NHL Draft-eligible netminder Cleaver named WHL Goaltender of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – Lethbridge Hurricanes netminder Koen Cleaver has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending September 22, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

The rookie sealed his first WHL victory in a 2-1 overtime decision on the road against the Red Deer Rebels.

Red Deer would strike first at the Peavey Mart Centrium with an extra attacker on a delayed penalty, but the Lethbridge netminder would prove to be unsolvable after that, steering aside 30 of 31 shots on the night- including three saves in overtime. Using all of his 6-foot-2, 199-pound frame, Cleaver shouldered away a thunderous Derek Thurston one-timer for one of his best saves early in the game.

The 17-year-old posted a .95 goals-against average and a .968 save percentage while earning first star of the night.

Cleaver, who is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, was originally selected by Lethbridge in the third round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. The Port Alberni, B.C. product also helped Team Canada White clinch a gold medal at the 2023 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.

The Hurricanes return home for a playoff rematch against the Swift Current Broncos on Friday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. MST.

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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