Ducks prospect Sidorov earns back-to-back Tempo WHL Player of the Week titles
Calgary, Alta. – Saskatoon Blades winger Igor Sidorov has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 28, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This marks the second straight week the Anaheim Ducks prospect has earned the award, in addition to a third win in February.
Sidorov leads all WHL skaters with two goals and two assists for four points in the first two matches of the WHL Conference Championships.
The Blades star continued his hot streak in Game 1 against the Moose Jaw Warriors with a two-goal effort. The Belarusian winger gave Saskatoon a 2-0 lead with a deceptive shot through traffic from the point. Moose Jaw would storm back to take a 3-2 lead in the dying minutes of the third period. But with netminder Evan Gardner pulled for the extra attack, Sidorov came through with a lethal one-timer from the hash marks to force overtime. Moose Jaw’s Brayden Yager would tally the overtime winner, but Sidorov was recognized as the second star of the night.
Saskatoon would need to play catchup once again in Game 2 on April 27. With the Warriors up 2-0, Sidorov and Captain Trevor Wong cycled the puck on the powerplay to tee up Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk, who wristed the puck past Jackson Unger to cut the Saskatoon deficit in half. Sidorov got the crowd of more than 9,300 on their feet once more by stealing the puck in the Warriors’ zone and going between the legs for a strong chance on net. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Brandon Lisowsky was on the doorstep to bury the rebound and tie the game. Another Leafs prospect, Fraser Minten, completed the comeback with the overtime winner to tie the series.
Sidorov is third in the postseason points race with 18 and leads all WHLers with 12 goals, highlighted by back-to-back hat tricks against Red Deer in the second round. He also has the most game-winning goals of the postseason with three and has 12 points in his last four contests.
The regular season-champion Blades now look to take their first lead in the Eastern Conference Championship as the series moves to Moose Jaw.
Game 3 is set for Tuesday, April 20 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre at 7:00 p.m. ST.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
April 22, 2024: Egor Sidorov, Saskatoon Blades (Anaheim Ducks)
April 15, 2024: Denton Mateychuk, Moose Jaw Warriors (Columbus Blue Jackets)
April 9, 2024: Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets
April 1, 2024: Briley Wood, Wenatchee Wild
March 25, 2024: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
March 18, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
March 11, 2024: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
March 4, 2024: Jordan Keller, Kamloops Blazers
February 26, 2024: Riley Heidt, Prince George Cougars (Minnesota Wild)
February 20, 2024: Graham Sward, Wenatchee Wild (Nashville Predators)
February 12, 2024: Emmitt Finnie, Kamloops Blazers (Detroit Red Wings)
February 5, 2024: Egor Sidorov, Saskatoon Blades (Anaheim Ducks)
January 29, 2024: Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary Hitmen
January 22, 2024: Luca Cagnoni, Portland Winterhawks (San Jose Sharks)
January 15, 2024: Matthew Savoie, Moose Jaw Warriors (Buffalo Sabres)
January 8, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 2, 2024: Chase Bertholet, Spokane Chiefs
December 18, 2023: Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets
December 11, 2023: Dominik Rymon, Everett Silvertips
December 4, 2023: Conor Geekie, Wenatchee Wild (Arizona Coyotes)
November 27, 2023: Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 20, 2023: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (Los Angeles Kings)
November 13, 2023: Gabe Klassen, Portland Winterhawks
November 6, 2023: Trevor Wong, Saskatoon Blades
October 30, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
October 23, 2023: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
October 16, 2023: Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert Raiders
October 10, 2023: Easton Armstrong, Wenatchee Wild
October 2, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
September 25, 2023: Zac Funk, Prince George Cougars
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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