Giants netminder Hood named WHL Goaltender of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – Vancouver Giants netminder Burke Hood has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending Sunday, January 5, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

The rookie led all starting goalies with a 3-0-0-0 record, a 1.10 goals-against average, a .965 save percentage and back-to-back shutout victories.

The 6-foot-3, 193-pound netminder kicked off his week with a relief appearance in a 5-2 loss to the Victoria Royals in Wednesday Night in the Dub action. Burke entered the match at the beginning of the second period and allowed just one goal on 25 shots, including four Royals powerplay attempts.

On Friday, January 3, Hood got the nod against the upstart Wenatchee Wild. With the game deadlocked at zero heading into the third period, the 17-year-old continued to make clutch saves- including one on a partial breakaway by Wenatchee’s Luka Shcherbyna. Hood turned aside all 27 shots he faced, including four Wild powerplays, for a 3-0 win and his first WHL shutout. He was named first star of the game.

The following night, Hood got much more offensive support- and faced a lot more rubber. Hood was named first star again with a monster 44-save shutout of the Kelowna Rockets in a 7-0 decision. His finest moment came in a pair of second-period kicking pad saves on defenceman Nate Corbet and a third-period breakaway stop on Kayden Longley. The blowout saw the Giants win their first game in Kelowna since January 21, 2023, snapping a nine-game losing streak at Prospera Place.

Burke Hood: 🙅@TheWHL pic.twitter.com/4FfvnFGTxV

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) January 5, 2025

Hood’s shutout streak stands at an impressive 149:48.

He’s the first Giants netminder to post back-to-back clean sheets since Colorado Avalanche prospect Trent Miner in the 2021 bubble season.

Hood is 8-5-3-0 in his first WHL season with a 3.51 goals-against average, a .895 save percentage and two shutouts. He’s undefeated in his three starts following the WHL’s holiday break.

The Brandon, Man. Native was drafted by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

Vancouver (19-14-4-0) has now won two straight games and seven of their last 10 to sit third in the B.C. Division.

The G-men will head north to face the B.C.-leading Prince George Cougars (22-10-3-2) for a two-game set at the CN Centre starting on Tuesday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m. PST.

 

2024-25 WHL Goaltender of the Week
September 23, 2024: Koen Cleaver, Lethbridge Hurricanes
September 30, 2024: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings
October 7, 2024: Spencer Michnik, Victoria Royals
October 15, 2024: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
October 21, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades (Columbus Blue Jackets)
October 28, 2024: Jesse Sanche, Everett Silvertips
November 4, 2024: Carson Bjarnason, Brandon Wheat Kings (Philadelphia Flyers)
November 11, 2024: Nathan Preston, Tri-City Americans
November 18, 2024: Dawson Cowan, Spokane Chiefs
November 25, 2024: Alex Worthington, Edmonton Oil Kings
December 2, 2024: Anders Miller, Calgary Hitmen
December 9, 2024: Raiden LeGall, Everett Silvertips
December 16, 2024: Jackson Unger, Lethbridge Hurricanes
December 23, 2024: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
December 30, 2024: Joshua Ravensbergen, 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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