Americans netminder Wendt becomes 11th goaltender in WHL history to score

Kennewick, Wash. – Xavier Wendt of the Tri-City Americans became the 11th goaltender in WHL history to score a goal, when he found the back of the net against the Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday, December 3.

The 17-year-old Wendt, who hails from Plymouth, Minn., fired the puck the length of the ice from in behind his own cage, hitting an empty net at the other end with only 60 seconds remaining in regulation. Not only did Wendt put the puck in the net on Wednesday, but he also kept it out of his own, recording 23 saves to blank the Broncos and backstop the Americans to a 4-0 victory.

XAVIER WENDT GOALIE GOAL!!!!!!!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯@TCAmericans pic.twitter.com/9pG0SezPBH

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 4, 2025

The goal and the shutout both represent WHL firsts for Wendt. Given the sequence of events, the puckstopper actually recorded his first WHL goal prior to registering his first WHL shutout.

The 6-foot-1, 179-pound goaltender is already on the radar for the 2026 NHL Draft, identified by NHL Central Scouting with a ‘W’ rating in its Preliminary Players to Watch List from October 20. Players identified with a ‘W’ rating are projected to be sixth- or seventh-round selections in the NHL Draft.

Wendt became the first WHL goaltender to register a goal since Spokane Chiefs netminder Dawson Cowan accomplished the feat on November 26, 2023, in a 5-2 win over the Portland Winterhawks. Cowan’s goal was a bit more unconventional, as he didn’t shoot the puck.

Wendt is the second Americans goaltender to score, following in the footsteps of Olaf Kolzig, who was the first WHL netminder to tickle twine. Kolzig’s tally came back on November 29, 1989, against the Seattle Thunderbirds. Today, Kolzig remains involved with the Ams as a minority owner.

Of the 11 goalie goals scored in WHL history, the Ams have been involved in 27 per cent of them – two goals for (Kolzig, Wendt) and one goal against. Former Prince Albert Raiders goaltender Ian Scott registered a goalie goal against the Americans on November 16, 2018.

A WHL rookie, Wendt has been steady for the Ams this season, going 9-5-0-0 with a 2.39 goals-against average, .928 save percentage, and one shutout in 15 appearances.

The Americans signed Wendt to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement on May 21, 2025. He joined the Club following three years at Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep School.

WHL Goaltenders to Score a Goal

Olaf Kolzig, Tri-City Americans – November 29, 1989 (vs Seattle)
Chris Osgood, Medicine Hat Tigers – January 3, 1991 (vs Swift Current)
Jeff Calvert, Tacoma Rockets – December 29, 1992 (vs Moose Jaw)
Jason Clague, Red Deer Rebels – March 28, 1994 (vs Lethbridge)
Jordan McLaughlin, Prince George Cougars – March 5, 2004 (vs Vancouver)
Chris Driedger, Calgary Hitmen – February 1, 2014 (vs Kootenay)
Stuart Skinner, Lethbridge Hurricanes – March 18, 2016 (vs Medicine Hat)
Ian Scott, Prince Albert Raiders – November 16, 2018 (vs Tri-City)
Lukas Parik, Spokane Chiefs – March 10, 2020 (vs Kamloops)
Dawson Cowan, Spokane Chiefs – November 26, 2023 (vs Portland)