Los Angeles Kings prospect Cihar named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Month for March
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Los Angeles Kings prospect Vojtech Cihar of the Kelowna Rockets has been named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Month for March.
The 6-foot, 181-pound left winger from Chomutov, Czechia, recorded 21 points (10G-11A) and a plus-15 rating in 12 games to lead all WHL rookies in scoring and boost the 2026 Memorial Cup-host Rockets during the month of March.
Selected by the Kings in the second round (59th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft, Cihar posted 14 points (6G-8A) in nine regular season games during the month of March, including the first hat trick of his WHL career. As the puck dropped on the 2026 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien, Cihar continued to produce, converting for eight points (4G-4A) in three games to help Kelowna claim a 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven series with the Kamloops Blazers.
Cihar’s March regular season was highlighted by three-goal performance Saturday, March 14, as the Rockets blasted the Kamloops Blazers by a 5-1 score. Cihar opened the scoring with 34 seconds to go in the first period, before striking for his 10th goal of the campaign with 39 seconds remaining in the second period, giving Kelowna a 3-0 advantage. He completed his first career WHL hat trick with 4:34 to go in the final period of regulation.
As the post-season rolled around the corner, Cihar got off to a quick start, tallying two goals Friday, March 27, as the Rockets defeated the Blazers by a 3-1 score to take a 1-0 series lead. Cihar opened the scoring 10:15 into the second period before depositing an insurance marker into an empty net with 1:27 to go in regulation.
Game 2 once again saw Cihar find twine for the first goal of the game, this time hitting paydirt with 3:16 to go in the first period. He added an assist on Tij Iginla’s first period goal with 50 seconds to go, which ultimately stood up as the game-winning tally for Game 2.
Tuesday, March 31, Cihar recorded four points (1G-3A) as the Rockets defeated the Blazers by a 7-4 margin. This time around, the Czech product waited until 2:49 into the third period to hit the back of the net, but the wait was worth it and the goal went into the books as the game winner, giving Kelowna a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Originally selected by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the first round (38th overall) of the 2024 CHL Import Draft, the Rockets acquired Cihar from Lethbridge on November 9, 2025. He then signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with Kelowna on December 12, before joining the Club in January following his appearance at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
In 31 regular season appearances with the Rockets, Cihar tallied 31 points (12G-19A).
Cihar and the Rockets will look to eliminate the Blazers Wednesday, April 1 (7 p.m. PT), when the two B.C. Division rivals take to the ice for Game 4 of their best-of-seven series at Sandman Centre in Kamloops. Watch this critical matchup FREE on Victory+.
Sandman WHL Rookie of the Month
September / October: Chase Surkan, Brandon Wheat Kings
November: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
December: Kale Dach, Calgary Hitmen
January: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
February: Matias Vanhanen, Everett Silvertips
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 consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 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 over 50 years. The WHL is also the 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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