Giants netminder Mirwald earns back-to-back WHL Goaltender of the Week awards
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Vancouver Giants netminder Brett Mirwald has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 18, 2024.
It’s the fourth time Mirwald has earned the award this season.
The 20-year-old netminder posted a 2-0-0-0 record against Western Conference opponents, putting up a 1.00 goals-against average and .971 save percentage.
Mirwald allowed one lonely powerplay goal in a 5-1 victory against Victoria on February 14. The second-year Giants goalie turned aside 31 of 32 shots to earn third star of the night.
He was called on again for what might be the most significant game of the Giants’ season two nights later, as the Western Conference-leading Portland Winterhawks rolled into the Langley Events Centre with a chance to clinch a playoff berth. Mirwald was in top form, denying Winterhawks Captain Gabe Klassen on a breakaway in a hectic first period that saw Portland pepper Vancouver with 17 shots, but come away scoreless. Mirwald would end up stopping 37 of 38 shots in a dramatic 3-1 Giants win and be named first star for the seventh time this season.
GIANTS WIN!!! HUGE 2 POINTS 😋#GiantNewEra pic.twitter.com/F1x0ZxikP8
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) February 17, 2024
The win saw Vancouver extend its point streak to 10 games (9-0-1-0) to climb to third in the B.C. Division and within striking distance of second place.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound goaltender now sports a 24-17-2-0 record to continue his career-best season. Mirwald has trimmed his goals-against average to 3.07 and ratcheted up his save percentage to .915. He’s made the most saves of any WHL goalie this season (1389, as of February 18), while playing the second-most minutes (2524) and making more starts this season than the last three combined.
Mirwald also helped the Giants rip past the Spokane Chiefs on Monday, February 19, which does not count towards this weekly award.
Vancouver returns to the ice on February 23 to take on the Rockets (25-28-3-0) in Kelowna.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
February 12, 2024: Brett Mirwald, Vancouver Giants
February 5, 2024: Reid Dyck (Boston Bruins)
January 29, 2024: Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle Thunderbirds (Buffalo Sabres)
January 22, 2024: Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels
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.
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