Blue Jackets prospect Gardner named WHL Goaltender of the Month
Calgary, Alta.— Saskatoon Blades netminder Evan Gardner has been named WHL Goaltender of the Month for November, the Western Hockey League announced Tuesday.
The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect posted a 7-3-0-0 record with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage to help the Blades maintain their grip on first place in the Eastern Conference.
Gardner has allowed two goals or less in five of 10 appearances, highlighted by a 33-save effort in a 2-1 win over the red-hot Tri-City Americans on November 16. The 6-foot-1, 177-pound goaltender also earned first star by turning aside 30 of 31 shots faced in a 4-1 victory against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on November 29.
The 18-year-old sports an impressive 13-5-1-0 record in his sophomore season. His .916 save percentage leads all qualified WHL goaltenders while his 2.55 goals-against average ranks second.
Saskatoon selected Gardner with the 53rd overall pick in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. He’s amassed a career record of 34-10-1-2 with a 2.17 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage and five shutouts while hitting the 50 games-played milestone.
The Fort St. John, B.C. product also shined in his first trip to the WHL Playoffs, going 10-1-3 with a 2.33 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage and one shutout as the Blades reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Championship.
Gardner, who lives with Type-1 diabetes, is also an advocate for diabetes awareness and is auctioning off a custom mask to raise money for Diabetes Camp for Kids in Saskatchewan.
He was snapped up by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 60th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Saskatoon (17-6-1-1) has wins in seven of its last 10 games to lead the East Division and Eastern Conference and has yet to lose in regulation on home ice.
The Blades’ sparkling 11-0-1-0 home record will be put to the test when they host the playoff rival Red Deer Rebels (12-10-1-2) on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. ST.
The game will be streamed for free on the WHL’s YouTube channel and on WHL Live as part of the Wednesday Night in the Dub series.
2024-25 WHL Goaltender of the Month
September/October: Jesse Sanche, Everett Silvertips
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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