CHL Players of the Week: March 11-17
Each week throughout the regular season, the CHL will recognize the OHL, QMJHL and WHL’s top players as chosen by the leagues:
OHL
In three games last week, London’s Ruslan Gazizov found the back of the net on six occasions and added three assists. In a 5-1 win over Erie on March 13 he tallied two assists before he exploded for four goals two days later in a 6-3 win over the Soo. He rounded out the week with a three-point (2G, 1A) effort in a 7-4 road win against Windsor. Gazizov’s 36 goals this year leads all Knights skaters while he sits third in scoring with 79 points.
Producing a league-leading nine points over three games for the first place @LondonKnights, Ruslan Gazizov is the @cogeco #OHL Player of the Week.#OHLPOTW 📰: https://t.co/SbpjdvbOgW pic.twitter.com/XZypnP559w
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 18, 2024
In goal, Niagara’s Charlie Robertson stopped 70 shots across two starts. He made 40 saves March 15 in a 3-2 loss to Mississauga but on March 17 made all 30 saves in a 3-0 victory over Barrie for his fourth OHL shutout. Acquired from North Bay at the OHL trade deadline, Robertson is 8-11-5 in 30 appearances between the Battalion and Ice Dogs.
Turning aside 70 shots over two outings, Charlie Robertson of the @OHLIceDogs is the #OHL Goaltender of the Week.#OHLGOTW 📰: https://t.co/e9XGkVmWeQ pic.twitter.com/eZEVQtWKv2
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 18, 2024
QMJHL
In two games last week, Chicoutimi’s Thomas Desruisseaux scored four times and recorded seven points in a pair of wins. On March 13, the 2024 NHL Draft prospect had his first QMJHL hat-trick in a 7-2 road win versus Rimouski. Two days later against Quebec, Desruisseaux matched his career high with four points (1G, 3A) in a wild 7-6 victory. Listed as the 87th ranked skater in NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings, Desruisseaux has a career high 16 goals and 59 points this year.
The sophomore finished the week with four goals and three helpers to help the Sags earn two big wins! ✌️#VideotronPOTW | @SagueneensLHJMQ
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) March 18, 2024
Cape Breton goaltender Nicolas Ruccia was named to the QMJHL’s Team of the Week after he won a pair of road starts against Moncton. Ruccia made 33 saves March 13 in a 4-1 win while on March 17 he stopped 27 shots in a 3-1 victory. Ruccia is 20-15-2 with a .910 save percentage and 2.57 GAA this year while he also has six shutouts.
WHL
Across four road games last week, Prince George’s Terik Parascak recorded four multi-point showings. He had a goal and an assist March 13 in a 6-5 overtime win against Kelowna and followed that up with a two-goal outing on March 15 against Victoria in a 6-1 victory. A day later, he had three points (2G, 1A) in a 10-4 decision over the Royals and then concluded his week with a two-goal, two-assist performance in a 6-3 victory versus Vancouver that also pushed him past the 100-point mark. The 2024 NHL Draft prospect is eighth in WHL scoring with 103 points and was ranked 14th among North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings.
The Super Rookie ➡️ The Super Player of the Week
Terik Parascak takes home the Tempo #WHL Player of the Week with four multi-point games.@PGCougars | #NHLDraft
Click to read ⬇️
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 18, 2024
Vancouver’s Brett Mirwald recorded three wins in three starts last week. He made 24 saves March 12 in a 5-1 win against Tri-City and then on March 15 stopped 33 shots in a 3-1 victory over Kamloops. He concluded his week with a 30-save performance in a 9-2 road win versus the Blazers. Mirwald is 29-20-3 this season and sits tied second in wins among WHL goaltenders.
Three starts, three wins!@WHLGiants netminder Brett Mirwald collects his fifth @DrOetkerCAN Giuseppe #WHL Goaltender of the Week.
Click to read ⬇️
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 18, 2024
