Rockets netminder Banini named Mary Brown’s Chicken WHL Goaltender of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Kelowna Rockets netminder Josh Banini has been named Mary Brown’s Chicken WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending Sunday, April 19.

Banini, a 20-year-old product of Edmonton, Alta., went 1-0-0-1 with a 1.12 goals-against average and .976 save percentage this past week.

The 6-foot-2, 193-pound puckstopper made his first appearance of the 2026 WHL Playoffs during Game 4 of the Rockets second-round series with the Everett Silvertips, entering in relief on Wednesday, April 15. With the Rockets trailing the series 3-0 and having fallen behind 3-0 in the first period of Game 4, Banini took to the blue paint looking to keep his squad’s hopes alive. He did just that, turning in a spectacular performance, making 29 saves on 29 shots to backstop the Rockets to a 4-3 overtime victory. Thanks to Banini’s efforts, the Rockets registered three third-period goals to force overtime, before Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla scored the game winner 2:30 into the extra period. Banini was named first star of the game for his outstanding performance.

Game 5 back in Everett gave Banini the opportunity to make his first start of the 2026 WHL Playoffs and he was excellent once again, making 53 saves on 55 shots. Unfortunately for the 2026 Memorial Cup hosts, it wasn’t enough to extend their WHL Playoff run as Everett scored a 2-1 overtime triumph to advance to the WHL Western Conference Championship presented by Nutrien. Banini was recognized with third-star honours for his impressive night.

For Banini and the Rockets, their season doesn’t end. They will begin preparations for the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota, which gets underway from Prospera Place in Kelowna starting Friday, May 22.

In his first season with the Rockets, Banini went 12-11-2-2 with a 3.35 GAA and .890 SV% in 29 regular season outings. Kelowna added the veteran netminder via trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors, sending a pair of conditional draft picks to Moose Jaw on September 17.

Originally selected by the Warriors in the eighth round (160th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Banini owns a career record of 15-28-2-3 with a 3.68 GAA and .894 SV%.

Mary Brown’s Chicken WHL Goaltender of the Week

September 22, 2025: Ethan Eskit, Victoria Royals
September 29, 2025: Logan Edmonstone, Kamloops Blazers
October 6, 2025: Parker Snell, Edmonton Oil Kings
October 14, 2025: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
October 20, 2025: Burke Hood, Vancouver Giants
October 27, 2025: Andrew Reyelts, Penticton Vees
November 3, 2025: Eric Tu, Calgary Hitmen
November 10, 2025: Michal Orsulak, Prince Albert Raiders
November 17, 2025: Anders Miller, Everett Silvertips
November 24, 2025: Harrison Boettiger, Kelowna Rockets
December 1, 2025: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
December 8, 2025: Matthew Hutchison, Regina Pats
December 15, 2025: Eric Tu, Calgary Hitmen
December 22, 2025: Marek Sklenicka, Seattle Thunderbirds
December 29, 2025: Filip Ruzicka, Brandon Wheat Kings
January 5, 2026: Xavier Wendt, Tri-City Americans
January 12, 2026: Ethan Eskit, Victoria Royals
January 19, 2026: Carter Esler, Spokane Chiefs
January 26, 2026: Ethan McCallum, Penticton Vees
February 2, 2026: Jayden Kraus, Brandon Wheat Kings
February 9, 2026: Logan Edmonstone, Kamloops Blazers
February 16, 2026: Grayson Malinoski, Seattle Thunderbirds
February 23, 2026: Filip Ruzicka, Brandon Wheat Kings
March 2, 2026: Parker Snell, Edmonton Oil Kings
March 9, 2026: Andrew Reyelts, Penticton Vees
March 16, 2026: Harrison Boettiger, Kelowna Rockets
March 23, 2026: Ethan McCallum, Penticton Vees
March 30, 2026: Harrison Boettiger, Kelowna Rockets
April 6, 2026: Eric Tu, Calgary Hitmen
April 13, 2026: Michal Orsulak, Prince Albert Raiders

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 consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 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 over 50 years. The WHL is also the 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.