NHL Draft-eligible forward Kindel named Tempo WHL Player of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – Calgary Hitmen forward Ben Kindel has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 20, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
The 2025 NHL Draft-eligible forward led all WHL skaters with three goals, five assists and a +2 rating as the Hitmen collected five of a possible six points on a three-game homestand.
Kindel kicked off his week with some pinpoint passing on a Calgary powerplay against the B.C. Division-leading Prince George Cougars on October 14. Ottawa Senators prospect Carter Yakemchuk finished off the play to give Calgary a 3-0 lead heading into the final frame. With the game entering blowout territory, Kindel dazzled with a shorthanded breakaway that he wristed to the top corner to cap off a 5-0 victory. The 17-year-old was named second star of the night with the one-goal, one-assist performance.
He kicked things up a notch in a stellar comeback effort against the Red Deer Rebels on October 16. With the Rebels leading 3-0 in the second, Kindel struck with two goals in five minutes- including a precision far-side shot on a two-on-one break. In the third, Kindel and Yakemchuk linked up again with Kindel faking a shot and passing to the defensive powerhouse for the one-timer and the game-tying goal. Red Deer would claim the second point in overtime, but Kindel picked up first star with two goals and an assist.
Kindel, from Coquitlam, B.C., continued his hot streak as the Hitmen dismantled the Central-Division-leading Lethbridge Hurricanes on October 19. Kindel and Yakemchuk perfectly recreated their powerplay goal against Red Deer to open the scoring and Kindel played helper with two more assists in the 6-1 win. To no one’s surprise, Kindel was named first star once again.
The 5-foot-1, 175-pound centreman has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in nine games. He’s tied with San Jose Sharks prospect Carson Wetsch for the team lead in goals and is second in points.
Originally selected by Calgary with the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Kindel is considered a top prospect ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
On the international stage, he recently helped Canada clinch gold with a goal and an assist in five games at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, Alta.
Calgary (4-4-1-0) gears up for its first meeting of the season against Gavin McKenna and the Tigers (5-5-0-0) on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat.
2024-25 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
September 23, 2024: Roger McQueen, Brandon Wheat Kings
September 30, 2024: Nathan Behm, Kamloops Blazers
October 7, 2024: Shea Van Olm, Spokane Chiefs
October 15, 2024: Mazden Leslie, Vancouver Giants
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
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