2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder Unger named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – Moose Jaw Warriors netminder Jackson Unger has been named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending April 28, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the second time the 19-year-old has won the award.
Unger posted a 1-0-1-0 record, a 2.47 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage to open up the WHL Eastern Conference Championship, presented by Nutrien.
The 6-foot-1, 188-pound goaltender steered aside 28 of 31 shots in Game 1 of the series against the regular-season champion Saskatoon Blades, holding the Blades scoreless on the powerplay and denying all three shots he faced in the extra frame. Moose Jaw star and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Brayden Yager netted the overtime winner as the Warriors seized a 4-3 win and 1-0 series lead.
In Game 2, Unger turned in another solid performance, denying 34 of 37 shots and allowing one goal on four Blades powerplay opportunities. His finest save came in the third period as Egor Sidorov flew down the right wing and cut to the net, with Unger staying in position to make a pad stop in tight. The match required overtime for a second straight night, where Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten solved Unger to level the series, 1-1.
Unger is 9-1-1-0 in the 2024 WHL Playoffs with a 3.11 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
He’s the busiest netminder remaining in the 2024 WHL Playoffs, stopping 333 shots in 11 games for an average of 30 saves per match.
Unger is the East Division nominee for the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the WHL Goaltender of the Year. He made a career-high 54 appearances in the 2023-24 regular season, leading all netminders with 35 wins and putting together a 3.08 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage and three shutouts.
The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder is ranked 27th among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting in the agency’s final rankings ahead of June’s draft.
The WHL Eastern Conference Championship now shifts south to Moose Jaw.
Puck drops on Game 3 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. ST.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
April 22, 2024: Jan Špunar, Portland Winterhawks
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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