2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder Gardner named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – Saskatoon Blades netminder Evan Gardner has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending April 14, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the third time the 18-year-old has been named Rookie of the Week, in addition to a Giuseppe Goaltender of the Week win and WHL Goaltender of the Month recognition in March.
Gardner led the regular-season champion Blades to a 2-0-0-0 record this week with a .88 goals-against average and .952 save percentage.
The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder earned the start in Game 1 of Saskatoon’s Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the Red Deer Rebels. Gardner got off to a hot start, going post-to-post to kick out his right pad to deny Mats Lindgren. He would go on to stop 16 of 17 shots and two Red Deer powerplay opportunities in a 4-1 Blades victory. Gardner was named third star of the game.
Sunday set the stage for a bona fide goaltender battle with Gardner and Red Deer’s Chase Wutzke fiercely defending their nets. Gardner would turn aside 24 shots- including five golden opportunities for the Rebels in overtime- before Ben Saunderson netted the game-winner to give Saskatoon a 2-1 win and a 2-0 series lead. The Fort St. John, B.C. product would earn third star yet again.
Gardner is undefeated in the 2024 WHL Playoffs, posting a 6-0-0-0 record, a 1.42 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.
The 6-foot-2, 174-pound netminder is ranked 16th among North American goalies in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings ahead of June’s NHL Draft.
The Blades will try to take a commanding 3-0 series lead when they travel to Red Deer for Game 3 on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m. MST.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
April 9, 2024: Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels
April 1, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
March 25, 2024: Reese Hamilton, Calgary Hitmen
March 18, 2024: Dimitri Fortin, Moose Jaw Warriors
March 11, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
March 4, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
February 26, 2024: Cameron Schmidt, Vancouver Giants
February 20, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
February 12, 2024: Hunter Laing, Prince George Cougars
February 5, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
January 29, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 22, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 15, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips
January 8, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips
January 2, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
December 18, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
December 11, 2023: Max Curran, Tri-City Americans
December 4, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
November 27, 2023: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 20, 2023: Dakota MacIntosh, Moose Jaw Warriors
November 13, 2023: Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen
November 6, 2023: Ethan McCallum, Medicine Hat Tigers
October 30, 2023: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips (NHL CSS: C)
October 23, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 16, 2023: Ty Coupland, Swift Current Broncos
October 10, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 2, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
September 25, 2023: Oscar Lovsin, Wenatchee Wild
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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