2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder Wutzke named WHL Goaltender of the Week for a second-straight week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Red Deer Rebels rookie Chase Wutzke has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending January 21, 2024.
It’s the second week in a row the 2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder has earned the honour and the third time this season.
Wutzke went 3-0-0-0 on the week, registering a 2.00 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.
The Rebels’ week started with the daunting task of hosting the league-leading Saskatoon Blades. With Red Deer leading 5-4, Wutzke sealed off the Red Deer crease from a furious storm of shots from the high-powered Saskatoon offence. Alexander Suzdalev came within inches of finding the game-tying goal with a wrist shot from below the faceoff dot, but Wutzke stretched out to tip the puck off his glove and reign it in with his sprawling right leg. Wutzke’s 31-save performance sealed the win for Red Deer and snapped Saskatoon’s remarkable 18-game point streak.
🎥SAVE OF THE NIGHT🎥
Wutzke in the wild. @RealCdnSS | @Rebelshockey | #NHLDraft | #SaveoftheNight pic.twitter.com/LHPEIEUqgV
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 18, 2024
The 17-year-old Debden, Sask. product is heating up in his first WHL season, posting a 13-2-1-2 record to go along with a 2.16 goals-against average and .925 save percentage.
The challenges kept on coming as Wutzke was called upon two nights later to backstop the Rebels against the Medicine Hat Tigers- the highest-scoring team in the WHL. Despite being outshot once again, Wutzke stopped 30 of 31 shots to seal a 3-1 victory over the division rivals and earn third-star.
One night later, Wutzke was back in the net to kick off a three-game homestand against the Prince Albert Raiders. The netminder gave the fans at Peavey Mart Centrium a reason to cheer when he denied Brayden Dube on a slick shot in the slot. This time, Wutzke was called to the ice as the first star with a 26-save effort.
Wutzke has now won six straight matches for the streaking Rebels.
NHL Central Scouting has ranked Wutzke 13th among North American goalies in its midterm draft rankings. The 6-foot-2 netminder was originally selected by Red Deer in the second round, 40th overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
The Rebels sit four points behind the Central Division-leading Medicine Hat Tigers with two games in hand. Red Deer is on a seven-game winning streak with an 8-0-1-1 record in its past ten outings.
Red Deer (25-13-1-4) continues its three-game homestand with matches against the Edmonton Oil Kings (15-25-1-1) on January 26 and the Brandon Wheat Kings (22-16-4-1) on January 27.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
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.
-30-
Loading ...