Gardner named WHL Goalie of the Month for November
Saskatoon, SK – Saskatoon Blades netminder Evan Gardner has been named Goaltender of the Month for November. The league announced November’s award winners on Tuesday.
The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect posted a 7-3-0-0 record with a 2.64 goals-against average (GAA) and a .912 save percentage (SV%) to help the Blue and Gold maintain their grip on first place in the Eastern Conference.
Gardner’s allowed two goals or less in five of ten appearances, highlighted by a 33-save effort in a 2-1 win over the Tri-City Americans on November 16. The 6-foot-1 goaltender also earned first star by turning aside 30 of 31 shots faced in a 4-1 victory against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on November 29. Gardner’s has been near unstoppable at SaskTel Centre, rocking a 23-0-1-0 record at home in his regular season career and 6-0-2 through his first postseason last spring.
The 18-year-old sports a 13-5-1-0 record in his sophomore season. His .916 SV% leads all qualified WHL goaltenders while his 2.55 GAA ranks second.
Saskatoon selected Gardner with the 53rd overall pick in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. The Fort St. John, BC product has a career record of 34-10-1-2 with a 2.17 GAA, a .922 SV%, and five shutouts while hitting the 50 games-played milestone.
GARDNER YOU DID NOT 🤯🤯🤯@BlueJacketsNHL pic.twitter.com/olfiemkb9X
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) December 1, 2024
Gardner, who lives with Type-1 diabetes, is also an advocate for diabetes awareness and is auctioning off a custom mask to raise money for Diabetes Camp for Kids in Saskatchewan.
He was snapped up by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 60thoverall pick in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Saskatoon (17-6-1-1) has wins in seven of its last 10 games to lead the East Division and Eastern Conference and has yet to lose in regulation on home ice.
The Blades’ sparkling 11-0-1-0 home record will be put to the test when they host the playoff rival Red Deer Rebels (12-10-1-2) on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. ST.
The game will be streamed for free on the WHL’s YouTube channel and on WHL Live as part of the Wednesday Night in the Dub series.
