Giants netminder Mirwald named WHL Goaltender of the Week
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 11, 2024.
It’s the third time the 20-year-old puckstopper has snagged the honour this season.
Mirwald went 2-0-0-0 in back-to-back showdowns against Seattle and Wenatchee, putting up a 1.50 goals-against average and .955 save percentage as Vancouver continues to claw its way up the WHL standings.
The second-year Giants netminder held the Seattle Thunderbirds to a single goal in a 3-1 victory on February 9. Mirwald earned first star by turning aside 35 of 26 shots in Kent. It marks the third straight game where he’s stopped 35 or more attempts.
After allowing two goals in the first period against the Wenatchee Wild the following night, Mirwald slammed the door as the Giants scored seven unanswered to take the win. Mirwald stopped 28 of 30, including a remarkable pad save on Briley Wood as the Wild alternate captain attempted to tie the game with a powerplay blast from below the faceoff dot. With the 7-2 decision, Vancouver remains a perfect 6-0-0-0 on home ice at the Langley Events Centre in 2024.
The Saskatoon, Sask. product is enjoying a career-best season with a 21-17-2-0 record, 3.17 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. He’s faced the most shots of any WHL goaltender this season (1448), played the second-most minutes (2404) and is on pace to start more games this season than in his past three campaigns combined (45).
Mirwald has only suffered one regulation loss in his last ten matches.
He has made eight consecutive appearances for the Giants, which have gone on an impressive 7-0-1-0 run (including wins over top-ranked Prince George and Everett) to climb to sixth in the Western Conference standings with less than 20 games remaining in the regular season.
Vancouver is back in action on February 14 against the sliding Victoria Royals in a battle on the Island before returning home to host the Western Conference-leading Portland Winterhawks on February 16.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
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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