Blades forward Williams named WHL Rookie of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – Saskatoon Blades forward Cooper Williams has been named WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, March 16, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the second time the 17-year-old has snagged the weekly award.
Williams led all first-year WHL players with three goals and four assists for seven points and a +6 rating in four games.
The 6-foot, 150-pound centreman kicked off the week with the game-opening goal and an assist in a 6-3 win against the Regina Pats. Late in the first period, Williams screened the Pats goaltender during a Grayden Siepmann point shot and deftly swept the rebound into the net to open the scoring. With the Blades leading 4-1 in the middle frame, Williams added some insurance with a primary assist on 2025 NHL Draft-eligible David Lewandowski’s 11th goal of the season. Williams was named first star of the night in the win.
The youngster was held off the scoresheet in a 5-2 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings but bounced back in a big way with points on all three goals in a 3-0 shutout of the Swift Current Broncos. Williams picked up the secondary assist on 2025 Draft-eligible Jack Kachkowski’s game-opening goal on a quick passing play on the rush. He snagged another apple with a feed to Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Laing in the slot on a third-period powerplay. Williams capped off the win with an empty netter for his 19th goal of the season.
The rookie enjoyed another multipoint outing as the Blades posted back-to-back shutouts with a 4-0 victory against Regina on March 16. Williams’ long pass from the corner found the stick of a wide-open Lewandowski in the slot for the game-winning goal midway through the first period. In the third, Williams came flying into the offensive zone to scoop up a loose puck and whip it past Ewan Huet to make it 2-0. Williams picked up first star for the second time this week in the win.
Williams has 20 goals and 35 assists for 55 points in 65 games.
He sits second in points on the Blades and is third among all WHL rookies. Nationally, Williams is fifth among all Canadian Hockey League rookies in points.
Saskatoon selected the Calgary, Alta. product with the 41st overall pick in the second round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.
Williams is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.
The Blades (36-22-3-4, 79 points) are in a three-way race with the Brandon Wheat Kings (36-22-4-3, 79 points) and Prince Albert Raiders (36-23-5-1, 78 points) for the East Division lead and the second seed in the Eastern Conference ahead of the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.
Saskatoon and Brandon will square off at Westoba Place on Wednesday, March 19. The Blades will finish off their regular-season schedule with a home-and-away set against the Raiders on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22.
2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Week
September 23, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
September 30, 2024: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
October 7, 2024: Cooper Williams, Saskatoon Blades
October 15, 2024: Josh Banini, Moose Jaw Warriors
October 21, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
October 28, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 4, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
November 11, 2024: Ondrej Stebetak, Portland Winterhawks
November 18, 2024: Kason Kobelka, Calgary Hitmen
November 25, 2024: Jordan Duguay, Portland Winterhawks
December 2, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
December 9, 2024: Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 16, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
December 23, 2024: Parker Rondeau, Swift Current Broncos
December 30, 2024: Joe Iginla, Edmonton Oil Kings
January 6, 2025: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
January 13, 2025: Tommy Lafreniere, Kamloops Blazers
January 20, 2025: Ryan Lin, Vancouver Giants
January 27, 2025: Matej Pekar, Seattle Thunderbirds
February 3, 2025: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
February 10, 2025: Savin Virk, Tri-City Americans
February 18, 2025: Jordan Switzer, Medicine Hat Tigers
February 24, 2025: Daxon Rudolph, Prince Albert Raiders
March 3, 2025: Luke Vlooswyk, Red Deer Rebels
March 10, 2025: Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
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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