Cougars netminder Ravensbergen named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – Prince George Cougars netminder Joshua Ravensbergen has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending April 28, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
Ravensbergen has been recognized as the league’s top rookie twice, in addition to three Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week wins and Goaltender of the Month honours for November.
The 17-year-old went 1-1-0-0 in the first two matches of the WHL Western Conference Championship, leading all WHL netminders with a 2.05 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage and one shutout.
Facing the formidable Portland Winterhawks, Ravensbergen turned in one of his most stunning performances of the 2024 WHL Playoffs in Game 1. The West Vancouver, B.C. product set the tone for the night with a sensational pair of pad saves in close on Winterhawks Captain Gabe Klassen early in the first period. Ravensbergen would steer aside 33 saves- the most he’s faced in the postseason- to preserve a 5-0 shutout and dish Portland its first loss of the playoffs. He was named first star of the night.
Game 2 proved even busier as Ravensbergen was peppered with 15 shots in the opening frame, registering highlight-reel saves on Detroit Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson and Edmonton Oilers prospect James Stefan. The Winterhawks would break through and level the series with a 5-3 win over Prince George, with Ravensbergen saving 33 of 37 shots faced. The series is tied 1-1.
Ravensbergen is 8-1-0-0 in the postseason. His .934 save percentage and three shutouts lead all starting netminders in the playoffs, while his 1.89 goals-against average ranks second.
In Round Two, he became the first Cougars netminder to record back-to-back postseason shutouts with clean sheets against Kelowna in Games 1 and 2.
The Western Conference Championship now shifts south of the border for Games 3-5.
Game 3 is set for Monday, April 29 at Portland’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 7:00 p.m. PST.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
April 22, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
April 15, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
April 9, 2024: Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels
April 1, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
March 25, 2024: Reese Hamilton, Calgary Hitmen
March 18, 2024: Dimitri Fortin, Moose Jaw Warriors
March 11, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
March 4, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
February 26, 2024: Cameron Schmidt, Vancouver Giants
February 20, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
February 12, 2024: Hunter Laing, Prince George Cougars
February 5, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
January 29, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 22, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 15, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips
January 8, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips
January 2, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
December 18, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
December 11, 2023: Max Curran, Tri-City Americans
December 4, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
November 27, 2023: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 20, 2023: Dakota MacIntosh, Moose Jaw Warriors
November 13, 2023: Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen
November 6, 2023: Ethan McCallum, Medicine Hat Tigers
October 30, 2023: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips (NHL CSS: C)
October 23, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 16, 2023: Ty Coupland, Swift Current Broncos
October 10, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 2, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
September 25, 2023: Oscar Lovsin, Wenatchee Wild
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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