Gardner named WHL Rookie of the Week
Saskatoon, SK – Saskatoon Blades netminder Evan Gardner has been named WHL Rookie of the Week for his performance between Jan. 29th and Feb. 4th. The league announced Gardner as the winner Monday afternoon.
Pushing his undefeated streak at home to nine, Evan Gardner earns his first @KalTire #WHL Rookie of the Week!@BladesHockey | #NHLDraft
Click to read ⬇️
— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 5, 2024
The NHL draft-eligible goalie went 2-0-0-0 on the week at SaskTel Centre, posting a 1.00 goals-against-average and .969 save-percentage.
Gardner turned aside 30-of-31 shots in the team’s 9-1 victory over the Regina Pats on Wednesday, January 31st. The Fort St. John, BC native was sharp early stopping 15 shots in the first period.
The 6-foot-2 netminder was named first star Sunday in a 3-1 win against the Brandon Wheat Kings, stopping a career-high 33 shots to extend the Blades’ home win streak to ten games.
The 18-year-old sports a 14-5-0-2 record with a 2.03 goals-against-average and a .927 save-percentage, both second in the WHL.
The Blades boast the best home record in the CHL at 21-1-1-0. Saskatoon is first in the WHL with 77 points, six points up on the second-place Portland Winterhawks.
Ranked first in the latest CHL Top 10 rankings, the Blades finish off their season-high seven-game home-stand this week with a game Tuesday, February 5th against the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday, February 9th. The Blue and Gold head to Swift Current on Saturday, February 10th for a tilt against the Broncos.
Puck drop for all three games is 7:00pm CT.
