2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder Špunar named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – Portland Winterhawks netminder Jan Špunar has been named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending April 21, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the second time the 19-year-old has won the award, in addition to a WHL Goaltender of the Month win in September/October.
Špunar led all WHL goaltenders with a 2-0-0-0 record, a 1.32 goals-against average, a .959 save percentage and a shutout this week to remain undefeated in the postseason.
The 6-foot-3, 199-pound netminder faced a barrage of shots in Game 3 against the Everett Silvertips on April 15. Despite going down 3-0 early in the second period, Špunar shut the door as the Winterhawks slowly clawed back to force overtime. The Winterhawks sophomore’s night was highlighted by a penalty shot save on Carter Bear with the game tied 3-3 in the third period. He stopped all eight shots he faced in the extra frame while Carter Sotheran netted the game-winner for Portland. Špunar steered aside 44 of 47 shots for his busiest game of the 2023-24 WHL season.
With the Winterhawks leading the series 3-0 and with a chance to punch their ticket to the next round, Špunar turned in his strongest performance of the postseason in Game 4. The Olomouc, Czechia product denied all 27 shots he faced for his first shutout of the WHL season to eliminate the Silvertips and earn first star of the game.
Špunar is 8-0-0-0 in the 2024 WHL Playoffs with a 1.94 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage and one shutout.
The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder is coming off a solid regular season that saw him post a 25-6-2-1 record, a 2.12 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage, earning a nomination for the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy for WHL Goaltender of the Year.
The U.S. Division champion Winterhawks head north to face the Prince George Cougars in the Western Conference Championship, beginning with Game 1 on Friday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. PST.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
April 15, 2024: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
April 9, 2024: Tyler Palmer, Everett Silvertips
April 1, 2024: Reid Dyck, Swift Current Broncos (Boston Bruins)
March 25, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
March 18, 2024: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants
March 11, 2024: Kolby Hay, Edmonton Oil Kings
March 4, 2024: Ethan Buenaventura, Calgary Hitmen
February 26, 2024: Reid Dyck, Swift Current Broncos (Boston Bruins)
February 20, 2024: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants
February 12, 2024: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants
February 5, 2024: Reid Dyck, Swift Current Broncos (Boston Bruins)
January 29, 2024: Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle Thunderbirds (Buffalo Sabres)
January 22, 2024: Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels
January 15, 2024: Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels
January 8, 2024: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants
January 2, 2024: Harrison Meneghin, Lethbridge Hurricanes
December 18, 2023: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants
December 11, 2023: Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels
December 4, 2023: Jackson Unger, Moose Jaw Warriors
November 27, 2023: Dawson Cowan, Spokane Chiefs
November 20, 2023: Rhett Stoesser, Red Deer Rebels
November 13, 2023: Evan May, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 6, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
October 30, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
October 23, 2023: Daniel Hauser, Wenatchee Wild
October 16, 2023: Jan Špunar, Portland Winterhawks
October 10, 2023: Kyle Kelsey, Red Deer Rebels
October 2, 2023: Ethan Chadwick, Everett Silvertips
September 25, 2023: Max Hildebrand, 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 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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