorthanded opportunity, which was promptly buried by Brayden Yager. He’d add another secondary assist with the Warriors on the man advantage in the second frame, cycling the puck to Jager for his second of the night. 40 seconds later, Mateychuk hopped off the Warriors’ bench and flew into the offensive zone to wire the puck past the Broncos netminder to make it 3-1 for the home team. The 5-foot-11, 191-pound blueliner added another trio of assists- including the primary helper on Yager’s hat trick goal- to cap off a monster one-goal, five-assist night.
Mateychuk was one point away from tying the WHL record for points in a single playoff game by a defenceman.
The Dominion City, Man. Product has three goals and 11 assists in six playoff games to lead all WHL skaters with 14 points and a +9 rating. He’s registered at least one point in every postseason match this spring, including three multipoint games.
The Warriors will now try to seize their first lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinal showdown as the series shifts east to Swift Current.
Game 3 is set for Tuesday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m. ST.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
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
COUGARS NETMINDER RAVENSBERGEN NAMED GIUSEPPE WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. – Prince George Cougars netminder Joshua Ravensbergen has been named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending April 14, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the third time the 17-year-old has won the award, in addition to a Kal Tire Rookie of the Week win in December and WHL Goaltender of the Month honours for November.
Ravensbergen led all WHL goaltenders with a perfect 2-0-0-0 record and two shutouts, stopping all 37 shots he faced in Prince George’s second-round series against the Kelowna Rockets.
The rookie netminder got the start on April 12 in Game 1 against the Rockets. With Prince George leading 1-0 in the second frame, Ravensbergen made a sharp stop on Ethan Neutens as the Kelowna forward hacked away at the puck in the crease. His finest moment came at the end of the second period as the Rockets furiously pushed up to the buzzer on a powerplay. The Cougars would seize a 4-0 win in Game 1, with Ravenbergen’s clean sheet marking Prince George’s first playoff shutout since Scott Bowles made 39 saves in a 2-0 win over Vancouver on March 25, 2006. Ravensbergen was named first star of the night.
The following night, Ravensbergen stayed sharp with a cross-crease stop on top Kelowna rookie Hiroki Gojsic and a toe save to deny Dylan Wightman early in the game. The North Vancouver, B.C. product turned aside all 16 shots he faced in a 5-0 win, posting the first-ever back-to-back playoff shutouts for Prince George.
Ravensbergen is 5-0-0-0 in the 2024 WHL Playoffs with a 1.40 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage and two shutouts.
He leads all starting netminders in all three major statistical categories.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound netminder is coming off a stellar regular-season campaign that saw him post a 26-4-1-1- record, a 2.64 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. He also led all WHL netminders with six shutouts, tying the league record for most shutouts by a rookie.
The Cougars and Rockets take their battle to Prospera Place in Kelowna for a Game 3 showdown on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:05 p.m. PST.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
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 NETMINDER GARDNER NAMED KAL TIRE WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. – Saskatoon Blades netminder Evan Gardner has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending April 14, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the third time the 18-year-old has been named Rookie of the Week, in addition to a Giuseppe Goaltender of the Week win and WHL Goaltender of the Month recognition in March.
Gardner led the regular-season champion Blades to a 2-0-0-0 record this week with a .88 goals-against average and .952 save percentage.
The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder earned the start in Game 1 of Saskatoon’s Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the Red Deer Rebels. Gardner got off to a hot start, going post-to-post to kick out his right pad to deny Mats Lindgren. He would go on to stop 16 of 17 shots and two Red Deer powerplay opportunities in a 4-1 Blades victory. Gardner was named third star of the game.
Sunday set the stage for a bona fide goaltender battle with Gardner and Red Deer’s Chase Wutzke fiercely defending their nets. Gardner would turn aside 24 shots- including five golden opportunities for the Rebels in overtime- before Ben Saunderson netted the game-winner to give Saskatoon a 2-1 win and a 2-0 series lead. The Fort St. John, B.C. product would earn third star yet again.
Gardner is undefeated in the 2024 WHL Playoffs, posting a 6-0-0-0 record, a 1.42 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.
The 6-foot-2, 174-pound netminder is ranked 16th among North American goalies in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings ahead of June’s NHL Draft.
The Blades will try to take a commanding 3-0 series lead when they travel to Red Deer for Game 3 on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m. MST.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
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
