Winterhawks captain Klassen named Tempo WHL Player of the Week

Calgary, Alta. –  The Western Hockey League announced today Gabe Klassen of the Portland Winterhawks has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 12, 2023.

Klassen, who serves as captain of the Winterhawks, recorded nine points (4G-5A) and a plus-7 rating in two games as the Winterhawks went 2-0-0-0 this past week.

The 5-foot-10, 178-pound centre from Prince Albert, Sask., started the week with a five-point (2G-3A) performance Wednesday, November 8 as the Winterhawks defeated the Kamloops Blazers by a 7-3 score at the Sandman Centre.

Klassen’s first goal of the game came 13:43 into the second period, giving the Winterhawks a commanding 4-1 lead. That goal went on to stand as the game-winning tally. Klassen added his second goal of the game 3:42 into the third period, putting Portland in front 5-1. He chipped in with two primary assists on third-period goals by Josh Davies and Luke Schelter, with a secondary assist coming on a first-period power-play goal from Luca Cagnoni. Klassen also went 15-for-24 (62.5 per cent) in the faceoff circle was named Second Star of the game.

The 20-year-old veteran wrapped up his week with a four-point (2G-2A) effort Friday, November 10 as the Winterhawks secured a 5-1 win over the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Events Centre.

Klassen opened the scoring 11:21 into the first period, recording a power-play goal. He scored his second goal of the game late in the second period and added two primary assists on a pair of shorthanded goals by James Stefan – one in the first period and the other in the third period. Klassen went 13-for-22 (59.1 per cent) in the faceoff circle and was named First Star of the game.

Through 17 games, Klassen has collected 31 points (12G-19A), which is tied for third in the WHL in scoring. His plus-16 rating is fourth best in the WHL.

Klassen is riding a three-game point streak, having notched 11 points (4G-7A) since Saturday, November 4 at Lethbridge. In 17 outings, he has produced nine multi-point performances, including six games with three points or more.

The Winterhawks have collected points in five consecutive outings (4-0-0-1), dating back to Wednesday, November 1 and a 6-3 win at Medicine Hat. With a record of 12-4-0-1 (25 points), Portland sits first in the WHL’s U.S. Division and second in the WHL’s Western Conference.

Originally selected by the Portland Winterhawks in the first round (19th overall) of the 2018 WHL Draft, Klassen has scored 190 points (95G-95A) in 198 career WHL Regular Season games. He was named to the WHL’s U.S. Division First All-Star Team in 2022-23, following a career-best season that saw him register 69 points (35G-34A) in 64 games.

Following a nine-game road trip, Gabe Klassen and the Winterhawks return to Portland for a three-game homestand, beginning Friday, November 17 (7 p.m. PT) when they host the Prince Albert Raiders.

2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
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

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.